NY Times : This Season’s Must-Have: The Humble Coupon

Coupons that offer cents off — or percents off — the price of things like groceries, clothing and restaurant meals are particularly popular when consumers need to stretch their dollars. So word that a recession began last December could bring an increase in the number of coupons offered by marketers, as well as redemption rates by consumers.

“Thrift is the new normal,” said Lance Saunders, executive vice president and head of account planning at Campbell Mithun in Minneapolis, an agency owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies.

“There’s no stigma to getting anything on discount,” Mr. Saunders said. “Instead, there’s a sense of pride.”

Read entire article at NYTimes.com

Christmas 2008: Consumers Will Spend Less, Use Coupons

...many holiday shoppers want to save money this Christmas. A Nielsen survey of 21,000 U.S. households showed that 35 percent planned to cut their spending in 2008 amid worsening economic conditions. Usually, when the economy slows down shoppers try to save money. As evidence consider a study from SheSpeaks that found that 67 percent of female shoppers—women make a significant percentage all holiday gift purchases—intended to use more coupons and coupon codes this year.

Read entire article at practicalecommerce.com