Consumer Articles from HOMEOWNERSHIP.INFO Free Article Directory

Search our Site:

Consumers refers to individuals or households that use goods and services generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer is used in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.

A consumer is a person who uses any product or service. Typically when business people and economists talk of consumers they are talking about person as consumer, an aggregated commodity item with little individuality other than that expressed in the buy/not-buy decision. However there is a trend in marketing to individualize the concept. Instead of generating broad demographic profile and psychographic profiles of market segments, marketers are engaging in personalized marketing, permission marketing, and mass customization.^[1]

In free market or capitalist economies, consumers are presumed to dictate what goods are produced and are generally considered the center of economic activity. Individual consumption of goods and services is primarily linked to the consumer's level of disposable income, and budget allocations are made to maximize the consumer's marginal utility.^[2] In 'time series' models of consumer behavior, the consumer may also invest a proportion of their budget in order to gain a greater budget in future periods. This investment choice may include either fixed rate interest or risk-bearing securities.

Within law, the notion of consumer is primarily used in relation to consumer protection laws, and the definition of consumer is often restricted to living persons (i.e. not corporations or businesses) and excludes commercial users.^[3] A typical legal rationale for protecting the consumer is based on the notion of policing market failures and inefficiencies, such as inequalities of bargaining power between a consumer and a business.^[4] As of all potential voters are also consumers, consumer protection takes on a clear political significance.

Consumer Subcategories Consumer Articles Wall Street vs. Main Street. 11/07/08 by Mike Samadi Dec 11, 2008 (Copyrighted) Please don’t be fooled by the Wall Street analysts (who are after nothing but money and do not care what happens to you and I) and bad management of the Government. Although what happens in the Main Street directly affec... Will The New Program To Boost Consumer Credit Offer Help With Foreclosure To Homeowners In Need? by Alfred Sant Dec 02, 2008 We just got the news of the latest Government Bailout Package. It is called “Government Program To Boost Consumer Credit”, and consist in a 800 billion dollars package. It includes 200 billions dollars to buy from banks certain loans, like: car loans... India - Consumer Electronics Manufacturers, Retailers Need New Strategies to Propel Sales by Shushmul Maheshwari Nov 21, 2008 According to “Booming Consumer Electronics Market in India”, our new research report, sales of consumer electronics, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines and air-conditioners, increase during the festive season in India. However, the ... Electronic Product Review: M-5000 DLX Massage Chair by Omega by Steve Esquire Nov 18, 2008 This is a review of the luxury massage chair by Omega Massage. The Omega M-5000DLX massage chair is the subject of this product review. Omega is known for its striking aesthetics, advanced technology and effective massage therapy. The M 5000DLX... Retailer/Realtor/Banker/Manufacturer/Politician Arrogance by DAVID LOVATTSMITH Nov 15, 2008 Best Buy declared this week that, quote “rapid, seismic changes in consumer behavior” were responsible for the worst crisis in its 42-year history. Hello? So now we blame “consumer behavior”, seismic or otherwise, for corporate inepti... Free Online Mortgage Refinance Quotes: Providing Valuable Service to Consumers by John Hasenauer Oct 16, 2008 You can easily get free mortgage refinance quotes from online mortgage comparison websites. These sites serve to connect borrowers to hundreds of lenders, making mortgage and loan comparison easier. Getting mortgage refinance quotes online i... Consumers Benefit from a Renter's Market by Steven Lohrenz Jul 23, 2008 As the housing market continues to slump, more and more people are realizing that for the near future, they are better off renting than buying. This is a significant departure from the past few years where consumers were obsessive about owning their ... Consumer Guide to Selecting a Real Estate Professional by Matthew Paolini Oct 30, 2007 First-time buyers or sellers of real estate frequently can't see the forest for the trees says Uncle Sam, aka the United States Government. To help take the mystery out of real estate deals, the government recently released an informative booklet des... Live the dream with a second home abroad by Andrew Regan Oct 25, 2007 Buying a second property abroad can seem like a distant daydream, or if you’re the nervous type, fraught with difficulties and a potential disaster. Realistically, it can be a bit of both: there are pitfalls to watch out for, but if you’re wise ... Chennai Real Estate-its Consumer's Market by George Gonigal Oct 17, 2007 Undergoing the period of correction for the past 6-months, Chennai real estate markets have finally started to stabilize, however the demand curve is still observed moving horizontally. As per industry reports, the city absorbed meager 13 per cent of...