Breakfast food for thought
Breakfast consumption away from home, which accounts for 10% of total breakfast foods eaten, jumped 25% since 1984, according to new data from MRCA Information Services, Stamford, CT. "In" when eating out are sweet baked goods (donuts, sweet rolls, and toaster pastries), eggs, sandwiches, and breakfast meats, with shares of 14%, 13%, 12%, and 11%, respectively.
By contrast, the top four at-home breakfast foods are ready-to-eat cereal, loaf bread, eggs, and fruit, with shares of 22%, 19%, 10%, and 10%, respectively. "Despite differences in foods eaten at home and away, there is a common trend toward healthier, more nutritious foods," says Diane Marpe, senior account executive at MRCA. "While eggs, breakfast meats, and bread lost share in away-from-home eatings between 1984 and 1989, cereal, fruit, and muffins posted significant gains."
As to beverages for breakfast away from home, coffee is the dominant choice and, with a 55% share, more important than at home, where it has a 39% share. Juice, meanwhile, holds a 19% share away from home, compared to 34% at home.
MRCA's breakfast market data shows that males over the age of 35 and people with annual incomes over $30,000 are most likely to eat out. Further, "As people grow older they eat an increasingly large share of away-from-home breakfast foods at restaurants," Marpe says. The share is 26% for people under age 18, 41% for 18-34 year-olds, 51% for 35-54 year-olds, and 60% for those age 55 and over. "Since the 55+ age group will continue to grow," Marpe says, "look for increased competition between restaurants and in-home convenience products."
It's amazing what a coat of paint will do
In the past year, 74.4 million Americans took paint brush or roller in hand and painted the inside or outside of their homes. The Survey of American Consumers by Mediamark Research Inc. identifies who buys all the paint:
- Men and women are about equal in being purchasers of house paint (33.4% and 31.1%, respectively).
- Married consumers are more prone to buy paint (37.6%) than singles (24.5%).
- People ages 35 to 54 represent about two out of five buyers (38.4%). Younger adults ages 18 to 24 and those 65 years of age and older are less inclined to paint their homes.
- People living in cities are as likely to buy paint as those living in the suburbs.
While Americans throughout the country take paint brush or roller firmly in hand, more of those living in the North East and North Central regions do this than those living in the West.
The most popular retail outlets for buying paint are: paint store, hardware store, department store. Premixed paints and custom color paints are equally popular. The survey also reports on the most popular brands that Americans prefer, including Sears, Sherwin Williams, Glidden, and Benjamin Moore.
Most Americans are pleased with telephone service
According to a recent national survey, the majority of Americans are pleased with the quality of service they receive from telephone companies. Six of ten people (60%) are satisfied, and 31% are very satisfied. Only 7% are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The study was conducted by Maritz Marketing Research Inc.
The survey shows women are some-what happier than men with the service they receive. Women outnumber men in the very satisfied category by eight percentage points.
Billing that's easier to understand tops the list of improvements Americans would make at the phone company. Almost one of five people (19%) say billing is a problem. Second on the list of improvements is better sound quality, chosen by 14% of respondents. Then comes faster handling of problems (13%) and knowledgeable employees (12%). Closing out the top five is greater dependability, cited by 6% of respondents.
Discounted long distance plans are highly touted by all carriers. But, according to the poll, many people remain unconvinced of their worth. About one-quarter (26%) think they are of little value, while 32% rate them an average value. Only 34% of people say the plans are a good value. Men are more critical of the plans, giving them lower marks than women.