Most Americans are “low-income” consumers these days — including people we used to think of as “middle-class.” And you can blame the long-term effects of the Great Recession.

Here are some of the trends Managing Editor Alyse Thompson saw while attending the ECRM Everyday and Summer Seasonal candy planning session in New Orleans.

Consumers are willing to spend more money — but only for products that they perceive as having a good value.

While blueberries, almonds, avocados and kale have perennial spots on the superfoods list, the NPD Group has outlined three “emerging superfoods” it's tracking due to increased interest in them.

A new FONA report suggests consumers want healthier versions of their favorite treats that taste the same or better.

Thanks to the abundance of health and wellness information available online — and food manufacturers’ efforts to increase ingredient transparency — consumers have the opportunity to make individualized decisions about their diets and overall health.

We’ve all dealt with long checkout lines, haggling with a customer service rep, or having a website crash by clicking “place order.” New research from Klarna suggests shoppers will only tolerate such aggravations for so long.

SNAP is one of those programs that people tend to believe only impacts low-income people — but like everything in government, it creates ripples throughout the economy. 

It turns out legal marijuana is great for candy and snack companies — even if they aren’t making edibles.