This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recession, Recovery & Store Brands
Despite evidence to the contrary, at our household, we seem to be buying fewer store brands that before. I’ve been dieting, so when I make a grocery run, I’m after specific items on my “approved” diet list and I don’t want to risk getting a brand that isn’t a name that I recognize as higher quality.

I’m apparently in the minority because new consumer polling data show that eight out of ten U.S. supermarket shoppers see no improvement in the economy, and forty percent say things have actually gotten worse in recent months.

Has this had an effect on your shopping habits?

Many BBQers will decide that the best shopping habit would be to use store brands for “everday” meals and save their money for the highest quality meats and ingredients used for that special barbeque for friends and family.

Parent’s Choice
Here are some of the high points of the survey…

• 62% of consumers plan to buy more Store Brand products as they deal with the tough economy.
• 43% of shoppers are trying Store Brands for the first time in categories where they used to buy only national brands.
• 49% say their new Store Brand selections compare “very favorably” (Up from 35% in June 2009)

I’m not among the shoppers who call themselves a frequent buyer of store brands. But the research shows these shoppers are at an all-time high (57% of shoppers). I guess I should give it a go because a whopping 97% say they are satisfied with the switch to a store brand.

I think with the $15 I get paid for this post, I’ll be sticking with my strategy of using store brands during “routine meals” and hitting the brand name labels for the barbecue.
Except when it comes to bourbon!