If you think you’re a crazy couponer, be rest assured, you’re in good company. Americans saved $2 Billion using coupons in the first half of this year! That’s up 37% from before the recession, according to a study done by Valassis, the company that puts out the Red Plum coupon insert in the newspaper.
Here are the highlights from the study:
- Companies are offering more coupons than ever before – with 18 billion more coupons (for consumer packaged goods) released between January to June 2010, an increase of 11.4 percent from a year ago and 24.8 percent from 2008.
- Overall coupon redemption has increased 7.9% year-to-date, with the highest growth (12%) being in health and beauty care.
- Coupons have shorter expiration dates, lasting 9.5 weeks compared to 10.6 weeks in 2009.
- Coupon values are higher, with the average value up to $1.43 for the first half of 2010 compared to $1.37 for 2009.
- The newspaper continues to be the primary resource for coupons, with companies continuing to distribute 85% of their coupons via newspaper and mailed coupon inserts. (Get coupon inserts! Check out my special Sunday paper rates for the Tacoma News Tribune!)
- Internet printable coupons are growing at a much faster rate than any other distribution rate, up 79% from a year ago. Internet coupons represent only 1.2% of all coupon distribution.
I find these kinds of studies fascinating! Of course, please remember the source, Valassis is in the business of coupons and they want their investors to think they are part of a promising and lucrative future. Although I do think there is validity in their study, I just like to consider the source when considering how much weight to put on the statistics.
View the complete Valassis press release here.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
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