Discusses consumer researchers' and consumer practitioners' differing cultures, identifies practitioners' needs, and offers research priorities that support the improvement of consumer education. (Author)

Pay-per-call telephone services through 900 numbers have given rise to criticism of their content and complaints of consumer fraud. The Federal Communications Commission, legislative initiatives, industry self-regulation, and consumer educators are attempting to protect consumers. (SK)

Describes a university consumer affairs course using management tools to improve problem-solving skills. The Interaction Method teaches specific material and enables learning through participation. (SK)

A study of 220 users and 198 nonusers of manufacturers' rebates found 3 motivational factors that predicted use: (1) consumers' price consciousness; (2) perceived time and effort to redeem rebates; and (3) perceived satisfaction from saving money. Recommendations for more effective redemptions resulted. (SK)

Technological literacy is necessary to make informed decisions about personal and societal choices. The competitive global economy also requires more intelligent use of technology. (SK)

The distribution of food item prices was compared across Tucson-area stores and to a local newspaper's annual price survey. Price distributions for national brands and cheapest alternative brands coincided closely with the newspaper report, suggesting that comparative food-store price reports provide useful information to consumers. (SK)

Analysis of 4 New Jersey studies of 3,329 homeowners found that (1) thinking about radon testing is predicted by general radon knowledge; (2) decision to test is related to perceived likelihood of risk; and (3) actual testing is influenced by situational factors such as locating and choosing test kits. (SK)

Money 2000 is a South Carolina program that educates participants in personal savings and debt reduction. It is marketed through state-local government agency collaboration, promotional items, and extensive media coverage. It targets a diversified audience, including youth, rural farm families, and families with limited resources. (SK)

An adult-education course familiarized participants with online consumer resources. Beyond teaching the mechanics of Internet use, it showed how to use the Internet as a tool for consumer decision making. (SK)

Describes the trend toward customer-focused electronic learning by web retailers. Reasons for the shift include filling a support role, providing a service that competitors do not have, and adding to the revenue stream. (JOW)

Volunteers priced grocery items twice per month for three months in eight rural Ohio stores, examined advertising flyers, and surveyed stores weekly for a month to track pricing trends. Advice for consumers on choice of stores and items as well as food budgeting was developed based on the results. (SK)

A financial literacy test was administered to 1,643 high school students in 31 states. State mandates for generic consumer education were not associated with higher scores. Students in states requiring specific personal finance coursework scored significantly higher than those in generic-mandate or no-mandate states. (Contains 23 references.) (SK)

Describes the experiences of Bruce D. Weinberg, an assistant professor of marketing at Boston University (Massachusetts), who is doing all his shopping via the Internet to demonstrate to students what works and what fails when selling in cyberspace. (DB)

In the context of increased labor market flexibility and "portfolio work," adults need knowledge of financial services and their interrelationships with insurance, taxation, and welfare systems. One approach uses the radical tradition of adult education to help people develop critical awareness and control of their financial decision…

In an effort to assist family and consumer sciences teachers with the huge task of rewriting local curriculum to meet new state and national standards, a statewide collaborative effort was implemented in Washington. Teachers worked in groups around the state to create curriculum for frequently taught courses. While the groups worked together to…