These Economics W.I.R.E.D. activities recommend web links that relate to key concepts of each chapter of the textbook. For each link, there are instructions to guide you to specific information, followed by several discussion questions or exercises.

Key Concepts: Utility and Consumer Preferences, The Budget Constraint and Utility Maximization, Willingness to Pay and the Demand Curve, The Market Demand Curve, Consumer Surplus

The Conference Board—Consumer Spending Trends

Click on "Demo." Scroll down the page to learn how real time market (consumer spending) profile information can be generated.

• Explain why many businesses are willing to pay for services that track consumer spending trends.
• Why do most direct marketing campaigns (e.g. sending marketing letters or rebate offers) identify their target markets by utilizing postal zip codes?
• Access the Public Data Query service. Select the "People Like Me" link under the Data Toybox. Enter the relevant personal information to assess the potential market (demand) that is comprised of individuals with the same personal information.