BILL NUMBER: ACR 99	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fuentes

                        FEBRUARY 6, 2012

   Relative to National Coupon Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 99, as introduced, Fuentes. National Coupon Month.
   This measure would recognize September 2012 as National Coupon
Month and would acknowledge the value of coupons in achieving
significant savings for California's consumers.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, In total, consumers saved $2 billion in the first six
months of 2011; and
   WHEREAS, In the first half of 2011, coupon redemption volume
reached $1.75 billion, a moderate 2.9 percent increase compared to
the first half of last year; and
   WHEREAS, The average face value of coupons in the first half of
2011 is up 5.4 percent to $1.57 billion compared to $1.49 billion for
the first half of 2010; and
   WHEREAS, Consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers offered
consumers $485 billion, in savings in 2010, representing a 13.9
percent increase over the prior year and 47.4 percent growth compared
to five years ago; and
   WHEREAS, In 2010, marketers once again distributed more CPG
coupons than the prior year, reaching $332 billion, the largest
single-year distribution quantity ever recorded in the United States,
exceeding the prior record set in 2009 by 6.8 percent; and
   WHEREAS, CPG marketers continue to allocate the largest share of
coupons distributed, 89.6 percent, to the free-standing insert (FSI)
in the first half of 2011; and
   WHEREAS, Sixty percent of consumers are becoming more focused on
the price of groceries as gas prices climb; and
   WHEREAS, Seventy-six percent of consumers say their grocery bills
have increased up to $50 weekly; 41 percent have seen a weekly
increase of $20 to $50, inclusive; and
   WHEREAS, Phil Lempert, the Supermarket GuruŽ, indicates that 93
percent of consumers have seen prices rise on items they buy in the
grocery store and are employing tactics to save money, including 84
percent who are using coupons; and
   WHEREAS, Eighty-four percent of consumers are eating out less
frequently to save money and 52 percent redeem coupons; and
   WHEREAS, Ninety-six percent of consumers said that they would
still use coupons if they struck it big in the lottery. This reflects
the value-oriented mindset that took root at the onset of the
recession. This learned behavior was shared by shoppers whether their
annual income was $20,000 or over $150,000; and
   WHEREAS, Fifty-six percent of 13 to 17-year-olds use coupons or
coupon codes, according to the parents of these teens, who are savers
themselves. Teens, however, are using coupons and coupon codes for
items most important to them. For example, 25 percent use coupons on
clothing, 19 percent use coupons on entertainment, and 18 percent use
coupons for beauty care and grooming; and
   WHEREAS, Seventy-seven percent of consumers say they use the money
they save with coupons on basic necessities, a 20 percent increase
from the prior year; and
   WHEREAS, Seventy-eight percent of consumers report using coupons
regularly, up 14.7 share points from prerecession levels, and
one-third said that they used more coupons in 2010 than the prior
year; and
   WHEREAS, Once consumers adopt frugal habits, they quickly discover
that they like the feeling of saving money. Acceptance of these new
habits can be seen in the largest share of response for increased
coupon usage in the 2010 survey, 29.3 percent of consumers stated
they are using more coupons for the enjoyment of saving, an increase
of 11.7 share points over those stating that reason the prior year;
and
   WHEREAS, Fifty-eight percent of consumers use cents-off coupons
received in the mail, newspapers, or magazines; and
   WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of consumers who consider the
Internet to be their primary advertising source are now using coupons
in newspaper inserts, now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes September 2012 as
National Coupon Month and acknowledge the value of coupons in
achieving significant savings for California's consumers; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for distribution.