The changing consumer: Sadeghi and others weigh in

To wrap up our stories about consumer spending, today we hear some thought-provoking ideas about cultural change from Shaheen Sadeghi, an industry insider and current world traveler and retail developer. He thinks Americans are headed for dramatic lifestyle changes, including adopting some European habits such as buying less, but buying better.

Industry M+A specialist Brien Rowe and UCI marketing professor Mary Gilly won't go that far, but they say now is the time for companies to narrow their focus and shed low-price promotional activity.