Coupon Use Rises 27%

This information from CouponInfoNow.com:

• Spurrred by a sour economy, consumers used 27 more coupons in 2009
• 3.3 billion coupons were redeemed in 2009
• The rising trend in coupon redemption started in October of 2008 coinciding with news of the US financial crisis.
• Despite the tight economy, marketers boosted the number of coupons available to the highest level recorded since Inmar has been tracking the data.
• Brands issued 367 billion coupons, at an average face value of $1.44 [that's $528.5 billion!] - an investment that strongly indicated that they were committed to promotion.

"Of course, we don't know how long this will continue.  But it does appear that the American public has been fundamentaly changed by the events of 2009.  The economic downturn instilled a drive to be smart and frugal about spending and coupons definitely have a role in fulfilling it.

"For the foreseeable future, coupons are back on shoppers' radar."