Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Wed, Jun 3 1992 Date: Wed, 3 Jun 92 05:20:41 EDT Message-ID: 06-03 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update June 3, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network APPROACH TO HEALTH IS SPOTTY: When it comes to health, Americans have short attention spans, skipping from trend to trend, a new survey suggests. Health-consciousness is at its highest level since the early 1980s, says The Prevention Index 1992, to be released Wednesday by Prevention magazine. But our intentions are better than our results, says the magazine's Tom Dybdahl. (For more, see special Prevention package below.) TAN COMES IN A BOTTLE: A new wave of sunless tanning creams, lotions and spray-on products are now crowding store shelves. Every major cosmetics company from Coppertone to Estee Lauder has introduced a version, most within the past two years. Sales of sunless tanners account for nearly 20% of all sun-care sales; prices start at about $4 but can go as high as $25. TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED: A reason for the shining sales of sunless tanning lotions can be traced to vast improvements in technology. Maureen Meltzer of Self magazine says the new products are much more natural looking "than the old (Coppertone) Q.T. cream. A lot of people are starting to think about using them." The active ingredient in the stuff binds with amino acids to stain skin, explains Joe D'Nardo of Almay. CUBA LURES U.S. TRAVELERS: If trend-watchers as varied as travel industry insiders and pop magazine editors are right, Cuba could become one of the hottest destinations of the '90s. Rolling Stone, citing movies such as "The Mambo Kings," calls it the next jet-setting hot spot. There's just one drawback. With Fidel Castro in power, a U.S. trade embargo virtually eliminates U.S.-Cuban tourism. ROSES FLOURISH IN THE '90S: The rose, queen of all flowers, has regained her throne as the cut of the '90s. Martha Stewart wanna-bes with stay-at-home tendencies have rediscovered the beauty of roses. There are 365 rose societies nationwide, with more than 30,000 members in the fast-growing American Rose Society. One local Rose Society had 91 at a recent meeting, unheard of two years ago, says its president. COMPANIES REV UP NEW PLAY IDEA: Madison Avenue is about to get up close and personal with auto racing. Pepsi-Cola, the National Medical Association, TORO and Money magazine, among others, have sent people to experience the high-speed bonding of the Skip Barber Racing School in Canaan, Conn. Businesses are using Skip Barber as a reward for a job well done or an unusual venue for showing clients a good time. NOT BORN IN THE USA: The percentage of foreign-born residents jumped during the 1980s, according to the latest Census figures. In 1980, 93.8% were native-born; in 1990, 92.1%. Also, 11% in 1980 spoke a language other than English at home; that's jumped to 13.8% in 1990. Some 6% now don't speak English very well, up from 4.8% in 1980. LEVITTOWN CALLS: The population has shifted toward the suburbs over the past decade, according to the latest Census figures. In 1990, 46.3% of the population lived in suburbs, up from 41.6% in 1980. There was an increase as well in central cities, 31.2% vs. 27.9% in 1980. The decrease came outside a metro area, where just 22.5% of the population lives, down from 30.6% in 1980. COMPLAINTS SPROUT OVER ALTERING: The announcement only a week ago that genetically altered foods won't require special testing or labeling already is drawing protest. Consumer advocate Jeremy Rifkin of the Pure Food Campaign has his group coordinating a mass mailing and some of New York's top chefs now are calling on their culinary comrades to boycott the stuff. Rifkin's mass mailing encourages the boycott. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON PREVENTION: HEALTH NOT A QUICK FIX: Health-minded folks are often capricious, according to a survey by Louis Harris and Associates for Prevention magazine. "We want quick fixes, immediate rewards," says the magazine's Tom Dybdahl. "Health habits just don't work that way." The scores were better than for the past two years, and the USA's best since the survey was begun, but some past health kicks are fading. EXERCISE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT: Some 37% of adults say they exercise strenuously at least three days a week, an improvement from 34% in 1983. But only 19% maintain proper weight, the fewest ever. Half avoid high-cholesterol foods, up 8% from 1983. And 57% eat less fat, a 2% increase. But fewer eat enough fiber (56% vs. 59% last year) and fewer avoid sweets (43% vs. 46%). MORE FORGO ALCOHOL: More Americans never drink (39% vs. 37% last year); 11% still drink heavily. But 62% never drive after drinking, an improvement from 52% in 1983. Sixty-nine percent always wear seat belts, but just 48% observe speed limits, down from 56% in 1983. The most ever own smoke detectors, 88%. Eighteen percent feel great stress almost every day, the most since 1988. Never stressed out, 9%. (End of package.) CORRECTIONS: Japanese investors made net purchases of $1.1 billion last year vs. net sales of $3 billion in 1990. An item in Tuesday's Trends Decisionline was incorrect. Also, the introduction date of Philips' Digital Compact Cassette recorder was incorrectly stated in an item in Monday's Trends Decisionline. The company will release the first DCC player in September. Trends & Marketing Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM