Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Thu, Apr 2 1992 Date: Thu, 2 Apr 92 05:44:59 EST Message-ID: 04-02 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update April 2, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PRUNES MAKE A COMEBACK: They're back. Thanks largely to increasing awareness of the benefits of a diet high in fiber and low in fat, prunes are regaining popularity. World sales climbed 33% the last five years after 30 years of decline. California - accounting for 70% of world prune production - produced 188,000 tons in 1990. But often they're not called prunes, but "dried plums." Easier to swallow that way. (For more, see special Prune package below.) BLACK SELF-HELP BOOKS POPULAR: A growing number of blacks are penning self-help books to meet a surging demand. Two new works: "The Measure of Our Success" by Marion Wright Edelman and "The Blackwoman's Guide to Understanding the Blackman" by Shahrazad Ali. They're part of an explosion of black self-help:how-to books, says publisher Charles Taylor. "There's a wide demand for information in the black community." ANGELENOS FAVOR BIKER GEAR: Periodically, USA TODAY will be offering updates (and warnings) on the fashions in various hot spots around the USA. First stop: Los Angeles. Routine garb in L.A. these days ranges from Harley-Davidson haute biker gear to baggy jeans and little round sunglasses. Men sport sideburns; women, bright red lips and black bangs, a la "Beverly Hills 90210" characters. SOUND MAY BRING BACK VIEWERS: Hollywood is banking on sound to help reverse dwindling movie audiences - attendance is at a 15-year low, says Daily Variety. In new buildings and upgrades, theater chains are emphasizing audio. The trend was spurred by digital audio systems using compact-disc technology. Sound is "50% of the total experience," says sound designer Alan Howarth ("Star Trek VI"). POT'S POPULARITY WANES: Marijuana doesn't have the appeal it used to, says The National Institute on Drug Abuse. Only 51% of people ages 18 to 25 admitted to using marijuana in 1991, down from 56% in 1988. In 1982, 64% said they had used the drug; In 1977, 60%. RESORTS ADD CHILD CARE: A growing number of vacation resorts are including child care. The March:April Special Report magazine sent seven families to child-care resorts across the USA, Mexico and Jamaica and rated the quality of care. Lake Mancos Ranch, Mancos, Colo., and Premier Cruise Lines, Cape Canaveral, Fla., got a perfect four suns. Among lowest-ranked: Franklyn D. Resort, St. Ann, Jamaica, got one sun. FORTUNE COMPANIES SLIDE: Many of the USA's largest companies continued to go downhill last year. Fortune's venerable list of the 500 largest industrial companies, released Wednesday, reveals that 103 of the 500 lost money. Net income plummeted 41% to $55 billion from $93 billion, the worst drop since the magazine began the list 38 years ago. MORE MONEY CUTS AT THE TOP: There has been increased grumbling lately over corporate pay packages remaining sizeable as companies founder. That talk appears to be translating into action. GM says its top executives in North America didn't get performance bonuses last year because it lost $4.5 billion, the second bonus cut in a row. Tuesday, USAir Group said it's cutting director retainer fees 20% this year. CITY MAY JOIN GAMBLING LIST: Some 5% of all who gamble are compulsive gamblers, according to USA TODAY. That number doubled in the 1980s, a decade when an increasing number of cities looked to legalized gambling as a source of revenue. Chicago is contemplating adding itself to the list. Mayor Richard Daley says the city can't afford to "sit idle while other cities take up gambling to lure away" travel trade. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON PRUNE: DON'T CALL THEM PRUNES: California prune growers, who produce 98% of all prunes sold in the USA, are capitalizing on prunes' newfound popularity with a marketing strategy for the fruit. The growers are targeting baked-goods manufacturers, suggesting that prune puree can be a low-fat substitute for shortening. But the growers suggest manufacturers list the often-unappreciated ingredient as "dried plums." PRUNES ON PLANES: Prunes are appearing on planes. American, Delta and USAir began to include packets of pitted prunes on breakfast and snack trays last year. Schools in Cobb County, Ga., have been serving low-fat brownies made with prunes for more than a year. (Don't tell the students.) "It's a good time to be a fruit or vegetable," says Bart Minor, marketing director for the Prune Board. SEARCH FOR SUBS HEATS UP: Americans are increasingly aware that they derive too many of their calories from fat - 38% instead of the recommended 30% or less - and snack-food makers are intensely interested in natural and synthetic fat substitutes such as prune puree. "It's the search for the oily grail," says industry consultant Martin Glicksman. (End of package.) 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