Expensive Being Green

The "green" trend is slowing as consumers back away from organic and environmentally friendly products in tight times.

Ninette Sosa explains in today's Consumer Watch.

IT'S EXPENSIVE BEING GREEN.

THE LATEST SURVEY FROM THE CONSULTING FIRM: W-S-L STRATEGIC RETAIL SHOWS: LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVE ORGANIC ITEMS ARE GOOD FOR THEM OR THE ENVIRONMENT.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE SURVEY SHOWED 54 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED FELT THE SAME WAY.

THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE "ORGANICS CONSUMER ASSOCIATION" SAYS PRICE IS PROBABLY A FACTOR.

ORGANIC ITEMS COST 50-TO-100 PERCENT MORE THAN NON-ORGANIC ALTERNATIVES.

FOR INSTANCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REPORTS NATIONAL PRICE FOR A GALLON OF MILK IS ABOUT THREE DOLLARS AND 78-CENTS. ORGANIC MILK RUNS NEAR 7-DOLLARS AT SOME STORES.

RISING COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO EAT AWAY AT MOTHER'S DAY BUDGETS THIS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION... PEOPLE WILL SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 138-DOLLARS AND 63 CENTS THIS YEAR.

THAT'S DOWN FROM 139-DOLLARS AND 14 CENTS LAST YEAR.

THE SURVEY FOUND THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS WILL BUY SMALLER ITEMS SUCH AS, MEALS, GIFT CARDS AND HOUSEHOLD AND GARDENING ITEMS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME CONSUMER SPENDING HAS BEEN EXPECTED TO DECREASE FOR MOTHER'S DAY SINCE THE RETAIL FEDERATION BEGAN DOING THE SURVEY IN 2003.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M NINETTE SOSA.