One of the indispensable functions of government national defense has made governments the most important consumers of goods, and they have not hesitated to use their resulting pricing, purchasing, and contracting powers to achieve various economic aims.
Imports of consumer goods rose by $2.7 billion.
Avoiding damage to reputation is an important driver, particularly for consumer goods where brand counts for a lot and must remain beautiful.
Six out of 10 consumers questioned said reducing the amount of packaging on products was the most important action retailers and consumer goods companies could take to help the environment.
She said drugs, finance and consumer goods were also important sectors to consider.
The Clinton administration's decision to ease the import bans on selected Iranian consumer goods (news article, March 15) could not come at a more important time.
Knowing how a competitor is faring in Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is considered an important business tool for the makers of consumer goods.
China is the world's biggest consumer of commodities such as coal and metals and is an important market for exports of machinery and, increasingly, consumer goods.
Right now, important new products in chips, communications, computing and consumer goods are on the drawing board.
Modern Kutaisi is an important industrial centre, producing trucks, pumps, mining machinery, textiles (especially silk), foodstuffs, and other consumer goods.
