INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

CHICAGO — Concerns over the health of the economy are far from over, as evidenced by a SymphonyIRI Group survey released Wednesday that found consumers are taking even more steps to save money due to their ongoing financial concerns, including turning to the Internet in search of the best deals.

List making and coupon clipping still are top of mind for consumers as they struggle with high gas prices and question their job stability. Additionally, the survey uncovered that consumers are turning to the Internet to find the best deals, SymphonyIRI said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Somehow, someway, Walgreens will be the first to figure out how to beam a prescription right into a patient's medicine cabinet "Star-Trek" style. Because as sure as the chain's e-commerce president Sona Chawla is to Walgreens as Scotty is to the USS Enterprise, Walgreens is moving at light speed in monetizing and capitalizing on multichannel retailing. And the chain hasn't even got its multichannel engines really revved yet.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Gas prices are one of the American economy’s biggest Achilles’ heels, thanks to the high percentage of Americans who depend on automobiles for travel. Thus, retailers have good reason to feel uneasy when gas prices start to rise, and it makes sense that those operating gas stations would offer discounts on fuel as a way to entice customers to their stores.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Does Family Dollar's expansion of health and beauty items, which contributed to its overall inventory growth during the third quarter, and Ulta's plan to create men's grooming boutiques within most of its nearly 400 stores mean a new competitive threat for drug stores?

(THE NEWS: Inventories swell as Family Dollar boosts beauty. For the full story, click here.)

INDIANAPOLIS — A topical drug made by Eli Lilly restored testosterone to normal levels in men with abnormally low testosterone, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

Lilly announced results of a phase-3 trial of Axiron (testosterone) topical solution, a treatment for the condition, also known as hypogonadism. Study results also showed that the drug improved symptoms associated with it.

Hypogonadism results from damage or disease of the testicles, hypothalamus or pituitary glands that inhibits production of testosterone.

SAN DIEGO — Adding an investigational drug for Type 2 diabetes to the common generic drug metformin helped control blood sugar in patients who could not control their blood sugar with metformin alone, according to results of a late-stage clinical study.

PARIS — A new study indicated that two insulin products made by French drug maker Sanofi lower blood-glucose levels to a greater extent than premixed insulin, and with improvements in quality of life and less hypoglycemia.

Sanofi announced results of the 60-week study, which compared regimens, including Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) and Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin]).

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It seems that some Americans look for such claims as "natural," "organic" and "grown in the USA" on food labels.

According to the annual Eco Pulse survey conducted by the Shelton Group — an advertising and research firm that focuses on marketing green products to U.S. shoppers — among 1,013 Americans that were asked what the best description to read on a food label:

• 25% of consumers said they preferred to see "100 percent natural" or "all natural;"