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Consumers should take the time to prepare themselves by researching prices and quality before they hit the stores or Internet this holiday shopping season, according to University of Colorado Boulder Professor Donald Lichtenstein. Being prepared can save consumers money, steer them away from overspending and even change their way of thinking about purchasing gifts during the holidays, said Lichtenstein, chair of the marketing department at CU-Boulder's Leeds School of Business.

The University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business will present its 48th annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum on Monday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. at the Denver Marriott City Center. The event at 1701 California St. is free and open to the public but reservations are required for those planning to attend. To make reservations visit http://leeds.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_01GMWmGLHZolUrz .

Households with plug-in hybrid vehicles, or PHVs, and smart meters actively managed how, when and where they charged their cars based on electricity rates but rarely took advantage of online feedback, a University of Colorado Boulder study found. CU-Boulder鈥檚 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, or RASEI, today presented findings from the two-year study -- one of the only of its kind, combining both household and vehicle data in a smart-grid context.

Consumer demand is making aluminum cans more relevant than ever, according to a report from the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business. More than 92 billion aluminum beverage cans were sold in the U.S. in 2011 reflecting a decline in annual sales -- particularly among standard 12-ounce cans -- since the industry鈥檚 peak five years prior.

Colorado business leaders鈥� attitudes remained almost unchanged going into the fourth quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the Leeds School of Business . The LBCI鈥檚 reading remained positive, above the critical mark of 50, but fell from 53.6 in the third quarter to 51.6 in the fourth. A reading greater than 50 indicates positive expectations, while one lower than 50 indicates negative expectations.

Colorado business leaders鈥� attitudes remained almost unchanged going into the fourth quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business. The LBCI鈥檚 reading remained positive, above the critical mark of 50, but fell from 53.6 in the third quarter to 51.6 in the fourth. A reading greater than 50 indicates positive expectations, while one lower than 50 indicates negative expectations.

The depth of explanation about novel products influences consumer preferences and willingness to pay, according to a study led by the University of Colorado Boulder and Brown University. When it comes to descriptions about the functions of new and unusual goods -- such as a self-watering plant system, special gloves for touchscreens or an eraser for wall scratches -- some people prefer minimal details. Dubbed 鈥渆xplanation foes鈥� in the study, they gain a strong sense of understanding and desire for products through shallow explanations.

The Anschutz Foundation has committed $2 million to launch two new initiatives designed to make the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder a more powerful economic contributor to Colorado and beyond. The contribution from The Anschutz Foundation will be divided evenly between two undergraduate programs.

The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder is trying out a whole new way of introducing its freshmen to college. First-year Leeds students will plunge into an intensive full-day program of action learning called 鈥淐oLab: Essentials of Collaboration and Innovation鈥� on Aug. 25. CoLab is designed to orient the Class of 2016 to what it takes to be a successful business school student, as well as what it means to be a successful business leader.

The Colorado economy continues to grow at a modest pace in 2012, positioning the state among the healthier in growth nationally, according to economist Richard Wobbekind of the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business. Midway through the year, Colorado鈥檚 job growth rate is up to about 1.6 percent -- a gain of about 35,000 jobs in 2012 if the pace holds steady.