At the recent New York Auto Show's media day a panel of industry experts wrestled with the Jacob's angel of the marketing differences and strategic implications of "Premium" versus "Luxury." This is an issue that still dogs or inspires a range of luxury brands in many segments of luxury including fine jewelry, apparel, hospitality, travel and, of course, automotive.

There is a trend in marketing right now chasing the "conscious consumer" - those consumers whose buying habits are often a reflection of their environmental, ethical and political concerns. The trend can be seen in everything from eco-friendly detergent to green homes to the slow food movement.

Last month's column - "How Many Affluent Millennials Are There?" - focused on the buying power and affluence levels of the Millennial generation by segmenting all 73 million who are adults (18+ in age) into three age segments. That column induced a good number of readers to ask how Millennials compare with Gen Xers and Boomers as regards affluence.