A little sun just went out of summer: When it comes to all of its most delicious rituals—including food and family vacations—more consumers are cutting back than last year, and are more apprehensive about the economy. That's the latest from SymphonyIRI, which polled 1,000 adults about their summer spending plans. "Last year, the economy was inching in the right direction, and people had a sense that it would recover more smoothly," Susan Viamari, Editor of SymphonyIRI's Times & Trends, tells Marketing Daily. "Then when that didn't happen, wallets started closing—folks are emerging as a lot more conservative." In …

KeyBank is trying to entice new customers to open a checking account with an offer almost too good to believe -- a free iPod Touch. The promotion, which runs through July 30, is being advertised via billboard, radio, print in area newspapers and website banner ads. “Our approach with the iPod was to find a unique approach to break through some of the financial services advertising clutter and gain attention of those interested in a new banking relationship,” KeyBank Regional Marketing Manager Mark Knierim tells <I>Marketing Daily</I>. “By providing a premium that's out of the ordinary, we have …

That's what some unconfirmed press reports are saying about long-time trade press editor, Michael Burgi, who apparently is jumping ship at Mediaweek to take the job of vice president-communications at Canoe Ventures. Canoe, of course, is the cable TV industry venture that is trying to leverage the enhanced advertising and targeting capabilities of local cable TV systems. According to a report in TheWrap blog by former Mediaweek reporter John Consoli, Mediaweek Executive Editor Jim Cooper is expected to succeed Burgi as editor of the trade magazine. Michael Burgi

House Democrats will today officially introduce the "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act." The legislation mirrors key investments recommended by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in her "Let's Move" initiative for reducing childhood obesity and improving childhood nutrition and wellness -- including proposals to establish the first national nutrition standards spanning all foods sold in schools, and implement new school food safety standards.

New York-based Chase has kicked off its Chase Community Giving Summer 2010 program on Facebook. The program will award more than $5 million to be shared among 200 charities with grants ranging from $20,000 to $250,000. Participants can begin voting for their favorite charities June 15. The first Chase Community Giving program earlier this year resulted in more than 2 million Facebook users becoming fans of the program. They helped decide which of the more than 500,000 charities should receive a share of $5 million. More than 100 winners from 31 states were selected. This time around, the …

One in five Americans use digital media – including blogs and social networking sites and platforms – to interact with neighbors and learn about local issues, according to "Neighbors Online"(http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Neighbors-Online.aspx"), a new study from the Pew Internet Project. The study indicates that social media is playing an important role in creating real community interactions among American who know few of their neighbors personally. It also shows that one in five adults have signed up to receive email or text message alerts about local issues, with weather updates and school alerts showing particular relevance.

While sales have been strengthening at Nordstrom, executives from the Seattle-based retailer told a group of investors that one of the best lessons it learned in the recession was a savvier balance between its full-line Nordstrom stores and the Rack, its fast-growing off-price division. The company says it plans to keep opening between 10 and 15 Rack stores per year, but as growth picks up at Nordstrom, there is less inventory. "We've had Racks for 35 years, and it's a very profitable concept," Rob Campbell, head of investor relations, told those attending the 30th Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference. "It's …

Frito-Lay had a big 2009 in spite of -- or maybe because of -- the economy. This year, company will continue a strategy that moved mountains last year for the Lay's brand by focusing on the local nature of the raw ingredients and the fact that products like Lay's Classic are just potatoes, oil and salt. The company is also moving 60% of its portfolio to all-natural this year. The efforts extending a campaign that won the company two silver Effie this year for its "Happiness is Simple" campaign starring real potato farmers Lay's uses for local sourcing. Gannon …

Move over Skype, Google has made video and voice chat easy with a one-click feature for either one-on-one or groups discussions in Gmail. And if you're chat buddy doesn't use Google chat or perhaps didn't install a plug-in. No worries. One click on an icon in the chat window will invite them to install it. Mobile anyone?

Analyst firm BIA/Kelsey has an app for that. The analyst firm released a free mobile application Wednesday giving quick access to local media news and analysis from the research and advisory firm’s four blogs. The new mobile app is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Developed by WillowTree Apps, the mobile app offers a stream to analysis on broadcasting, print, Yellow Pages, and local search.