Most of all, the concern for healthier diets has prompted consumers to gravitate to meat substitutes, like fish, that are low in calories and in fat.

They sold rapidly, due in part to Nintendo's idea of producing the two versions of the game instead of a single title, prompting consumers to buy both.

Rising wages may also prompt Chinese consumers to start buying more products from other countries, helping to balance the nation's huge trade surpluses.

For that to happen, policy makers must ease monetary policy and bolster spending to prompt consumers and companies to spend.

Few of Sheraton's customers paid the advertised rates, prompting consumers to scour how-to articles for tips to get the best room rate.

Several analysts yesterday suggested that uncertainty about the economy might have prompted consumers and businesses alike to put off buying new copiers or printers.

Businesses continued to delay computer upgrades, but improving confidence in the economy and price cuts prompted consumers to buy more PC's than anticipated last quarter.

Payment of claims does not prove that a doctor is bad, but it may prompt consumers and hospitals to examine a doctor's record more closely.

With austerity measures and accelerating inflation prompting consumers to tighten their belts, share prices of the embatttled retailers have tumbled.

It increased corporate profits and prompted consumers to refinance their mortgages and to spend their way into plenty of other debt.