Telescope Casual Furniture, a Granville, N.Y.-based manufacturer of outdoor furniture for the residential and contract markets, will conduct a national shopper survey to get deep into the mindset of today's consumer. Survey data will be released monthly.

"We are very excited to be launching our new consumer survey," Telescope CEO Kathy Juckett said. "This is a time when people are setting new values and are shopping very differently. As a leader in residential and hospitality furnishings, we are launching this consumer survey to be aware of and anticipate consumers' changing lifestyle, habits and preferences. The results will not only guide our business, but will also be very valuable to both our partners in cruise, restaurant and hotel industries, and our retail partners."

The Telescope National Shopper Survey will be an Internet survey of 1,500 adults conducted by WSL Strategic Retail.

Specifically, top line topics include:

• Practices and habits on consumer recreation.
• Are consumers' vacations in the backyard or are they headed for a cruise?
• When shoppers are ready to splurge, what's top of the list? Is it a vacation or decorating their home or garden?
• How the economy is specifically affecting consumers' dining habits.