Backpacks, food, tools — consumer goods quality is steadily declining

Consumers are increasingly noticing a decline in quality across well-known brands. North Face, JanSport and Eastpak, for example, are all now owned by VF Corporation following a wave of acquisitions in the 2000s. Researchers and shoppers say corporate consolidation leads to cost-cutting that degrades product quality across categories including food, cookware, shoes and clothing.