NEW YORK - More new products will be debuted this year, USA Today reports. "We??re going to see a ramp-up in risk taking," said Tom Vierhile, director of product launch analytics at Datamonitor.

Trends of consumer packaged goods for this year include simple, inexpensive and better-for-you. "The major forces in the marketplace for 2011 are those that help consumers simplify," said Lynn Dornblaser, who studies new products guru at Mintel. "Consumers are more financially, physically and emotionally stretched than ever. They are looking for ways to accomplish more ?" but do it economically."

More new products debuted last year, after a sharp decline in 2009, and those numbers will rise this year, Mintel predicts. Many packaged foods and household goods manufacturers are developing new products and will be using social media to market them.

New product trends include simplification, such as ConAgra??s Orville Redenbacher Popcorn??s Pop Up Bowl; and inexpensive beauty aids, such as Procter & Gamble??s Olay Professional Advanced Cleansing System and Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo. Products that help reduce time spent in the kitchen also are popping up, such as Kraft??s Philadelphia Cooking Cremes, which are packaged like sour cream but taste like cream cheese.

Consumers want the homemade taste without the hassle, such as Frito-Lay??s Tostitos Dip Creations, a dry mix that to which the cook adds fresh ingredients. Sweet potatoes are expected to be hot this year, with ConAgra debuting its Alexia Sweet Potato Bit Sized Puffs. Cracker chips also will be one of the top trends in snacking this year, with Pepperidge Farm launching its Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Cracker Chips this year.