Household budgets are stretched. Consumers are nervous. When commodity costs are down and prices are still high, should the price increases taken in 2008 to be rolled back in 2009? Not necessarily.

Meet the newest recession-fighting ally in the scrimmage for consumer sales: online advertising. Even discretionary product categories taking a hit at the register can build market share through online presence. Here’s how.

Consumers have more choices than ever from which to access media: traditional television, the Internet, and mobile devices like cell phones and iPods.  As more options exist, they serve to actually increase the amount of time people view media as opposed cutting into viewership of one format or another.  Despite the array of options, television continues to be the primary way Americans of all ages consume media.  In the last quarter of 2008, the average Nielsen household watched more than 151 hours of television per month.  Internet users logged on …

With the Final Four set to tip off in Detroit, MI this weekend, The Nielsen Company has assembled the following facts and figures looking at media and viewer data from the NCAA Tournament so far:

The average household rating for the tournament to date is 5.3%. The number is up a tick from the 5.2% through the same time last year.
An average of 9.6 million viewers tuned in to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this year – the most average viewership for those games since 2006.
The most-watched session of …

In troubled times, global diners seem to be searching for comfort in the familiar. A Nielsen survey of consumers in 52 countries finds diners choosing restaurants that serve their local cuisine and offer a value.

While giving loved ones chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, far more chocolate is actually sold in the week leading up to Easter, according to Nielsen.  Consumers will buy almost a half billion dollars of candy during that time, with approximately 70 percent of that spent on chocolate.  Nearly 71 million pounds of chocolate candy is sold in the week leading up to Easter, compared to approximately 48 million pounds sold during Valentine’s week.  By comparison, nearly 90 million pounds of chocolate candy is sold during Halloween week.   Other key …

The Canadian economy showed signs of improvement in January, while the economies of Germany, Italy and Spain showed signs of weakening economies, according to the latest edition of Nielsen’s Economic Current, which consolidates key consumer data from the company’s global research resources.  The U.S. economy continued to be weak, but showed no signs of worsening.
Other key findings from the survey include:

U.S. consumers reversed a six month trend of declining number of shopping trips and spending per trip.
Consumers in the U.S. and Canada spent more per trip across fast moving consumer …

Matt Foran, Nielsen Sports
With Major League Baseball’s opening day fast approaching, big league teams are looking to surpass last-season’s finish and to collect more eyeballs for their advertisers and corporate sponsors.  A look back at the stats from locally and nationally televised games from the 2008 season reveals impressive numbers and teams will hope to carry that momentum throughout the 2009 season… and perhaps the playoffs.
Regional Ratings:
Locally, Boston continued to show the power of Red Sox Nation, with a 10.1 HH AA% on NESN (New England Sports Network), the highest average …

While big cities are often thought to be the best locations for new restaurants, budding restaurateurs would be well-served to focus elsewhere, namely, college towns and vacation spots, according to the 2009 Nielsen Claritas Restaurant Growth Index (RGI).  The steady population of students, faculty and other employees, and the flow of visitors make these two types of towns optimal for new restaurants.
For the sixth year in a row, the top location is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, despite its index ranking falling more than 100 points in the last year.  Hot …

While the economic downturn is affecting everyone, not all consumers respond in the same ways. Finding opportunities are not impossible—but knowing where to look is key to success.