Melissa Davies, Nielsen Online
It has been impossible to escape the news about swine flu (or H1N1 virus) this week. One of the most interesting developments this week has been watching the way people are using the Internet, and specifically social media, to connect with one another around this issue. As of yesterday, buzz volume about swine flu in the blogosphere was still on its meteoric climb, far surpassing discussion levels for the peanut butter/salmonella scare that happened earlier this year or, for a different reference point, recent pop singing sensation …

With seven weeks remaining until the transition to digital television, 3.5 million or 3.1% of U.S. TV households remain completely unready for the June 12 switch according to Nielsen.  The figure is an improvement of more than 100,000 households in the two weeks since the last update. Hispanic households showed the largest percentage improvement, moving from 5.4% unready down to 5%.

% OF HOMES COMPLETELY UNREADY FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION

DATE
Total
White
African
American
Hispanic
Asian
Under 35
Over 55

Apr 26, 2009
3.1
2.4
5.9
5.0
4.1
5.7
1.7

Apr 12, 2009
3.2
2.5
5.9
5.4
4.3
5.9
1.7

Mar 29, 2009
3.4
2.7
6.2
5.6
4.4
6.3
1.8

Mar 15, 2009
3.6
2.9
6.6
6.1
4.4
6.5
2.0

Mar 1, 2008
3.9
3.2
6.7
6.5
4.5
7.2
2.2

Feb 15, 2009
4.4
3.6
7.5
7.4
5.1
8.1
2.6

Feb …

Sales in the UK grocery sector showed promising growth in the eight weeks ended April 18th, racking up 4.2 percent increases, and volume growth of 5.8 percent over the same period in 2008.  The convenience sector also showed a 3.2 percent in sales growth over a year ago, a marked improvement from a few months ago when sales growth was languishing at about 1 percent.
Sales over Easter week benefited the out-of-town megastores, which rung up sales 22 percent over the same period last year.
“Over 20 percent growth is a welcome …

Nearly 39% of U.S. households—some 44 million—are headed by a Baby Boomer. Nearly 77 million Americans fall into the cohort born between 1946 and 1964. In a couple of years, that generation will begin to reach the traditional retirement age. Given all that has happened in the economy in the last eighteen months, will they be able to afford to retire?