Consumer confidence declined in 35 out of 56 markets, according to global consumer confidence findings from Nielsen. Global consumer confidence increased one point last quarter while Europe led confidence declines in 24 of the region’s 27 measured markets.

While Super Bowl ads require a substantial investment, they get a measurable bump from their prominent placement. According to Nielsen, ads that aired during 2011’s Super Bowl XLV were, on average, 58 percent more memorable than commercials airing during regular programming in the first quarter of 2011.

According to a new Nielsen study on food labeling and healthy eating, 59 percent of consumers around the world have difficulty understanding nutritional labels on food packaging and more than half (53%) consider themselves overweight.

According to the latest research from Nielsen, the high-profile launch of Apple’s iPhone 4S in the Fall had an enormous impact on the proportion of smartphone owners who chose an Apple iPhone.

While other countries in the region and around the globe have been affected by significant economic uncertainty, Indonesia’s economy is running at full bore, with a rapidly expanding middle class that is now the third-largest in the world.

Advertisers and those aiming to reach smartphone and tablet users on their devices should look no further than free apps. According to Nielsen’s Consumer Usage Report, 51 percent of consumers say that they are okay with advertising on their devices if it means they can access content for free.

As the end of 2011 draws near, Canadians are doubtful about job prospects, their personal finances and whether it’s wise to spend money right now, according to a new Nielsen survey.

As households are subjected to a negative media onslaught on a daily basis it is unsurprising that they are becoming increasingly reticent to spend on anything other than essentials.

When considering the business landscape in Russia, it is often only the urban population that is considered, missing almost 38 million people that make up about 27 percent of the rural country population. This equates to the whole population of Poland and almost seven times the population of Denmark. As the biggest country in the world by square kilometers/miles, Russia’s emerging rural landscape is brimming with opportunities for expansion.

The paper circular – whether delivered by mail, as a newspaper insert or viewed in the store – still reigns as the most popular way for shoppers to find sale items and product information, it is evolving in kind with consumers’ desire to seek deals across media.