Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure. For many, their greatest joy is to lavish with love and spoil with splendor. And considering grandparents represent a sizable target, which will continue to grow another 11 percent between now and 2015, retailers and manufacturers would be wise to tap into the “multiplier effect” they represent.

Population aging is not a short-term trend or even a medium-term one. As most countries will continue to age well into the second half of the 21st century, population aging is a permanent trend and marketers will need new models to reach aging consumers.

Latin America was the most confident region according to Nielsen’s latest Consumer Confidence index. Take a closer look at additional regional insights from more than a dozen countries.

Advertising spending in Indonesia posted robust growth in 2010, rising 23% to a total of Rp 60 trillion, according to an analysis by The Nielsen Company.

As the second most populous country in Latin America and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world, Mexico is a vital market for marketers and consumer packaged goods companies to understand.

Consumer confidence in the Asia Pacific region gained six points year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2010 to an index level of 97, according to the latest edition of The Nielsen Company’s Global Consumer Confidence Index.

With sold out ad inventory for this year’s Super Bowl and such a diverse and massive pack of consumers expected to tune in, which advertisers stand the best chance of capturing the audience and getting the greatest return on their investment?

If Northeast Brazil was its own country, it would rank as the world’s 39th largest economy. But the region’s size and unique qualities make understanding consumers’ consumption habits a difficult task.

The great majority of U.S. households – 9 out of 10 – tell Nielsen they will be watching Super Bowl XLV at home or at a friend’s or relative’s house instead of watching it from a restaurant or bar.

Smartphone penetration is even higher among mobile users who are part of ethnic and racial minorities in the U.S. – namely Asian/Pacific Islanders (45%), Hispanics (45%) and African-Americans (33%), populations that also tend to skew younger.