Connected devices are already changing how some consumers engage with media – creating new opportunities and challenges for a broad range of companies.

While more consumers are expected to head into the holiday season with intent to buy compared to last year, expect the shopping to be subdued and value-focused.

“How Companies Win,” a new book from Nielsen CEO David Calhoun and The Cambridge Group CEO Rick Kash, is a compelling call to action to engage every level within a company, small or large, local or global. Enjoy a sample chapter along with helpful lists to help get your company on the winning track.

A relief from the heat came in the form of increased consumption of soft drinks in Russia, which increased 24% since last year — a sign of recovering consumer confidence.

Research from The Nielsen Company in Chile found that virtually every household in the nation (99%) has purchased light/diet products as part of that effort, with an average purchase frequency of almost every two weeks.

When retailers compete on price and rollbacks are market-wide, retail traffic trends rarely change. More importantly, Nielsen research shows that price rollbacks can actually reduce category dollars, making an effective pricing strategy a necessity.

Strong economic growth, more affluent populations and changing societies have transformed the way consumers throughout the Asia Pacific region shop for their groceries and other goods.

Nielsen probed consumers’ attitudes towards health and beauty products—where they purchased them and what factors went into their buying decisions—as part of its Global Online Survey of more than 27,000 people.

Famous for inventing the light bulb and holding thousands of patents, it was actually one of Edison’s early failures that taught him the vital relationship between invention and marketing.

Knowing that gamers are among the most engaged consumers when playing an online or console game, we’ve been looking closely at the impact of in-game ads on their buying habits.