One in seven people surveyed said they intended on buying residential property as an investment – a sharp drop from the one in four who indicated the same desire a year ago.

Amid seemingly contradictory economic datapoints, manufacturers and retailers will need to focus on the habits of the consumer for clarity and insights into the pace of recovery.

The August 13 release of the film version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 novel Eat, Pray, Love is the latest example of a popular book title moving to the big screen. While these books see success before their silver screen debuts, the buzz leading up to a film version can drive impressive sales.

Sales may increase when a brand is promoted, but is the promotion actually supporting the brand? In Australia, it is estimated that up to 30% of all grocery purchases are made on promotion and trends indicate that this could increase among the key retailers.

The baby boom in Europe and the United States has been well documented: lower birth rates combined with longer life expectancies have resulted in an older population. This trend also extends to Latin America, where more mature adults will soon make up more than a quarter of the population.

The use of over-the-counter medications is rising around the world, but the economic downturn is impacting usage. Manufacturers need to encourage responsible proactive usage and reinforce their brand equity to negate the threat of store brands and generics.

With American consumer confidence seemingly stuck in neutral, the back to school season can be an insightful view into the state of consumer spending, as well as a precursor to what retailers can expect for the upcoming holiday season.

Each year a trillion dollars is spent on communicating to and persuading the human brain, yet few understand how the brain really works—what’s attractive to it, how it decides what it likes and doesn’t like, and how it chooses to buy or not buy…

In an age where shopping trips are increasingly being replaced with mouse clicks, it’s become vital for brand managers to fully understand the evolving world of eCommerce.

Lower prices for food and other household items are great for consumers, but for retailers, they don’t always achieve the desired rise in sales as the competition is quick to follow.