Discussions on health care, changes in the economy and reductions in employer insurance coverage are affecting how Americans are learning about and purchasing insurance products. Consumers view the three categories of Health, Property and Casualty, and Life Insurance differently and they use different sources to get information and make purchases. The latest Nielsen Insurance Audit from Nielsen Claritas (released every two years) identifies some of the emerging insurance trends (such as a decline in life and health insurance) and purchasing behaviors with American consumers. The study collected responses from more …

Consumers around the world have cut back on a range of discretionary purchases to conserve cash.  One area where some Canadians have reduced spending is non-prescription medications, with a quarter of those surveyed changing their buying habits in this category, according to a recent report from The Nielsen Company.  Steps Canadians are taking include using over-the-counter (OTC) meds less frequently (26%), using less than the recommended dosage (13%), buying smaller quantities (10%) or cutting them out altogether (4%). 
As a whole, Canadians are more likely to wait out minor illnesses and …

In their heads, American teens know that leading a healthy lifestyle is important, but does that awareness always translate to a healthy body? According to a study from Scarborough Research, 92 percent percent of teens aged 13-17 say that health and a healthy lifestyle are important and when asked to give themselves a “health report card,” 76 percent of teens gave a grade of B- or higher.
“While this self-awareness of how they rate their healthy living seems to contradict statistics on
child and teen obesity published by the CDC and other …

For decades, consumer product manufacturers have used research such as focus groups to test new products and marketing campaigns to help ensure that they resonate.  And much of the time, those traditional techniques have been effective.  But the Internet has added a new twist to consumer research, one that makes it easier for people to voice their opinions to the world.  More and more, consumer goods firms are finding that listening to what customers are saying on message boards and dedicated web sites can yield even more insight to what …

Consumers are sticking with basic purchases in categories like fresh meat, pasta, packaged dinners along with baking mixes and supplies as meal preparation consumption comes back to the home.
Increases in wine and alcoholic beverages indicate that consumers are opting to consume their favorite beverage at home too. At the same time they are continuing to avoid discretionary items, according to the latest monthly update of U.S. Retailing & Consumer Trends from The Nielsen Company.
The non-edible departments were the greatest contributors to an overall 1.2 percent unit sales decline at food, …

After a month of strong growth, grocery sales in the UK took a step back in July, due largely to poor weather that dampened the traditional BBQ season.  Sales grew 4 percent in the four weeks ended August 8, 2009 compared to the same period a year ago, according to Nielsen’s monthly survey.  Unit growth was up 2.3 percent.
“The poor weather resulted in shoppers making fewer shopping trips this year.  But with grocers increasing promotional activity, with 33 percent of sales this month being on promotion, we expect monthly growth …

The notion that the global economy may be on the verge of recovery has not yet translated into improved consumer spending or confidence, although consumers in the emerging countries – Brazil, India and China – seem to be more optimistic than others and are loosening their purse strings ever so slightly, according to the new edition of the Nielsen Economic Current.  Of the 12 countries Nielsen now tracks, all but Taiwan (which declined) showed no significant change in measures of spending.  Canadian, Western European and American spending was, at best, …

James Russo, Vice President, Global Consumer Insights, discussed the latest Nielsen consumer research, touching on everything from Blu-Ray players to home canning, during a discussion of the changing American consumer on a recent segment on CNBC.

A review of Nielsen’s Video Game Tracking data (tabulated weekly since July 2005) for the Madden football franchise reaffirms that Madden is a household name among active gamers like AAA brands such as Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Mario. August usually belongs to Madden, with few other notable titles released during this time. Below are insights into this year’s iteration, Madden NFL 10.

Madden NFL 10 dominates the sports genre in several metrics, including unaided and aided awareness and definite purchase interest among active gamers.

Key …

Canadians are feeling better about the state of the economy, and are some of the most optimistic globally, according to Nielsen’s Global Consumer Confidence Survey.  Confidence in Canada rose 6 points – above the global average and well above confidence levels in the U.S. (where confidence continues to be flat).  This renewed feeling of confidence seems well placed in light of a recent report from the Bank of Canada, released after Nielsen’s survey, which declared that the recession has ended in the country. 
“After nearly two years of downward trending, we …