It used to be that if a mobile phone customer wanted to switch service providers, they had to give up their old phone number.  And if one had a particularly “good” number or had the number for several years, the inability to retain that number was a huge disincentive to switch services.  But several years ago, the ability to carry one’s number from carrier to carrier became a reality in the U.S., spurring greater competition among carriers.  And with mobile number portability (MNP) being contemplated in India, some consumers there …

The recession has prompted consumers around the world to re-evaluate what’s important to them.  Issues such as the economy, job security and other topics related to finances are top of mind for most people and, as a result, issues such as the environment have fallen.  In fact, the latest edition of Nielsen’s Global Online Survey covering more than 50 countries found that global warming dropped to 14th place on the list of “biggest and second biggest concerns.” That said, the issue remains important to citizens in many countries.  More than …

Consumers around the world are becoming more optimistic that economic recovery is starting to take root according to the recently released Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey, and Chinese consumers in particular are feeling good about their prospects.  Consumer confidence there increased 6 points from the March survey, and China jumped from tenth to sixth place in the global rankings behind Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Brazil and Australia.

Chinese consumer confidence is higher in the East and North regions of the country versus the South and the West, and consumers in smaller …

When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met last week with their Chinese counterparts in Washington, D.C., they pledged closer cooperation in dealing with a host of pressing economic issues, not the least of which are protectionist barriers to global trade. Yet, while policy makers in both countries – and other global leaders – champion principles of free and balanced trade, their respective populations seem to have mixed views on the topic.
Responding to a 52 nation survey by the Nielsen Company, close to half (45%) …

According to the latest Nielsen Global Confidence Survey conducted in the second half of June, Australians are seeing encouraging signs of economic recovery with strong consumer confidence levels and optimism about the state of their finances and willingness to spend over the next 12 months.
Australia ranked fifth of the 28 markets Nielsen measures, just behind fast-growing developing countries Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Brazil, and well ahead of other developed nations.
Forty-four percent of Aussies believe “now is a good/excellent time to buy the things they want,” second highest of all …

Although Australia’s economy may have technically avoided entering a recession, almost two-thirds of Aussies believe that it has, and consumer confidence has plummeted to an all-time low.  Concerns about job security and personal finances have led Australians to change the way they shop, with a focus on value.  Like consumers in Europe and North America, Australians are trying to stretch their dollars further: they are eating out less, entertaining and cooking at home more often and buying more private label goods. 
These changes present a range of challenges for retailers and …

Nielsen Chairman and CEO David Calhoun addressed the 53rd CIES World Food Business Summit in June, providing retailers and manufacturers with a comprehensive view of dramatic shifts in the consumer economy amid the global financial crisis.   
Watch the presentation [29 minutes]
 The freefall of the economy may be coming to an end, but new rules are in play:

There has been a fundamental shift in consumer spending patterns, as restraint has become the new mantra. Over the next 18 months to two years, consumers will make critical decisions about discretionary spending, saving, or paying down debt, …

Consumers’ hopes for an end to the Global Economic Crisis have been bolstered in the 2nd Quarter 2009, according to a Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey released today. The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index, conducted in 28 markets in June 2009, rose to 82 – an increase of 5 points (from 77) from March 2009 – spurred by renewed consumer optimism and stock market gains in BRIC markets (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and key Asian countries. [See full graphic for complete details]

“In the previous Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence survey conducted …

Singaporeans have always been fond of saving their money. But the global financial meltdown has only added to the attractiveness of savings accounts, according to a new survey from The Nielsen Company.  Close to six in ten (57%) Singaporeans said that they are now saving spare cash at the expense of their investments and insurance, marking a slight increase from pre-crisis levels. 
But the biggest change has come from high-income households.  Prior to the crisis, about 40 percent said that they saved most of their money; now, 52 percent indicate that …

Warmer weather seems to have thawed the wallets of British consumers, as sales at grocery chains increased 6.6 percent in the four weeks ending July 11th, the best underlying growth in more than 24 months, according to new research from The Nielsen Company.  The strong results were driven by sales in fresh foods, soft drinks and general merchandise, the latter showing growth in the high single digits.  Unit growth also rose by 2 percent across the sector. 
“Shoppers continue to respond to offers, with another all-time high for promotional spend at …