The drop-off in consumer spending and the uncertainty of the U.S. economy are sure to cause consumer product manufacturers to reconsider their plans to launch new products in 2009. But according to new research from Nielsen, the immediate reaction to abandon launches could be short-sighted and result in missed opportunities.
Nielsen recently mined insights from about 35 new item launches that are actively being monitored across a variety of packaged goods categories in the U.S. and found that product innovation remains important, but should be approached in a different way. For …

As the economy worsened in 2008, U.S. consumers cut discretionary spending — and shifted basic purchases to value-oriented brands and retailers.  Dollar stores and private label brands saw gains — but many other retailers and manufacturers suffered through dramatic declines.
Is the outlook any brighter for the new year?  Food marketing expert Phil Lempert, of SupermarketGuru.com, offers his take on what consumers and retailers can expect in 2009.
Nielsen Wire: How did consumer habits change in 2008 — and how should retailers adjust?
Phil Lempert:
In 2008 shoppers used more coupons, bought more store …

Obesity is more prevalent in the U.S. than ever before, and marketers are taking notice.  Many are actively changing their strategies to create products and messages that appeal to this segment of the population. 
According to NielsenHealth, U.S. households with at least one obese member spend 9% more than the average American household on over-the-counter medications, 10% more on health and beauty care products, and almost 17% more on total medications and remedies. 
Obesity sufferers tend to live in low-income households, with incomes of less than $20,000/year, and are more likely to be middle-aged …

U.S. consumers are now more likely to check nutritional labels than they were in the past, according to a new survey by Nielsen, released Thursday.  
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of U.S. Consumers reported they notice nutritional information on food packaging more often now than they did two years ago.  More than half (51%) said they always check the fat content on nutrition labels, while nearly half check labels for calories (48%) and trans fats (43%). 
Nielsen also found that two-thirds (67%) of U.S. consumers claimed they “mostly” understand the nutritional information on food packaging, …

NYTimes.com’s “Bits” blog, citing Nielsen Mobile data, reported that 3.6% of all mobile phone users in the U.S. – about 9.2 million people – have shopped online via their phones.
That number is expected to grow dramatically in the future, according to Nielsen Mobile’s study, which found that about half of all consumers who transmit data via their phones anticipate making a “mobile purchase” in the future.
But some consumers are steering clear of shopping online by phone — at least for the time being. More than 40% told Nielsen researchers they were wary …