Record high fuel prices, soaring commodities costs, and declining consumer confidence have changed the way U.S. consumers shop, according to a recent Nielsen consumer survey.  
Results from the survey indicate that 63% of U.S. consumers have reduced their household spending this year. 
The findings also suggest that consumers will continue to combine shopping trips, eat at home, and seek out at-home entertainment.

Will the presidential elections impact Hollywood? 
If history is any guide, Democratic presidents are associated with larger box office sales growth.  From 1980 to 2007, box office sales grew by 2.8%, on average, during Democratic administrations, while average sales growth under Republican administrations was just 1%, according to research released Monday by Nielsen PreView.
Overall, in the past three decades, movie sales have grown almost three times faster during Democratic administrations than during GOP administrations, according to Nielsen.

Hong Kong residents are not immune to the pall cast by the current global economic slowdown and rising inflation.
This year, consumer confidence in Hong Kong has slipped to the lowest level in two years, Nielsen reported Thursday.  Hong Kong’s Nielsen Confidence Index has fallen to 109 in 2008 — from 118 in 2007. 
That trend is forcing Hong Kong residents to change their lifestyles.  According to the most recent Nielsen Consumer Confidence study, 53% of people in Hong Kong are less willing to spend in the next 12 months – up from 39% in 2007.  Two-thirds of Hong Kong residents also reported they …

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the U.S. government’s economic-stimulus payments are helping to boost consumer spending. 
A new study by two professors at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business found that a typical family spent 3.5% more on food, medicines, and other daily essentials when the rebates arrived.
The results also show that the rebates boosted consumption of nondurable goods, which excludes large purchases, by 4.1% during the second quarter of 2008.
The study, which used ACNielsen data on consumer purchases — …

The recent economic downturn has forced consumers to rethink their spending habits. It has also forced consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers and retailers to reevaluate their marketing strategies. Recent analysis by The Nielsen Company revealed those CPG product categories most immune and most vulnerable to a recession. The study shows that products such as seafood, dry pasta and candy are most immune to economic downturn. Beer and pasta sauces also show some level of immunity during tough economic times. The most vulnerable or recession-prone products include carbonated beverages, eggs, cups/plates, …