Nielsen recently released a comprehensive study about the spending and media habits of women across 21 developed and emerging countries. At the Nielsen Consumer 360 conference in Frankfurt Germany, new findings about the women of Germany were revealed.

What does it take to successfully launch a new product in Germany? Investigating some common perceptions that German consumers do not like innovations and are only concerned about price, that the retail landscape does not support new innovations, or that keeping an innovation alive is more difficult in Germany than in other established markets, Nielsen reveals the key factors for success with new product innovation at the Consumer 360 conference in Frankfurt, Germany.

With more than one mobile phone per person in Germany, it is a strong mobile market, but the potential for growth exists. German mobile consumers are connected and getting smarter. Nearly two out of every three (63%) mobile purchases in Germany are smartphones.

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 first quarter of 2010 shows a positive trend in nominal value growth rates in most countries, which was driven primarily through volume growth improvement… However, the economic turmoil reached Eastern Europe with a 12-month lag.

With the World Cup kickoff just hours away, the tournament is on the mind – and broadband – of soccer fans worldwide. The Nielsen Company looked at the differences in what was driving the World Cup conversation online across seven different countries.

On average, global web users across 10 countries spent roughly five and a half hours on social networks in February 2010, up more than two hours from the same time last year.

Based on the widest possible basket of product categories in Europe, the fourth quarter 2009 showed nominal growth, which has remained stable since the prior quarter, and around 3% for four consecutive quarters.

Global consumers are increasingly feeling confident about the economy and their finances. While Asia is leading the rebound, signs point to improved consumer behavior in other parts of the world.

Europe experienced a modest volume growth of 1% in the third quarter, down 0.9% compared to the prior quarter. However, this growth is still ahead of the United States.