Despite an obvious affinity for mobile devices in the country, smartphone uptake in Japan has lagged compared to other parts of the world — until very recently.

The significant emotional burden caused by the events at the Fukushima power plant in Japan ignited the attention of Italians who will soon be called on to express their opinion towards nuclear power in a June referendum. In 1987, Italian citizens voted to abolish nuclear power after the Chernobyl nuclear power disaster, but the government wants to return to it.

Latin America was the most confident region according to Nielsen’s latest Consumer Confidence index. Take a closer look at additional regional insights from more than a dozen countries.

2010 will prove to be a tipping point for the online industry in Japan. The industry will break through the shackles imposed by the recent recession and will see stronger growth later this year.

Growth in consumers’ use of social media is changing the media landscape across the world. In Asia Pacific it has become increasingly important for advertisers to understand what is driving this change and leverage its growing popularity.

Social media usage has seen unprecedented growth in Asia Pacific in the past year and is now one of the most critical trends in the online sector, according to Nielsen’s Asia Pacific Social Media Report.

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.

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 …

Even though the economy is mired in recession, a strong majority of Japanese business people describe themselves as “happy” according to a new survey from Nielsen Japan in collaboration with Aera Style Magazine.  In an online survey of 1,000 men, aged 25 to 49, 71 percent said they were happy.  Of those who said they felt “needed in their company,” 76 percent were happy, while only 48 percent of those who did not feel needed at work were similarly joyful.
Job security did not, somewhat surprisingly, affect an individual’s happiness as …

According to a new Nielsen study, 40 percent of consumers surveyed use vitamins and dietary supplements, with North Americans and Asians leading the world in usage (54% and 43%, respectively).  The highest levels of usage were found in the Philippines and Thailand, with 66 percent of consumers saying they take vitamins, although not every day.  56 percent of U.S. consumers surveyed said they take vitamins or supplements, with 44 percent saying they take them daily.
The primary benefit of taking vitamins and supplements, according to more than 60 percent of those …