Australia and New Zealand withstood the shockwaves of the global financial crisis as long as possible, but by the end of 2008, ad spending took a hit.
In Australia, estimated ad spend in main media for the year was up 2 percent over 2007.  Year on year comparisons saw the first two quarters of the year posted growth of 14 percent and 5.5 percent, but by the third quarter, spending declined 0.5 percent while the fourth quarter saw a decline of 3.5 percent.

Media Outlet
2008 (US$000’s)
2007 (US$000’s)
% Change

TV
3,157,160
3,184,216
-1%

Newspapers
2,773,024
2,640,745
5%

Magazines
928,759
901,670
3%

Radio
515,324
508,041
1%

Cinema
63,786
61,966
3%

Outdoor
392,705
383,791
2%

Other
227,671
231,145
-2%

TOTAL …

New Zealanders are increasingly concerned about their job security and prospects, according to a new survey from Nielsen.  Job confidence has slumped, with 71 percent of respondents characterizing local job prospects as “not so good” or “bad,” compared to just 38 percent who had that view six months ago.
Consumer confidence has also taken a hit, showing a nine-point drop to 90 since the survey was last conducted in October 2008.  Despite that drop, Kiwis’ confidence is strong compared to other Asia Pacific countries – 12 points higher – and 13 …

The economic decline has affected most parts of the world, but some have been hit harder than others.  One region that seems to be holding its own is Asia Pacific (APAC).  Although consumer confidence in APAC has declined in recent months, those declines have generally not been as steep as in Europe or North America.  Eight of the twelve markets for which Nielsen tracks ad spending posted growth in 2008 over 2007.  That said, most of the markets were registering declines by the fourth quarter.
Main media, defined by Nielsen as …

Determining which car to buy is an important decision, and usually requires a fair amount of research on the part of the buyer.  Thankfully, the Internet has made that process much easier, and New Zealanders have taken to the web with gusto: 84 percent use the Internet for that purpose, according to Nielsen Online.  Visiting used car dealers and consulting with friends and family were the second and third most popular options, respectively.
But buyers aren’t the only ones who benefit, as 62 percent of sellers use the Internet as a …

More New Zealanders than ever are turning to the internet to shop, according to a new report from Nielsen Online.  Those who shop online grew to 45 percent in the fourth quarter 2008, up from 39 percent for the same period a year before.  The adult online shopping population now stands at a record 1.4 million people out of a total population of about 4.5 million.
The trend towards shopping online cuts across most categories, with the most popular categories being airline tickets, books/magazine, clothing and other travel-related services such as …

Most global consumers agree that their countries have hit recession, but opinion on how long the recession will last remains mixed, Nielsen reported Wednesday.
While 53% of those surveyed by Nielsen think their country has hit a prolonged recession that will last more than 12 months, 18% of consumers, concentrated in a handful of emerging markets, like India, Vietnam, China, and Russia, told Nielsen they expect their countries to be out of recession within the next 12 months.
In contrast, consumers in Japan, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Italy, Taiwan, the U.S., and Spain were the …

Over the next two years, Australians’ liquor preferences are expected to change dramatically – with a new “healthy for me, the planet, uncomplicated and authentic” drinks trend emerging, a Nielsen survey released Thursday found.
“Consumers are demanding more sparkling and Sauvignon Blanc wines, craft beers, and beverages claiming low carbon emissions,” Michael Walton, Executive Director Liquor Services, Pacific, Nielsen, noted. 
Nielsen’s survey also found that while Australian consumers are increasingly skeptical about traditional advertising, many are increasingly won over by word of mouth endorsements.
By 2010, retail sales in the Australian packaged liquor market are expected to increase …

New Zealanders are now more likely to surf the Web via broadband — rather than dial-up service, according to a new report released Tuesday by Nielsen.
The report found that in 2007, 54% of New Zealanders accessed the Internet via broadband — a significant increase that matches improvements in the country’s broadband coverage during the same time period.
Online social networking has also experienced growth in New Zealand, according to Nielsen.  As of the end of 2007, nearly half of all New Zealanders had visited Bebo, the country’s most popular social networking site.  …