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 …

In the U.S., food and gasoline prices are surging — along with unemployment, personal debt, and foreclosure rates.
These are just a few of the economic pressures that have forced U.S. consumers to change the “what, when and how” of their spending, James Russo, Vice President, Food Sector Marketing, Nielsen, writes in the July issue of Nielsen’s “Consumer Insight” online newsletter.
Drawing on data culled from across Nielsen’s global marketing, media, entertainment, and retailing services, Russo demonstrates how consumers and retailers are adapting to the tough economic conditions. His advice for manufacturers …