Follow DRNO on...
UK marketing budgets grew strongly in Q1, although slightly less rapidly than in the previous, record-breaking quarter, according to the IPA's Bellwether report. Slightly more respondents reported rising market research budgets than falling, reversing the trend of the previous quarter. More
Attention measurement specialist Amplified Intelligence has teamed up with photo sharing app Snapchat and media agency OMD to assess how audiences engage with Snapchat's augmented reality (AR) Lenses. More
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has given permanent status to its Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS), which was introduced in 2020 as a rapid feedback tool for how companies were coping with Covid-19. More
Marketing budgets in UK companies are moving upwards more strongly than at any time in the last nine years, according to the latest 'Bellwether' report by advertising body the IPA. Breaking down results however reveals that market research is the one sector still in negative territory. More
In Mumbai, professional body the Market Research Society of India (MRSI) says the country's market research and insights industry grew by 17.6% in 2023, reaching $US 2.9bn - the world's third largest, overtaking China. The Society expects further strong growth to $3.4bn in 2024. More
DRNO's News Editor of seventeen years Mel Crowther passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Mel has been a wonderful colleague and the driving force in making this publication what it is today, as well as a well-loved figure in the industry, and I'm sorry I know her loss will come as a shock to a lot of you. More
We are 25! On 29th Nov 1998 the first job ad appeared on mrweb.com. We're celebrating with the relaunch of our directories, under a new brand and with an ambitious new approach; and with Thank You's to our regular advertisers and some special offers for new ones. More
In the US, the Census Bureau has embarked on a final test of the AIES (Annual Integrated Economic Survey), which will consolidate seven of its annual business surveys into a single measure. On full launch next year the surveys will sample around 385,000 small, medium and large companies. More
The US market for insights and analytics has increased 14.3% in the past year to $71bn, after 16.6% growth last year, according to the 2023 Top 50 report by professional body the Insight Association. More
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has launched a study to examine the future role and value of panels for TV and cross-platform measurement in the US. More
Total UK marketing budgets appear to be rising again, according to the IPA's quarterly Bellwether Report, but the authors say the rise is driven by record investment in short-term focused sales promotion activity. Views of MR budgets were little changed with slightly more respondents (2.9%) reporting decline than growth. More
Companies in the UK are more likely to be seeing MR budget cuts than increases, according to data from the latest Bellwether report from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). In the first quarter of 2023, a net 3.2% of firms reported declining spend. More
MrWeb's RAIDAR real-time ranking of top companies operating in analytics, insight and data is now fully operational, and you'll see financial results, CEO changes and other items from tonight's Daily Research News reflected in tomorrow's top 40. More
UK market research budgets continued to contract during the final three months of last year, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. Total marketing budgets grew during the period however, despite expectations that the economy had entered a recession. More
In the US, experience management group Momentive has launched the 'State of Surveys' report, which highlights the changing trends emerging from the use of its DIY survey software SurveyMonkey over time. Some of the trends uncovered related to non-binary gender options and mobile survey-taking. More
A third (33%) of the global public personally trust market research companies, compared to 19% who don't, according to the latest GRBN Global Trust Survey. More
In the UK, more firms continue to report growth in marketing budgets than decline, despite the country's soaring cost of living and economic / political uncertainty, according to the IPA Bellwether Report. However, the net positive balance was at its lowest for 18 months. More
Almost two thirds (64%) of MR and social research agencies across Europe participating in trade body federation EFAMRO's 'Moodindicator' survey believe research revenues will increase in the next year. More
Total UK marketing budgets continued to grow at a solid pace in the second quarter of 2022, according to the latest Bellwether Report from ad association the IPA; but market research was not among the gainers, with budgets falling for a net 6.5% of companies. More
Recent and ongoing disruption of markets and economies is driving growth in demand for market understanding research - faster even than that in new product development, brand and comms - according to a new survey of MR and marketing professionals by consumer insights provider Toluna. More
More than a third (38%) of consumers incorrectly recall their digital shopping journey behavior, according to the findings of a new study conducted by consumer insights platform DISQO. More
More than one million households completed Scotland's Census 2022, ahead of Census Day which was yesterday, 20th March. More
Half of UK MPs (members of parliament) were unable to answer a simple probability question correctly, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS). More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains and Bodies', MindProber's Pedro Moreira looks at the company's use of electrodermal activity (EDA) to analyse the extraordinary success of the hit TV show. What worked best, and why? [Spoiler Alert: this makes reference to surprise scenes etc.] More
In the UK, the Insight Climate Collective (ICC) has launched a report called 'Net-Zero In Sight', setting out goals that research businesses must commit to, in order to eliminate the emissions generated by the industry by 2026. More
This is the last edition of DRNO for 2021 - we'll be back on Tuesday 4th January. From all of us at MrWeb to all those of you celebrating it, a very Merry Christmas; and to all of you, thanks for reading this year and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2022. Here we look backwards and forwards briefly... More
Media and marketing agency Talent Corp has partnered with research agency Lewers and survey firm Pureprofile to launch a new survey called The Australian Talent Index, which measures the popularity of the country's celebrities. More
UK marketing budget growth is at its strongest in more than four years, according to the 2021 IPA Bellwether Report. Narrowly positive results for market research spend ended six years of downward movement for the sector. More
UK market research budgets were revised down in the latest quarter, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report - extending the negative trend seen since the third quarter of 2015. However, the latest MR budget reduction was the 'softest' in two years. More
Global industry association ESOMAR has teamed up with NewMR, Confirmit and more than twenty other organisations for the next wave of its survey among buyers and users of insights, measuring how usage and purchasing patterns are evolving. More
UK advertising budgets for market research fell during the first quarter of 2021, although the most recent IPA Bellwether report found that this latest result marks the 'softest reduction' since the final quarter of 2019. More
The Insight Climate Collective (ICC), a group calling on the industry to come together and play its part in tackling the environmental crisis, has launched a survey through which all UK insight sector professionals can provide their views on climate change. More
Britain's decennial census, taking place (other than Scotland) next month, will for the first time ask people if they are a veteran of the armed forces. More
From this week, Daily Research News will feature video interviews of around 20-25 minutes with leading figures in the insights and analytics world, giving you more depth on some of the stories in the news, and talking about themselves, their companies and their views. More
Slovakian TV audience measurement steering committee PMT has awarded Kantar an eight-year extension to its existing contract to provide official TV audience measurement data for the country. This new contract runs until 2029. More
New US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order preventing the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from Census Bureau data. More
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced plans to publish credit and debit card transaction data from the Bank of England, to help analyse how individuals have been spending their money during the past twelve months. More
UK market research budgets fell in the fourth quarter of 2020, with 34% of firms reporting a decrease and only 11.4% a rise - according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
In the US, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham has announced his retirement, effective with the Presidential transition this Wednesday; and has thanked Bureau staff for their 'extraordinary accomplishments, especially those related to the successful 2020 Census'. More
DRNO is taking a break now until 4th January. It's been a strange old 12 months, but we're looking forward greatly to 2021. We wish those of you doing it a fantastic Christmas, and everyone a great New Year. More
UK market research budgets experienced another 'marked decline' in the third quarter - the second sharpest since data collection for this category started in the final quarter of 2012 - according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
Last year, research revenue for the Top 50 US-based market research and data analytics companies rose 4.8% to $14.8bn - comprising an almost equal split of domestic (50.2%) and international (49.8%) business - according to the latest annual Top 50 Report. More
UK professional body the MRS has noted a slight positive shift in the expectations of companies in the post-Covid world; and has downgraded its earlier call on the government to 'save the sector' to a more modest appeal for investment in infrastructure and innovation. More
The US Census Bureau has announced it is to end its data collection for the 2020 Census a month early on September 30th, prompting a warning from four former bureau directors that this could mean hard-to-count communities being missed, and less accurate data being produced. More
A new study conducted by industry trade association ESOMAR has highlighted that 7 in 10 people are concerned about sharing their personal data with businesses, while two thirds say they don't like the current privacy practices employed by data collectors. More
Scotland's next census is to be moved to March 2022 due to the impact of Covid-19; and for the first time will mainly be completed online. More
According to media reports, Census Bureau officials are concerned that the White House has added two 'political operatives' to the US Census team. More
The UK's MRS, the Insights Association in the US and The Research Society in Australia have teamed up to launch a global mental wellbeing study, which they say will assess the impact of the pandemic and inform support for the research sector. More
Britain's Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has agreed that publishers will no longer have to make their circulation figures public. In addition, ABC will no longer publish its public monthly report, though the figures will still be available to advertisers. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) and Next15's data and insights group Savanta have officially launched a framework to guide businesses in building competitive advantage through market and social research. More
In the US, a group of senators has written to Senate leadership asking for additional funding for the Census Bureau, which they say is needed to address the operational changes resulting from the current public health crisis. More
The insights sector is in line for an $18.7 billion loss in value due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report released by industry body ESOMAR and based on a survey of 2,889 professionals from 127 countries. More
Ipsos MORI is to support the UK government's new home testing programme for coronavirus, which aims to track levels of infection in the community. More
Continuing our focus on 'Insights in the Mobile Age' Mario Paic, Global Head of Data Science, looks at the rise of the smartphone and discusses its central role today at Ipsos Audience Measurement. More
Market research has been listed as the worst-performing category in the latest IPA Bellwether Report, as UK marketing budgets decline at the fastest rate since the global financial crisis of 2009. More
Britain's official statistics service, the ONS, is introducing new surveys and data sources reflecting 'widespread disruption to the UK and constraints on its operations'. More
US-based healthcare polling company and online physician community Sermo has invited all doctors globally to participate in a Covid-19 Real Time Barometer study, providing a weekly perspective of physicians' insights and perspectives on the crisis. More
Social media monitoring and marketing platform Socialbakers has opened up its platform to help non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world communicate, and inform and educate the public through social media channels during the Coronavirus pandemic. More
Governments in many countries are using or examining the use of location intelligence from mobile phones to track the spread of Coronavirus and the behaviour of their populations - leading some to worry about privacy; while private data from mobile analyst OnAudience compares the willingness of Poles, Italians and Brits to curtail their movements. More
US-based association the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) is to support the U.S. Census Bureau in building awareness of the 2020 Census, and encouraging participation. More
The US Census Bureau has announced the suspension of field operations for two weeks until April 1st, to protect the health and safety of the American public, its own employees and temporary census takers during the Covid-19 pandemic. More
In London, the UK Statistics Authority has launched a joint Consultation with HM Treasury, aimed at addressing the 'shortcomings' of the RPI (Retail Price Index) as a measure of inflation. The CPIH measure, which includes housing costs, is held up as a better indicator. More
Technology research and advisory firm ISG (Information Services Group) has launched a study examining the global marketplace for providers of SAP-related services. It will initially examine products and services available in the US, Germany, the UK, Brazil and the Nordic countries. More
The Ministry of Information Technology and Communications of Colombia (MINTIC) has commissioned Kantar subsidiary Kantar IBOPE to measure digital audiences of eight regional TV channels, with initial data to be reported during the first half of 2020. More
Research-on-research body the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has announced it is working on a TV Attribution study, aiming to define best practices for better representation of television in attribution models. More
Continuing our special features on Insight in the Mobile Age Abraham Muller, CTO at Brandwatch Qriously, looks at how mobile methods can make election polling easier to implement and more accurate. More
Memories are short (well ours are anyway) and when we started our summary of 'the MR world in 2002' we expected to find an industry deeply affected by the global downturn of that year. Only when we got reading did we remember that of course, until 2009, research used to be recession-proof! More
Telegraph Media Group (TMG), publisher of UK papers the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, has announced it will withdraw from the country's ABC circulation audits, as it continues to focus its strategy on building digital circulation. More
Researchers at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications are collaborating with Comscore, to identify the causes of advertising avoidance and audience drop-off during commercial airings. More
In the US, Congress has finally delivered full funding to the Census Bureau for the Fiscal Year 2020, according to the Insights Association, just in time for the decennial headcount to start. More
Britain's pollsters did well in the General Election campaign, with some individual companies and the overall average predicting actual vote share very accurately. All underestimated the scale of the Conservative majority - seats still being harder to call than votes - but the science behind both is developing. More
2001, like 1984, was a year for which fiction had given us very specific expectations, and while disappointingly little coasted through the heavens to the strains of the 'Blue Danube', some MR industry giants certainly soared. Here's our review of the year on DRNO. More
Non-profit organization the Israeli Audience Research Board (IARB) has awarded WPP's insight arm Kantar a seven-year contract to continue operating the country's TV trading currency, with the option of an extension until 2030. More
Today it's exactly 21 years since MrWeb was officially launched - a traditional coming-of-age here in the UK. In Internet terms, 21 is ancient really, and we'll do a bit of looking backward over the next few weeks, but we also have major plans for the coming year. Details here - and your feedback wanted! More
US industry body the Insights Association (IA) has applauded temporary legislation which contains increased funding for the 2020 Census, and says it will improve the odds of preparations for the census being completed. More
For the first time in seven years, more UK marketers told the IPA's Bellwether survey their budgets decreased than increased during the third quarter of 2019 - although the change from the previous quarter was small. Figures for MR were the worst of any sub-sector and the worst in seven years. More
On 29th November 1998 MrWeb - publisher of DRNO - officially launched with the appearance of its first job ad. To celebrate our twenty-first birthday we're publishing special supplements on five major growth areas in the sector, beginning this month with online communities. More
The insight sector around the world including traditional and new areas turned over around $80bn in 2018, according to ESOMAR's annual Global MR report - up from $76bn in 2017. New areas such as data analytics accounted for most but not all of the growth, rising around 10% year-on-year. More
Sample provider P2Sample has partnered with not-for-profit organization Women in Research (WIRe), to launch a study which evaluates the percentage of women in MR executive roles. Across 133 firms analysed, only a third (36%) of exec roles were occupied by women. More
M&A activity in the marketing sector in the first half of 2019 was largely driven by private equity (PE) investment, with most of the major marcoms networks absent from the list of the most active buyers, according to a report. More
Results from the Bellwether survey conducted by ad industry body the IPA suggest a cautious mood among the UK's marketers, with budgets unchanged. As usual more respondents reported decreases than increases in their MR budgets. More
President Donald Trump has abandoned attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census, and instead issued an executive order demanding federal agencies hand over records on the number of citizens, non-citizens and undocumented immigrants living in the US. More
President Trump has said he plans to push ahead with adding a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census, contradicting previous statements from his administration that the plan had been shelved. More
National audience currency provider BARC India has announced the launch of 'PrimaVU', a product designed to measure viewing in 'premium homes' and offered as a separate product from the ad currency service. More
The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's reasoning for adding a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census. The President, now seeking a delay, tweeted: 'Can anyone really believe that as a great country, we are not able to ask whether or not someone is a citizen[?] Only in America!' More
In the US, insights and analytics firm J.D. Power is to publish the results of its 'first ever' Telehealth Satisfaction Study in November. More
London-based YouGov has partnered with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University and The Guardian newspaper, to release a new study on globalisation and populism. More
In the US, business news provider CNBC has partnered with DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey to launch the @Work Survey and the CNBC/SurveyMonkey Workplace Happiness Index. More
Customer insights and messaging consultancy Engagious and data collection firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) have hooked up to conduct a series of monthly swing voter focus groups in 'key battleground' counties across the US. More
Digital ad industry body IAB Australia has appointed former News Corp exec Natalie Stanbury as Research Director to work on a new initiative called the Future of Measurement, which aims to provide a full review of audience measurement across media and platforms. More
Pollsters predicted the correct outcome of every major national election held in 2017, according to research conducted by Kantar. More
The UK's top 100 individual market research agencies reported 'strong but slowing' growth of 2.8% in 2016, according to the latest League Tables from the MRS (Market Research Society). More
Marshalled by the Insights Association, twenty-one US business associations have written to Congress urging accommodation of the Secretary of Commerce's request for an additional $187m to support the 2020 Census. More
Today we are launching a survey of the UK market research industry, in partnership with B2B specialist Circle Research. If you're a UK insights or analytics professional, we want your input! More
Marketing budgets in North America have fallen back to 2015 levels in 2017 after three years of growth, according to a survey by Gartner. The proportion of budget spent on marketing technology is also well down on last year. More
UK market research budgets appear to have fallen for the ninth successive quarter - but at a much slower rate than previously, according to the latest 2017 IPA Bellwether Report. Meanwhile marketing budgets have risen for a net 10% of companies. More
Last year saw the MR industry experience its highest level of growth since 2010, according to the latest study by international association ESOMAR. More
Women are still being passed over for top positions in the market research industry, and are more pessimistic about their prospect of promotion, according to the results of research conducted by networking organization Women in Research (WIRe), which ran its first study five years ago. More
In the UK, the House of Lords' recently formed Select Committee on Political Polling and Digital Media has announced a 'public call for evidence' on issues relating to the effects of political polling and digital media on politics. More
Companies' intangible assets - including the value of their brands, reputation and employee skills - should be included on balance sheets in financial reporting, according to a growing lobby of experts from both multinationals and consultancies. More
The US research industry maintained a strong annual growth rate in 2016, despite 'tepid' overall economic growth, according to this year's AMA Gold Top 50 Report. Total revenue generated for the 202 companies surveyed was $11.584bn, up 5.7%. More
Another UK General Election has come and gone, with winners and losers amongst the survey firms as well as the politicians. Once again most people seem to be stunned by the result; while the adjustments made after the last election look like the key reason they didn't get this one broadly right. Who'd be a pollster? More
UK market research budgets appear to have fallen for the seventh quarter in a row, according to the latest Bellwether Report by the IPA. However, respondents were very positive indeed about other marketing spend. More
Researchers at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) have been using brain scans to understand the elements in a TV advert that trigger viewers to find the product online. More
Around forty percent of marketers in a new survey say they will be carrying out independent audits of Facebook's audience metrics, following the social network's recent measurement problems. More
US market research associations CASRO and MRA have completed their merger, forming the Insights Association. More
This is the last edition of Daily Research News for 2016. We wish all our readers, clients, contributors and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. More
From today, DRNO will be adding a new section focusing on more news of actual surveys - from project wins to interesting fieldwork and results. See the link above for 'Survey Briefs'. We're also, for the first time, offering advertisers a chance to sit at the very top of the news email, for one day. More
Marketing spend in the UK looks to be rising, despite the climate of uncertainty created by the Brexit vote in June, according to the IPA's quarterly Bellwether Report. More
The U.S. Census Bureau is preparing to release results from its first-ever Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs. More
A substantial sideshow to the debate that has dominated British media for the past two months has been speculation over how opinion pollsters would fare. Some even suggested that if they were badly wrong again, they might give up. Given that pressure, we think they did OK. More
With the UK's 'Brexit' referendum vote looming tomorrow, TNS has revealed details of an Election Day Voter Panel of 200 people intending to vote. The Panel aims to investigate the reasons for the much-discussed phenomenon of 'last minute swing', apparently common in referenda and elections. More
The UK's 'professional research and evidence market' has grown massively in the last three and a half years to an annual turnover of £4.8bn - up 62% - and a workforce of 73,000 professionals, according to a report by PwC for the MRS. More
Draft findings from an inquiry steered by the British Polling Council (BPC) and MRS into why UK pollsters overestimated Labour and underestimated Conservative support in last year's UK general election, suggest that unrepresentative samples led to an inability to reach enough Conservative voters. More
Market research budgets fell for many companies in the final three months of 2015, according to the most recent IPA Bellwether Report of UK marketing expenditure. Respondents reporting a fall in MR budgets outnumbered those reporting a rise by an even bigger margin than in Q3. More
More than one-third of insights providers agree with the statement that '50% of full-service market research suppliers will be out of business within five years', according to findings from the latest GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report (GRIT) *. More
Global marketing activity continued to grow in November, with European execs the most optimistic and those in the Americas least so, according to the Global Marketing Index (GMI) compiled by World Economics. More
UK marketing budgets grew again in Q2 2015, according to the latest IPA Bellwether report, but marketers' general confidence declined due to company prospects and general doubt about the global economy. The picture for MR budgets improved slightly from April's report. More
The American Marketing Association has teamed up with research body CASRO to produce this year's AMA Gold Top 50 report, ranking US research suppliers. The report suggests total US research revenue for 192 surveyed firms grew in real terms by 1.6% in 2014. Four companies grew revenue by more than 40 percent. More
The British Polling Council, supported by the Market Research Society (MRS), is setting up an independent enquiry to look into why UK pollsters underestimated or completely missed the Conservative lead over Labour during the run-up to yesterday's general election. More
The IPA's latest Bellwether survey of marketing executives indicates a further upward revision to UK marketing budgets during the first quarter of 2015, but says spend on market research fell by 1.3%, having risen 0.6% in the previous quarter. More
Today we're launching a new recruitment site, 1potato, dedicated to opportunities for data and analytics professionals. Many readers and users of MrWeb / DRNO have been asking for something like it for years, and with the big data / data science boom, the time should be ripe. More
According to reports in the Australian media, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government is considering canning the country's census, and replacing it with a smaller sample survey. More
The MR industry in the US has now recovered from the recession, according to professional association the MRA - whose Research Industry Index (RII) score has remained above 100 for the fifth consecutive quarter. More
UK-based agency RSM has released results from its six-monthly survey of research professionals. Among the findings, the agency notes strong support for the value of, and confidence in the continuing use of, 'traditional' methods of data collection. More
In the UK, marketing budgets were revised up for the eighth consecutive quarter, reflecting continued confidence in the business outlook, according to the Q3 2014 Bellwether report from ad association the IPA. More
How much is a piece of personal data worth? According to a study conducted by mobile giant Orange, consumers' price tag is around £13 for a single piece if it is shared with a brand they already know, and £15 for organisations they have not dealt with previously. More
The global research industry grew faster than inflation in 2013, with turnover for 'traditionally defined MR' passing the $40bn mark, according to ESOMAR's annual report, just released. More
IPA's Bellwether Report for the first quarter of 2014 shows a record number of UK firms reporting rising marketing budgets, completing a year of sustained improvement for the sector. More
UK-based researchers in RSM's 6-monthly survey are increasingly optimistic about research spend and about the economy in general; and are increasingly likely to have worked with at least one emerging technique, in an industry seen as changing rapidly. More
Global marketers who made tools like new media, marketing automation, omnichannel and big data the core of their strategies got it wrong in 2013, according to a report by the Fournaise Marketing Group. Most failed on ROI targets by focusing too much on new media rather than on research and testing, the study says. More
In the US, the Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has increased from 100 to 102, reflecting management's growing confidence in the health of research firms. More
The business outlook for marketers around the world remains positive, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI), which takes into account marketers' expectations for trading conditions, marketing and staffing levels. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has published its Annual League Table ranking the 81 provider companies with the largest UK turnover. Like-for-like growth of 0.12% is seen as a sign of general recovery - but which firm grew 63% and which shrank by a third? More
Marketers around the world are growing in confidence, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI). The overall index hit a two year high - climbing three points to 57.8 from 54.8 in October, on a scale where values above 50 indicate a positive trend. More
Nearly a third (30%) of UK MPs would support a ban on the publication of opinion polls in the run-up to general elections, according to a recent survey carried out by ComRes. More
UK trade bodies the IPA, Marketing Society, and Market Research Society have launched the first stage of a cross-industry research initiative to study the role of social media, including how to measure its effectiveness and return on investment. More
While UK marketing spend has risen at the strongest rate recorded in nearly thirteen years, market research budgets were down in Q3, according to the latest IPA Bellwether survey. More
In the US, the Nielsen-sponsored Council for Research Excellence says its recent study findings show random error in Nielsen diaries continues to grow, with the great majority of local broadcast and cable ratings falling outside the traditional 10% benchmark error range. More
The Research Industry Index (RII) - the Marketing Research Association's indicator of business activity in the profession in the US - has reached 100 for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2010, signalling growing optimism across the sector. More
Global MR industry turnover grew by 3.2% to $39.1 billion in 2012, according to ESOMAR's latest Global Market Research Report. During the year, strong performance was seen in Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America, countering 'sluggish' performances elsewhere. More
UK TV ratings body BARB is now reporting month-old timeshift data, in order to determine how TV viewing builds in the four weeks following broadcast. The new format adds to the existing BARB Gold Standard figures, which measure viewing seven days after broadcast. More
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has proposed two money-saving options to replace the ten-year paper-based UK Census - either moving it online, or using existing administrative data combined with a 'rolling' annual survey conducted among 4% of the population. More
emma, Australia's new industry-backed newspaper and magazine readership survey, has published its first figures, which show substantially larger audiences - for most publications - than the metrics produced by Roy Morgan. More
UK researchers are feeling more positive, possibly because of an increase in their budgets and revenues, suggests RSM in its latest Research Professionals' survey. More
Marketing budgets in many British firms were revised upwards in the second quarter of 2013, giving the most optimistic picture in six years according to one measure in the latest IPA Bellwether survey, published today. Market research budgets however appear little changed. More
UK TV ratings body BARB is inviting research agencies to design a hybrid measurement system, following the recent news that the organisation has started the process for collecting census data for TV viewing through all computer devices. More
Few consumers are keen on the idea of the introduction of cameras and sensors which allow TVs to identify who is watching which TV content, according to results of a survey conducted by data and analytics business consulting firm Strategy Analytics. More
YouGov has launched an eGov Satisfaction Survey (eGSS) in the United Arab Emirates, in order to monitor how UAE nationals and expats view the online services they receive from public institutions. More
Is it possible to talk about the mass of new skills and techniques bombarding the profession without feeling depressed about the traditional skills of the market researcher? Most definitely, says MrWeb co-founder Nick Thomas, continuing our celebration of 100,000 MR job ads. More
Today we reach the milestone of 100,000 job ads on MrWeb. It's taken just over fourteen years and 1,806 different advertisers, and in that time we've seen many changes in the way researchers are recruited, and the skills in demand. Co-founder Nick Thomas starts an in-depth review today. More
Worldwide marketing budgets have risen for the first time in more than eight months, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI). More
UK marketers may have 'slightly' increased their spend on market research in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the latest IPA Bellwether report. More
UK researchers' confidence for the year ahead has dipped, with more predicting a deterioration in the sector's financial health than an improvement, according to RSM's latest Research Professionals' survey. More
A new study by the Nielsen-funded Council for Research Excellence (CRE) highlights the difficulties posed for audience researchers by the growing variety of video consumption devices such as tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles. More
Better trading conditions have prompted marketers to report a 'generally improved' outlook in December, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI). However, the survey suggests this confidence has not carried over to the budget setting process. More
Marketers are growing more pessimistic following cuts to their budgets across Asia Pacific and Europe and stagnant figures in the US, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI) report. More
UK marketing budgets appear to have fallen slightly for a second successive quarter, according to the latest IPA Bellwether survey. Business confidence among marketers has also fallen, with a tough trading environment hampering profitability and cash flow. More
Denmark's National TV Steering Committee and Kantar Media have announced plans to enhance the country's existing TV Audience Measurement (TAM) service with the inclusion of TV viewing on PCs, smartphones, and tablets from 2013. More
A redefined UK MR sector is 50% larger than previously estimated and worth more than £3 billion a year, according to an independent review conducted by PwC on behalf of the country's MRS (Market Research Society). More
Commercial Radio Australia has issued an invitation for agencies to tender for the supply of radio audience measurement services, and says it is open to recommendations for supplementary data collection methods, such as online diaries and the use of mobiles and tablets to record radio listening. More
OzTAM - Australia's official source of television audience measurement – has extended its contract with Nielsen for the supply of services in the five Australian metropolitan markets, while committing to the development of multi-screen measurement. More
The world's 25 largest marketing, advertising and public opinion research conglomerates saw revenues increase by 4.1% to $18.7bn in 2011, according to research industry pundit Jack Honomichl. More
Print metrics provider GfK StarchMetrix has partnered with media research specialist Sinomonitor to launch what it describes as the first study to measure consumer recall of magazine advertisements in China. More
UK marketers are about as likely to be raising as lowering their budgets this year, and are still cautious in their own plans for the coming year, but are far more confident about general prospects for their own companies and sectors, according to the latest IPA Bellwether. More
US pollster John Zogby has joined his son Jonathan at JZ Analytics as a Senior Analyst. In his new role, he will be overseeing a series of 2012 presidential election surveys, designed to track public opinion of the primary and general election candidates. More
UK marketing budgets were revised up for the second successive quarter, according to the Q4 IPA Bellwether survey - despite a fall in business optimism to levels not seen since 2008. More
Every month Daily Research News publishes over 150 stories from the market research industry and 2011's grand total of items was 1,886. So which of them grabbed you? Features Editor Teresa Lynch looks at the most read stories. More
UK marketing budgets in all categories rose during Q3 according to the latest IPA Bellwether survey, with online seeing the largest quarter-on-quarter jump in the history of the report. Despite this, marketing executives' general confidence in their sectors hit a two-and-a-half year low. More
The market research industry has returned to growth following two 'very challenging years', according to ESOMAR's Global Market Research 2011 report. Global turnover rose to US $31.2 billion in 2010, representing a total year-on-year growth of 5.2%, or 2.8% allowing for inflation. More
Nielsen has formed a strategic alliance with India-based Informate Mobile Intelligence, which uses on-device metering technology installed on panellists' handsets. More
Recruitment stats for the UK market research sector show an industry treading water since the partial recovery from 2009. Job ad numbers in the first half of 2011 were remarkably similar to those for H1 2010, and so were mean salaries - except for a rise in highly-paid senior roles. More
The world's 25 largest research firms had revenues of $18.8 billion in 2010, up 4.9% on the previous 'dismal' year - a 'very healthy turnaround' according to industry authority Jack Honomichl. However, 'real' revenues were not quite back to their 2008 levels, and some companies continued to shrink. More
In the UK, total marketing spend has declined for the third successive quarter, according to the latest Institute of Practitioners in Advertising's (IPA) Bellwether Report. More
In the UK, the BBC has named 37 agencies which have been selected to become part of the BBC's audience research roster. The firms are now preferred suppliers and can pitch for research projects designed to uncover what the corporation's audiences want and value. More
The UK market research industry all but halted the decline in its revenues in 2010, according to research carried out by the MRS (Market Research Society). Following a fall of 4.7% the previous year, revenues eased off just 0.2% in 2010 to £2.06 billion. More
In the US, Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), a not-for-profit trade association for retail marketers, has launched a multi-mode Shopper Engagement Study which will use neuroscience, eye-tracking and shopper interviews to investigate the power and speed of action of in-store marketing. More
Gaming market researcher Newzoo and app store analyst Distimo have announced a partnership to provide unique monthly data on game sales and downloads across all Apple App Stores, covering the US and six European nations. More
Apple is the world's number 1 brand by a distance, adding 84% to last year's valuation to leapfrog mobile o/s rival Google, according to Millward Brown's Brandz index, just published. More
UK marketing budgets were revised down again in Q1 2011 in response to public sector spending cuts and rapidly rising cost pressures, according to the latest Bellwether survey published by ad association the IPA. More
In the US, client-side researchers have reported a 13% increase in the number of suppliers they worked with in the last quarter of 2010, according to the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). This, says the MRA, is perhaps an indication of 'good things to come' for suppliers in 2011. More
In the US, Nielsen funded client think tank The Council for Research Excellence (CRE) has selected research and advisory firm BIA/Kelsey to conduct a review of research currently available about user experience on multiple video platforms. More
The latest IPA/BDO Bellwether survey, published today, gives very little cheer. UK marketing budgets were revised down in the fourth quarter and there is uncertainty about an end to the recession. Mind you, we're not sure it tells us much about the prospects for market research. More
The US market research industry continued its recovery in the third quarter of 2010, according to the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII), based on reports of business levels from more than two hundred senior execs in the sector. More
Most Americans would welcome a 'Do Not Track' measure to prevent advertisers from tracking their online movements, according to a new poll conducted by Gallup. More
The first set of results from the 2010 US Census are just in, showing the total population up 9.7% to 308m since 2000, with the Western and Southern states growing relative to the NE and Mid-West. A strong response rate meant the Census came in under budget by $1.7bn. More
Around a quarter (24.9%) of Americans no longer have home telephones, according to a report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which warns that the potential for bias due to undercoverage remains a 'real and growing threat' to surveys. More
In the US, Mirrus - developer of the 'Mirror Image' digital advertising mirror - has partnered with media research specialist Millward Brown Optimor to study the effectiveness of this technology as an ad medium in airport restrooms. More
Most large US companies are not currently using social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter to gather customer feedback, according to the findings of a study conducted by research technology firm MarketTools. Some of them aren't using any other medium either... More
The U.S. Census Bureau has for the first time released 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS), making available social, economic, housing and demographic statistics for every community in the country. More
UK-based Nunwood has launched a league table of national and international brands rated on customer experience. Online retail giant Amazon tops the overall list, based on feedback from 5,500 consumers. More
In the US, Nielsen funded client think tank the Council for Research Excellence (CRE) is looking for an agency to analyse current research on new video-media usage - such as how screen size and 3D TV affects viewer engagement and how people consume video on mobile devices. More
In the UK, marketing budgets rose slightly in the third quarter of this year according to the latest Bellwether report, but the study's author has urged caution ahead of public sector cuts and the anticipated increase in VAT. More
In the US, Canoe Ventures - a firm founded to make it easier for advertisers to buy, use and measure ad technologies - has partnered with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) on a research initiative to understand TV viewers' behavior. More
Market research and public relations have the brightest recruitment outlook among marketing and advertising roles in the US in the remainder of 2010, according to a survey of marketing and ad execs for The Creative Group. More
ESOMAR has released its annual report on the global market research industry, painting a sobering picture of the first decline in MR turnover since it began measuring in 1988, but also striking a positive note. More
The world's Top 25 research organizations had a 'dismal' year for revenue in 2009, according to market research industry authority Jack Honomichl. During the year, total revenues for the 25 firms who made this year's list were down by 3.1% to $17.4bn. More
The US Census Bureau has saved $1.6 billion on the cost of the US population count, because of what it describes as a 'strong public response' and no major problems. More
New Scientist is a publication full of scientific scepticism and not particularly renowned for its love of marketing or market research. So if it says, 'I'm convinced this time there's something in it', we should perhaps listen. MrWeb's Nick Thomas interviews the magazine's Deputy Editor, Graham Lawton. More
US companies continue to demand more accountability from their senior marketing executives and marketing departments, according to a survey conducted by MarketShare Partners (MSP) for Forbes Insights. More
Debate over the Canadian government's scrapping of the long form of the census is intensifying, with opponents pointing to an almost complete lack of complaints about the supposedly 'intrusive' survey, while supporters claim opposition comes from 'vested interests'. More
GfK Consumer has rolled out its first 'Future Buy' annual study of US shopping behaviors based on a mix of research methodologies, through which it has identified a new breed of consumer known as 'XTreme Shoppers'. More
In Canada, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has lobbied the federal Government to reverse its decision to eliminate the mandatory long-form census questionnaire and replace it with a shorter version which the MRIA claims will exclude hard-to-reach respondents. More
One of the world's oldest surveys, the UK's national Census, may be axed according to comments by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude. The March 2011 survey, for which preparations are far advanced, will still take place at an estimated cost of £482m. More
UK marketing budgets were down a fraction in Q2 amid uncertainty regarding the economic outlook, according to the latest IPA/BDO Bellwether survey published today. Budgets for Internet marketing were however revised upwards. More
In our latest selection from the mass of market research and marketing data generated by the 2010 World Cup, Features Editor Teresa Lynch brings you shoes, shirts, soccer, soft drinks, smartphones, space science and the savoury smell of simmering squid. More
Just as you thought the World Cup was 'so last week' here we go again with (among other things) call centre productivity; social media match predictions; and the disturbing prospect of Diego Maradona running round Buenos Aires naked. More
According to a study conducted in the US by Forbes Insight and marketing agency George P Johnson (GPJ), just 59% of Chief Marketing Officers are measuring customer engagement, despite it being regarded as an essential metric for brand marketers. More
America's top 50 research firms saw domestic revenues fall 3.5% to $8.61bn in 2009, according to the latest annual report compiled by Jack Honomichl. This compares with a 1.6% increase to $8.98bn in 2008. More
A modest 38% of England fans will throw World Cup 'sickies' this month, costing the UK c.£1bn in lost work - but not in vain, as it can be scientifically proven that England are going to win. Yes, predictably, we are inundated with stats, and our Features Editor Teresa Lynch will bottle only the finest for you. More
A new study suggests that brain scans can identify whether a consumer intends to buy a product, even when they are not consciously considering their choices. More
In the UK, the MRS has revealed a positive outlook for the sector, with lower-than-expected decline during 2009. Meanwhile, in the US, the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII) has reported the highest index score since the fourth quarter of 2007. More
At a conference recently the closing panel was asked 'What happens if PaddyPower get this one right and we don't?'. The consensus was that we couldn't be blamed for this one since it was 'too close to call'. As it was, pollsters did pretty well, as did two former researchers who are now MPs. More
Nielsen has released initial findings from its China 'Three Screen Report', which aims to provide insights into how Chinese consumers are using TV, Internet and mobile platforms. More
In the UK, LibDem leader Nick Clegg was seen as being the 'most persuasive' of the three party leaders, in last night's televised Leader Debate, according to feedback from the 'MESH Election Experience Monitor'. More
Nielsen and Facebook have released the findings of a study which claims to show that ads placed on social media sites are more likely than others to be noticed and remembered, while also increasing users' intent to purchase. More
Marketing budgets rose in Q1 for the first time in ten quarters, according to the latest IPA/BDO Bellwether survey, which is published today. The survey of marketers in 300 UK companies found c.21% reporting a rise in spend. More
Last night, researchers in the UK were busy conducting instant polls to track response to the nation's first televised leader debate, which drew 9.4 million viewers. More
In the UK, ITV News at Ten has partnered with polling firm ComRes to provide viewers with instant analysis of the impact that Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg make on the electorate during their forthcoming TV debates. More
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has recently launched a new measurement system, Customer Experience Measurement (CEM), which replaces a system in use since the early 1990s. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association's (MRA) 'Research Industry Index' (RII), ended the year with a strong gain, which according to the association paints a 'much brighter picture' for the US industry than at the beginning of 2009. More
56% of UK companies consider their marketing measurement capability to be 'non-existent or basic', according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), in partnership with consultants Deloitte. More
US trade body CASRO has reported in its 'Year-end State of the Business Survey' that 77% of its members are forecasting increased revenues in 2010; with just 1% believing that revenues will decrease during the year. More
In Canada, a study conducted for a television industry client by biometrics specialist Innerscope Research suggests the medium comfortably outperforms others in securing high emotional and cognitive responses to ads. More
UK marketing spend fell for the ninth quarter running in Q4, according to the IPA's regular Bellwether survey. However the report says budget cuts were the smallest in two years and optimism about the financial outlook was at its highest for five years. More
More than one in five American households (22.7%) have dropped landlines in favor of using cell phones, according to results from the most recent National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). More
The last quarter saw a marginal improvement in US researcher confidence, according to the Marketing Research Association's Research Industry Index (RII). More
BARB - which provides weekly TV audience figures in the UK - has developed a new TV audience measurement service, featuring new methodologies, improved geographical design and a new viewing panel. More
The Newspaper Society (NS) - which represents and promotes the interests of Britain's regional and local media - has launched what it claims to be the UK's first integrated print and online audience currency. More
In Israel, the IARB has awarded syndicated research specialist TNS Telegal a new five-year contract to continue operating the national Israeli Television Audience Measurement (TAM) service. More
The recently launched Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is to make digital set-top-box data (STB) its first priority, following a recent meeting held with audience measurement leaders. More
Pharmaceutical research giant IMS Health has agreed to be sold to private equity firm TPG Capital and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for $5.2bn. More
In the UK, almost three quarters (72%) of Internet users are unaware of the online advertising industry's use of behavioural targeting, a new survey suggests. More
UK marketing spend fell for the eighth quarter running in Q3, but the fall is still slowing and marketers are more optimistic, according to the latest quarterly IPA/BDO Bellwether survey, which is published today. More
A study has shown that more than 30% of physicians may no longer participate in market research if the Sunshine Payment Act is implemented, requiring drug and device manufacturers to disclose incentive payments over $20 for market research. More
Forrester Research has launched a survey which is designed to uncover the technology adoption habits of information workers ('iWorkers'). More
The biggest new MrWeb section in nine years opens today with launch articles from five research luminaries. 'MRT' is an online home for custom panel builders, mobile researchers, data miners, neuromarketers and many others at the leading edge of what we broadly define as 'MR'. More
In the US, polling firm Strategic Vision has been slammed by the AAPOR (the American Association for Public Opinion Research) for its failure to cooperate in an investigation into voter surveys conducted during last year's presidential primaries. More
In Cyprus, an MP and a trade union leader have clashed publicly over the latter's apparent DIY conduct and publication of a survey of public opinion, allegedly showing massive concern over the state of the island's civil service. More
Analysts expect ad giant and Kantar owner WPP to cut its sales forecast again this week. However the firm's debt position and strategic focus are considered solid, while buoyant reports in the UK press suggest business confidence in general has turned the corner. More
The Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by the US association MRA has shown its first slight upturn in eighteen months. More
Plans are underway to consider combining India's two rival print readership surveys - the bi-annual Indian Readership Survey (IRS) and the annual National Readership Study (NRS) - in a bid to reduce costs. More
The Open University (OU) has been awarded €1.49m by the European Commission to co-ordinate a new research project to examine the link between the financial sector and the real economy across Europe. More
The IPA's latest Bellwether survey has found that for the second quarter in a row, the rate of decline in marketing spend has eased, with one in three companies now reporting that their financial prospects have improved compared to one in four reporting a deterioration. More
Hispanics in the US, especially those who are more recent arrivals, give higher ratings in product surveys than their non-Hispanic counterparts, according to a study designed by Jeffry Savitz, President of Savitz Research. More
The UK market research industry grew 6.22% to an estimated £2.16bn in 2008, while revenue from international research increased by 12.5%, according to the Market Research Society's (MRS) annual report on the state of the sector. More
New research from consumer intelligence firm Mintel shows that real-life product or service referrals are more influential to consumers than those received online. More
The MRA's Research Industry Index (RII), which measures the outlook of US research professionals, has seen its fifth consecutive quarterly drop, to a composite score of 84; however, CEO Larry Brownell suggests the trend may be 'bottoming out'. More
Users of Internet audience measurement are not satisfied with the metrics and information available to them, according to feedback from a new survey conducted among more than 800 executives from ad agencies, media publishers, ad networks and advertisers across the globe. More
Nearly a third (31%) of marketers say they have decreased their use of market research as a result of the recession, compared with 14% who have upped their investment in this area, according to an online survey conducted by B2B International. A number of positive trends also emerge. More
Online retail companies are struggling to understand visitor behaviour and to produce analytics they trust to give them a good picture of ROI, according to new research from Internet marketing and business optimization specialist Coremetrics. More
Research suppliers may see declines in 2009 revenue as more clients prepare to take a proportion of their online research in-house, predicts an industry survey conducted earlier in the year. More
The rate of decline in spend on marketing slowed during the first quarter of 2009, suggesting budget cutting may have reached its peak in quarter four 2008, according to the IPA's latest Bellwether survey. More
Canadian client marketers need to invest more in market research, according to the results of a survey conducted by Toronto-based marcoms specialist AgencyLink. More
Appropriately, given reports today* that the UK government is to replace P&G as the country's largest advertiser, and their research spend is also up, public sector clients are among the few in evidence at the MRS Conference. Hence a topical session on communicating with - and getting the truth from - the public. More
In the afternoon, Nick Southgate from ad agency Grey London introduced a session on 'Research and Advertising Media in the 21st Century', including papers on the impact of in-game advertising, and a comparison of consumer engagement for ads on sites such as YouTube and those on TV. More
Not everything at 'Research 2009' was planned and finalised before this rather irritating downturn came along, it seems (see the keynote write-up). The Conference dared to utter the other R word this afternoon, with a look at possible winners and losers. More
Booked revenue and RFPs/proposals at US market research firms have decreased this quarter, according to the latest feedback from the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). More
Canada's Do Not Call list (DNC) is for the most part working well, according to the latest VoxPop survey by the country's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA). Eight in ten of those registering a number with the service say they now receive fewer telemarketing calls. More
More than half (57%) of the respondents questioned in Confirmit's annual market research software survey cite declining response rates as one of the three major challenges facing the industry. A quarter (25%) say it is the most important challenge for technology to address. More
In the US, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) has found an academic guilty of violating its code of ethics and practices, after he repeatedly refused to make public facts about his research into civilian deaths in Iraq. More
Around 6.5 million US homes (5.7% of households) are not ready for the transition to digital TV (DTV) which is now scheduled to take place on June 12 this year, according to Nielsen estimates. More
The USA is viewed favourably by a majority of people in India (72%) and Poland (53%), and in America itself, but not in nineteen other major economies in a survey conducted by Ipsos for Reuters. Meanwhile other polls show the country's high hopes for its incoming President. More
Booked projects and RFPs for US research firms were flat or down slightly overall in the third quarter of 2008, according to feedback from the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). More
More record-breaking bad news for UK marketers. The latest quarterly Bellwether survey published today by the IPA says marketing budgets have dropped for a fifth successive quarter, and fallen year-on-year for the first time in the survey's history. More
In the US, a survey conducted by the Web Analytics Association (WAA) has found that more than 96% of respondents plan to increase or maintain current spending on web analytics during the year. More
US-based research specialist Outsell says the information and publishing industry should grow steadily this year, by about 3% from $400bn in 2008 to $412bn in 2009. More
Pharmaceutical companies are turning to MR departments to help them run leaner organizations in troubled economic times, according to a new report from sector specialist Cutting Edge Information. More
Marketing execs are under increasing pressure to show a return on investment for their work, but many are struggling and finding the process complex, according to a report by US-based research and membership organisation The Conference Board. More
Pharma companies are moving away from the idea of hard ROI measurement for their market research, according to a study by US-based Cutting Edge Information. 74% of surveyed companies do not attempt to calculate ROI for MR. More
As the US goes to the polls, self-service business intelligence and analytics provider Success Metrics has launched a state-by-state voting analysis tool which compares 2004 election results by state and Congressional district, with data from the 2000 Census. More
UK marketing budgets have fallen for the fourth successive quarter, and by more than at any other time in the past nine years, according to the IPA's latest Bellwether survey, published today. More
The Indian MR Outsourcing (MRO) sector will grow to around $800m in 2012, from current revenues of c.$148m (2007), according to a new report. The study also warns of challenges in acquiring and retaining talent. Meanwhile another study predicts steady growth for the global information industry as a whole despite more general economic gloom. More
The 2008 US presidential election will produce either the first African-American President; or the oldest first-term President and the first woman Vice-President. A recent Harris Poll probed into the difficult areas of racism, sexism and ageism, and the part they are likely to play. More
A study by Nielsen Mobile has shown that 20 million US households (c.17%) are without landlines and rely solely on mobile phones for their home telecommunications. More
In the US, Gallup has upgraded its daily service which provides data on how Americans view the presidential election and the economy. More
UK supermarket giant ASDA has launched a new quarterly consumer confidence survey, with a panel of 10,000 of its shoppers who will provide feedback on topics such as personal finance, job security, the economy, and safety from crime. More
In the US, the number of 'affluent' households has dropped for the first time in six years, according to the first wave of results from TNS's annual Affluent Market Research Program (AMRP) of 'wealthy' US households. More
In the US, JD Power and Associates has conducted its first syndicated study of customer satisfaction in the real estate industry. More
Consumer and retail research providers The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track, and publisher Enterbrain have partnered to produce a single source of data on video game software sales in their respective countries: the US, UK and Japan. More
Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has released new consumer segmentation analysis, which categorizes US adults according to the media in which they prefer to receive advertising messages. More
In the US, Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain is among the first users of a new polling system on business networking site LinkedIn. More
Mid-level salaries for British market researchers are continuing their rise despite fears of recession and talk of an impending slump. Figures for the first half of 2008, based on 3,500 advertised salaries on MrWeb, show higher means for SREs, Project and Research Managers, and ADs. More
Audiences develop stronger emotional connections to content and ad messages when they consume and interact with them across multiple platforms, according to new research by MTV Networks and Harris Interactive. More
The UK market research industry has reported revenue growth of 2.3% to an estimated £1.8bn, according to the latest figures from the Market Research Society (MRS). This follows growth of 2.5% in 2005 and 2.4% in 2006. More
Customer satisfaction specialist CFI Group has this week launched what it describes as the first UK National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) for banks, supermarkets and mortgage lenders. More
For the third year running, both the proportion of British people complaining about service and the total volume of complaints made has fallen, according to the fourth annual 'Service in Britain' survey. Yet despite this, more than half of British consumers believe that customer service is in decline. More
Figures from the Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by MRA (the Marketing Research Association) suggest that the industry in the US is already suffering as a result of the country's economic slump. More
In the US, Survey Sampling International (SSI) has conducted a study to analyze the motivating psychological factors behind survey participation using a new principle called self-determination theory or SDT. More
A spokeswoman for incumbent London Mayor Ken Livingstone has denounced as 'farcical' figures from pollsters YouGov, which suggest rival candidate Boris Johnson has widened his lead from six to ten points. More
The combined value of the world's top 100 brands – headed by Google – rose by 21% last year, according to the third annual BrandZ (TM) Ranking from ROI specialist Millward Brown Optimor. More
UK marketing budgets have been revised downward for the second quarter running, according to the IPA's quarterly survey of marketing spend, the Bellwether Report. MR is in the 'all other' category, which the survey says is the worst hit. More
London Mayor Ken Livingstone is to make an official complaint against UK polling firm YouGov, following publication of a poll putting him 13 points behind his main rival in the race to retain his job. More
Strategies, a member of the Harris Interactive global network of independent market research firms, has launched a survey it claims is the first to analyse new trends among readers of Jordanian newspapers and magazines, as well as radio station audiences. More
A study conducted by marketing services firm Q Interactive and MR agency MarketingSherpa has found that many consumers are reporting legitimate e-mail communications as spam. More
In the UK, The Royal Opera House's CEO Tony Hall has been charged with dumbing down the Covent Garden programme, by using research firm dunnhumby to help bring in younger audiences. More
Polls by Ipsos-MORI and ICM are this week at the centre of a row surrounding London's driving toll, the Congestion Charge. Mayor Ken Livingstone says his survey shows support for a new £25 charge on high fuel consumption vehicles, but Porsche Cars GB says its own survey says the opposite, and claims it's being more open with its findings. More
In the UK, marketing budgets in the last quarter of 2007 were cut significantly in response to concerns about the economy and weak sales, says the latest IPA Bellwether quarterly survey of marketing spend. Just 6.2% of budget was allocated to market research during the year. More
The UK's 'Economist' magazine has rolled out its readership profiling survey, known as 'Ideas People', in Singapore, with Hong Kong going live next week. More
Less than a quarter of senior marketing execs in a US survey say their companies off-shore any part of the marketing function; and less than a quarter like the idea. Anderson Analytics conducted the survey of trends and opinions for member organization The Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG). More
Four in ten Canadians have been approached by telemarketers masquerading as market researchers to sell products or raise money, according to the second VoxPop surveys by the MRIA. However, the association says the practise has declined slightly since 2005. More
The Nielsen Company has introduced a new scorecard product, designed to help manufacturers and retailers work together to measure how certain product categories bring shoppers into stores. More
According to Opinion Research Corporation's (ORC's) latest 'Ouch Point' survey, lack of communication from managers is a chief complaint among US workers. More
Research agencies NPD, IRI and IMS have linked up to launch a twice-yearly study of the French beauty products market. More
Sector specialist R. L. Polk & Co., together with partners The Cobalt Group and Yahoo!, has announced results for the 2007 Dealer eBusiness Performance Study, billed as 'the largest research initiative in the automotive industry'. More
In the US, Ford Motor Company has a new marketing supremo, Jim Farley, charged with 'bringing the voice of the customer in' to the auto giant. Meanwhile one of the company's ad campaigns has angered researchers by setting up a fake survey firm. More
The biggest challenges faced by data miners are dirty data, data access, and explaining data mining to others, according to a survey of more than two hundred professionals worldwide, by Rexer Analytics. More
Nielsen and its partners have announced 'substantial progress' in their P.R.I.S.M. project, which aims to establish a global metric for evaluating the in-store environment. Initial results shed light on the relationship between traffic and purchases, and the level of in-store communuications with shoppers. More
Researchers worldwide expect another year of increased use of online data providers and access panels, according to the Online Research Barometer conducted by Greenfield Online and Ciao Surveys. The firms also highlight the healthy state of the b2b research market. More
Papers at today's ESOMAR Congress looked at 60 years of the development of research within electronics manfacturer Philips; and at the successful repositioning of the sagging SlimFast brand. More
In the UK, research consultancy Insight Engineers has launched a syndicated health and wellbeing study which seeks to uncover consumers' awareness of and attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. More
Most companies are failing to adequately track their innovation efforts and measure the success of initiatives, according to research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). More
The world's pharmaceutical companies have been hiring market researchers at a rapid rate in the last year, according to a report from sector specialist Cutting Edge Information. Overall MR headcount is reportedly up an average of 21%. More
Online measurement firm comScore, which is due to announce quarterly results later today, has launched Tech Metrix, its 'first foray into non-Web based measurement'. The service provides a detailed view of Internet users' individual technology profiles, including hardware and software usage. More
According to the latest TNS Worldpanel data, UK grocery sales have grown at their slowest rate for more than a year, impacted by wet weather and a squeeze on consumer spending. More
Pharmaceutical companies have decreased their US MR budgets by an average of 22.7% since last year, but increased them elsewhere in the world, according to a new study by Cutting Edge Information. More
Retail information giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is to extend its major syndicated study of brand drivers, the Long-Term Drivers Consortium, into a second phase. Results from the first phase provide good news for TV advertising, as does a separate GroupM study released this week. More
ASDA, the UK supermarket owned by US giant Wal-Mart, has announced the launch of a new food nutrition labelling system after extensive customer research. The approach combines the features of the alternative 'traffic light' and GDA systems used by its rivals. More
Global spend on business information will grow at 5.8% a year to around $111bn in 2011 from $83.5bn in 2006, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers. More
According to a study conducted by research consultancy Fuld, America's largest 1,000 firms are set to increase spending on competitive intelligence (CI) activities to at least $10 billion by 2012. More
British tycoon Sir Alan Sugar has no doubt adapted his style a little to provide compelling TV on the hit UK show The Apprentice, just finished with another series – nevertheless, a survey out this week suggests entrepreneurs don't see him as a business role model, while his interview technique has recruiters cringing. More
Polling firm YouGovSiraj has launched a new consumer confidence index for the Middle East, in partnership with Dubai-based job site, Bayt.com. More
Only around half (51%) of US companies formally ask their employees about their views of the workplace, according to findings from Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) - and almost half of these (46%) fail to use the response to change things. More
Product marketing in the technology industry needs to undergo significant changes, according to research conducted by business intelligence and analytics firm, IDC. More
According to the results of Opinion Research USA's first 'Ouch Point' survey, disorganisation is the greatest frustration for workers attending business meetings (27%). People who interrupt peers and try to dominate meetings come in second on the list of irritations (17%). More
A recent survey conducted by Zogby Interactive has found that 63% of Americans believe that humans will eventually establish a permanent colony on the moon, with 39% believing that it will happen within the next 50 years. More
A week of headlines for Google. On Friday the search giant announced first quarter revenue up 63% to $3.66bn, and rocketed to the top of Millward Brown's BRANDZ(TM) index with a worth dwarfing current figures - $66.4bn. Google also made headline deals and gained search share against rivals Yahoo! and Microsoft. More
Millward Brown, bruised by recent comments from a client about relevance in the multiplatform age, has underlined its digital credentials with the release of the 'CTV-1 Study'. Among other findings, it shows the benefits, in terms of viewer engagement, of supplementing TV ad spend with placements in TV shows viewed online. More
The latest Financial Times/Harris Poll suggests that in four of the five largest European countries, pluralities of adults believe life is worse since they joined the European Union (EU) - the exception is Spain. The poll also records dim views of the Euro and its impact on economies. More
British shoppers have voted Tesco their favourite retailer, while Kwik Save teeters on the brink of insolvency. Analysis from TNS Worldpanel continues to show most other supermarkets gaining share at the beleaguered store's expense. More
US chain Dunkin' Donuts has deposed coffee giant Starbucks in customer loyalty ratings for the first time. NYC-based Brand Keys Inc. said Dunkin', whose insight head Regina Lewis featured last year in MRWho, had given its brands 'the right values and the right sense of community'. More
Technology analyst Forrester Research Inc. will rewrite its old accounts, as it continues to put its own house in order following its discovery of financial irregularities in December. This week, it also released results of a study of innovation round the world, listing Switzerland among five leaders in the field. More
A 'rush of economic optimism' and a continuing rise in income expectations has slowed the fall in GfK's German consumer climate index, while India still has the world's most confident consumers according to ACNielsen's 46-country study. More
Whatever its effect on the health of individuals, the cigarette industry itself does not appear to be in terminal decline, according to the latest TGI survey. More
While people's drinking habits vary considerably across the world, Europeans have the highest levels of alcohol consumption, according to the latest from Global TGI (Target Group Index). Latin Americans and Turks prop up the table, whereas for many in the UK, the reverse may be true. More
The growth of new media notwithstanding, Nielsen Media Research is forecasting a massive 47% rise in the number of TV-owning households in the States – up from 111.4 million to 163.7 million – in its annual report 'Projected Estimates of TV Households and Persons 2008 to 2050'. More
Supermarket giant Tesco grew its UK sales by 8% and its share to 31.5% in the 12 weeks to 28th January, but is seeing 'solid' competition from Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons, according to TNS Worldpanel data. Meanwhile Tesco says it will open small 'neighbourhood markets' in the fall in twenty locations around Phoenix, AZ. More
It's the 'year of the amygdala' according to UCLA's Dr. Joshua Freedman. Nothing to do with the Chinese calendar – the amygdala is the brain's 'threat detector' and many of this year's Super Bowl commercials stirred it into action, according to tests in the University's high-field fMRI scanner. More
The EMEA market for Business Intelligence (BI) platforms will grow at an annual compound growth rate of 9.7% to reach 1.9bn Euros in 2010, according to Gartner. However, the analyst warns pure play BI companies to expect a strong challenge from software's 'mega vendors'. More
On schedule, Nielsen Media Research has commenced its inclusion of the viewing of college students living away from home in its National People Meter (NPM) ratings. The company also released stats from November hinting at the kind of impact the addition may have on overall viewing figures. More
Three recent surveys highlight new technology's effect on consumer habits and the challenge facing advertisers. Newspapers' web sites are boosting their offline circulation; broadband video is bringing new and more lucrative advertising opportunities; and the days of the standalone DVR may be numbered. More
The majority of online gamblers aren't playing to win money long-term; it's more about entertainment value, according to the findings of the 'eCOGRA Global Online Gambler Survey'. The study plots the behaviour and attitudes of 11,000 players across 96 countries. More
Almost a third of senior marketing executives in a US poll rate their happiness with their current job at 5 or less out of 10. This despite the fact that respondents to the Anderson Analytics survey had a minimum base salary of $150,000. More
Sixteen to twenty-four year olds are not only much more likely to respond to surveys conducted via mobiles, they also respond more quickly, according to Lightspeed Research's analysis of its pilot cell phone panel. More
US dieting has hit an all-time low, according to The NPD Group's 21st annual 'Eating Patterns in America' report. Meanwhile a survey conducted by food manufacturer, Dairy Crest, reveals that the UK's 7 to 12 year-olds are opting for healthier lunch choices. More
A recent survey conducted by business-to-business research consultancy, Kadence, has shown that in half of all Asian SMEs the decision-maker in the key financial role is a woman. More
While more than 70% of British consumers own a credit card, consumers in other parts of Europe - particularly Eastern Europe - are far less likely to use plastic. However, around half of British card owners pay the full balance on their card each month, according to the latest Global TGI survey. More
Middle managers on both sides of the Atlantic are spending up to two hours a day rummaging around for the information they need to do their jobs - yet more than 50% of what they find is of no value. The results come from a recent survey by Accenture. More
Retail sales of consumer technology for the month before Christmas were 6.5% up on the year, according to weekly point-of-sale (POS) data from The NPD Group. LCD and plasma TVs, MP3 players and navigation systems were among the big gainers this year. More
Most of the world has made New Year resolutions for 2007, according to ACNielsen. An online survey of more than 22,000 consumers in 46 countries found 56% of respondents resolved to do or change something, with exercising more and improving work–life balance topping the list. More
The conversion from analog radio to digital radio is 'well under way around the world and gaining momentum rapidly', according to research by In-Stat. Worldwide, the market for digital radio receivers will grow from 5m units in 2005 to almost 25m in 2010, with Europe leading. More
The 'next Bill Gates' is more likely to come from either China or Japan (49%) than from the United States (21%), according to a poll by Zogby International and 463 Communications. The poll also looked at perceptions of the Internet and its effect on work and society. More
For the first time, more US households now own DVD players (81.2% of all households) than VCRs (79.2%), according to the 3rd Quarter Home Technology Report from Nielsen Media Research. More
Internet searches for the Nintendo Wii have ousted the perennial favourite iPod to become the UK's most searched-for gadget in the run-up to Christmas, according to Hitwise. The recall of a wrist strap, due to over-enthusiastic users throwing remote controls around, can't have hurt its worldwide sales either. More
With the final shopping week before Christmas fast approaching, surveys from TNS and ACNielsen show that grocery sales are climbing, with record supermarket sales of £3 billion being forecast for next week. More
A substantial majority of people in Asia (59%) believe that expenditure on space exploration is justified, according to a CNN/TIME poll conducted by TNS. Still more (68%) believe that Asians countries should take a more active role in space exploration. More
Two surveys out this week shed light on the world of online music. The technology is new – Ipsos says more and more Americans are trying mobile music downloads – but the content is often golden oldie, with Genesis taking the no.1 spot in Hitwise's UK online search chart. More
Following the Republican Party's mid-term election troubles, Americans continue to voice their doubts about the Bush presidency, with 67% now feeling negative about his job performance according to the latest Harris Poll findings. More
Thirty per cent of Cornish businesses plan to generate their own energy in future, with wind and solar power being the more popular options, according to research by PFA Research and Enterprise Edge. The county, home to the Eden Project, aims to be a leader on environmental issues. More
UK demand for video downloading lags far behind both the recent hype and the development of technology, according to data from TNS Worldpanel Entertainment. Of the 10,000 people interviewed every two weeks for the service, not one has yet legally downloaded a video. More
As China's auto sales boom, a group of savvy car buyers is growing with strong opinions and in-depth knowledge, according to ACNielsen Automotive. The firm says marketers must find a more sophisticated strategy to reach them. More
Bundled telecoms and entertainment services are big business in the US, but in their infancy in the UK. However, according to Continental Research's latest convergence report, the concept appeals to the great majority of UK consumers. More
A number of US polls are forecasting record consumer retail spend in the run-up to Christmas. According to Internet information provider, comScore Networks, $6.35 billion has already been spent online during the first 19 days of November – up 23% on the corresponding days in 2005. More
The battle for cricket's most famous trophy resumes in a few hours, with Australians hoping for a change of ownership, but continuity Down Under is the theme of two recent surveys. GMI / Anholt research finds the country's image little changed, while Ipsos finds its executives combining new media use with reading more newspapers than ever. More
Sony has today launched its PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) in the US. Some people have queued all week to buy it and play on it, and others to buy it and sell it again on eBay with an average 150% mark-up, according to eBay research specialist HammerTap. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has today announced findings from its first ever Product Placement Valuation Study, part of its A2/M2 initiative. The research demonstrates and quantifies the value that product placement contributes to traditional TV advertising. More
Some US consumers will be willing to buy a next generation (next-gen) video game console as soon as it becomes available, regardless of price, based on 'must-have' features, according to a new study by The NPD Group. More
Companies can expect to spend at least three years repairing the damage caused by major negative publicity in the media, according to research by Ipsos MORI. Results will be revealed tomorrow at a conference hosted at London's Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club. More
Three-quarters of UK consumers think products have too much packaging, according to research into public perceptions of retail choice by Ipsos MORI. The findings, which also hint at a forthcoming boom in online grocery shopping, are the first from a regular 14-country survey. More
Marketers and advertisers generally fail to properly segment and target the Baby Boomer generation, despite their awareness of its high purchasing power, according to Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB). The Boston-based MR firm released its own five-segment analysis this week. More
US CEOs are more likely to rely on their intuition than on data-driven analyses and quantitative information when making business decisions, according to the 6th annual CEO survey by PRWeek magazine and global public relations and public affairs firm Burson-Marsteller, conducted by Millward Brown. More
There's nothing quite like word of mouth to boost a company's fortunes. Indeed, a recommendation can be a powerful tool in building a company's reputation and competitive edge, recent research by Ipsos Public Affairs shows. More
With effect from the Winter 2007 survey, Arbitron has announced that radio survey participants in diary-based markets will have the option to use an Internet-based, electronic diary in place of the standard paper and pencil survey tool. More
Hong Kong, Madrid and Singapore are among the best cities for underground train travel, while New York and Paris are friendly but otherwise lagging behind, according to Présence Mystery Shopping. The quality of the welcome and service was measured from the perspective of foreign tourists in 12 cities, with London not included. More
Technology specialist JupiterResearch has announced the launch of its new Mobile Media & Marketing Research service and released initial results, forecasting a total advertiser spend on mobile messaging and display advertising of $2.9bn in 2011, up from $1.4bn in 2006. More
US consumer confidence continues to rise, according to the BIGresearch Executive Briefing for October. Half of consumers (49.9%) say they are confident or very confident in the chances for a strong economy in the next six months, up from 43.4% last month and 37.6% a year ago. More
Despite mobile phone providers' endeavours to recruit 3G customers, third generation technology remains a low priority for mobile users across the globe, with cost the biggest deterrent, according to Global Technology Insight (GTI), the massive annual mobile study by TNS. More
Baltimore is the slowest city in America, according to a recent survey conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). And we're not talking here about downshifting and the 'Slow' movement, we're talking more generic slow movement – waiting in lines at the grocery store, banks, clothes shops and restaurants. More
Australians are willing to contribute to the fight against global warming but many are uncertain of what to do, according to findings from Ipsos Australia's national omnibus survey, released to key government and environmental agencies at a recent Melbourne screening of Al Gore's film 'An Inconvenient Truth'. More
The simple phrase 'Word of Mouth' covers a very wide variety of activities, according to a new report from the US-based Keller Fay Group – and marketers who restrict their definition of it to one kind or another are missing a trick. More
UK consumers are happy enough with their personal financial situation and think it's a good time both to spend and to save, yet they evidently think someone's having a bad time because they continue to say the 'general economic situation' is poor, according to GfK NOP. More
UK agency B2B International, which plans to open a Beijing office in January 2007, has produced a detailed analysis of the Chinese MR industry. The White Paper identifies the main characteristics of the Chinese market for market research and highlights the great potential for research buyers. More
'BRIC' countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) will account for 40% of all near future growth in the car assembly market, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Meanwhile a report from Strategy Analytics predicts that competition in the industry will increasingly be centered around smart vehicle software and hi-tech features. More
UK supermarket sales figures from TNS show another buoyant period – sales are up 6% year-on-year. The stats show good news for most of the major groups, in particular Sainsbury's, Waitrose and – as usual – Tesco. More
Our review of this week's ESOMAR Conference continues with Phyllis Vangelder's look at Tuesday's papers. They include suggestions for reconstructing research for the 21st Century, and a review of the challenges of opinion polling in Iraq. More
Two global agencies have this week released latest results from elite surveys. Ipsos Media reveals that European business leaders are compensating for increased time away from home with gadgets, cars and holidays; while hybrid methodology is helping Synovate's Media Atlas get past the security gates to chart the rise of AsiaPac's urban affluent. More
Nintendo and Sony are left as the only two global players in the handheld games market, according to analysis from technology specialist In-Stat. In the past year the Nokia N-Gage, Tapwave Zodiac, and Gizmondo have all been taken off the market. In-Stat expects Nintendo's DS to retake top spot from the Sony PSP. More
Global consumer confidence remains at 2005 levels, with consumers still cautious about spending, according to ACNielsen's Global Consumer Confidence Index. The most confident respondents were found in India, Norway and Denmark. More
The smoking ban in Scotland, which came into effect five months ago, has already had a 'major impact' on liquor sales through pubs in Scotland compared to the rest of the country, according to ACNielsen PubTrack. Food sales, however, have risen. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has announced it will include data for Azteca America, the newest Spanish-Language TV network in the US, in its National People Meter ratings service, the NTI. Nielsen has also released stats showing the growth in ethnic TV household numbers at the national and local DMA levels. More
Live video transmission of focus groups is taking off, with one third of end clients in a survey by FocusVision Worldwide saying they use it on a majority of their qual projects. Well over 400 focus facilities are installed with the technology worldwide. More
Residents of, and commuters to London will no doubt be astonished to hear that a poll by US-based TripAdvisor(TM) has voted their transport system the best in the world. More
Marketing professionals in the US and UK are struggling to acquire the new online skills they need, according to 'The Face of the New Marketer', a study by online analytics firm Coremetrics. More
US newspapers' web sites are adding large numbers of readers to their overall circulation, according to two pieces of research out this week. Scarborough Research's integrated data shows encouraging figures for papers as a whole, while The Media Audit looked specifically at gains for alternative weeklies. More
Figures out this week from Nielsen Media Research show changes in the US TV audience including an overall rise in television households of 1.1% and a 16% decrease in the number in the New Orleans area. More
Tesco has again increased its lead in UK supermarket share, although most of its major competitors have also fared well in a growing market, according to TNS WorldPanel data for the 12 weeks ending 13 August. More
A few days after communications regulator Ofcom announced that 'online is rapidly becoming the lead medium for young people in the UK', video research specialist Vox Pops International has released results suggesting that 'when it comes to money, teenagers treat the World Wide Web with reserve'. More
The UK's four million SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises, with less than 250 employees) account for half its jobs and half its GDP. However, they take a DIY approach to their advertising, according to agency B2B International which has recently published a White Paper on SME advertising practices and launched an SME panel. More
Healthy eating brands are on the rise in the UK... but so are those associated with indulgence, according to TNS Worldpanel's annual Biggest Brands survey for Marketing magazine. More
Two recent reports from ABI Research discuss the rapid expansion of the market for RFID, the tagging technology that promises a mass of detailed data for retail and other sectors. The agency has reduced its market forecast for 2007, and highlights particular problems establishing standards for RFID in China. More
By the end of 2006, Tesco will not only be UK's biggest food retailer, but also its largest non-food retailer, according to a report published this week by retail analysts Verdict Research, part of the Datamonitor Group. More
Arbitron has released audience data from Houston supporting its claim that its Portable People Meter (PPM) measurement device 'consistently captures more listeners to sporting events on radio, especially those with afternoon and early-evening start times'. More
Technology specialist Forrester Research has announced results for the second quarter, ended June 30, with total revenues were $48.5million, up nearly 24% from $39.2m for the second quarter of last year. The firm also published results from a report on Asian adoption of broadband and other technologies. More
Seventy-seven percent of Americans are either extremely or somewhat happy, according to the 'America Says' survey by Directions Research. Meanwhile a report by Yankelovich suggests US parents are managing both to spend more time with their kids *and* make more time for themselves. More
The summer is hot, and British audiences have sport and entertainment very much on their minds, it seems. Surveys and analyses out this week reveal the popularity of the Sport Relief web site; the growing numbers watching World Cup matches on the 'Net or on mobiles; the importance of the grey market to the success of music festivals; and the success of Wilson racquets at Wimbledon. More
The world's keenest recreational shoppers are to be found in Asia, according to ACNielsen. The result comes from a recent global online survey about consumers' attitudes towards shopping. More
US advertising spend in the first quarter of 2006 rose 5.6% over the same period last year, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising intelligence service of Nielsen Media Research. More
The United States 'remains the primary investment target for venture capitalists (VCs) around the globe', according to a report sponsored by Deloitte & Touche LLP. India and China are among the other top locations but are not seen to be leading a 'brain drain' away from the US, despite more global thinking among the VC community generally. More
In the annual Harris Poll of 'Best Brands', just released, Sony tops the list for an impressive seventh consecutive year. Apple sneaks into the top ten for the first time while Microsoft has dropped out – as has General Motors. More
A report released by Datamonitor this week reveals that British households are having more difficulty coping with their financial commitments, and forecasts that the number of people in the UK systematically denied credit by mainstream lenders will increase from 9.1m in 2005 to 9.4m by 2010. More
The latest findings from the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index conducted in the UK by TNS show that confidence in the current economic and employment situation fell further in June. More
GfK has published its twice-yearly report on UK IT trends. As well as highlighting the winners and losers, the report headlines increasing convergence, the continuing move towards notebooks and wireless connections, and the ongoing fall in prices in the sector. More
Mobile phone and mobile data markets continue to expand and diversify, giving rise to a large number of published reports and top line results releases. Here DRNO covers a few, from cellphone feature requirements to MR opportunities, to the challenges facing corporate Blackberry managers. More
New research from the Keller Fay Group in the USA this week claims to have identified the top ten word-of-mouth brands. Number one on the 'Word of Mouth All-Stars' list is Toyota, followed by Wal-Mart, Honda and Apple/iPod. More
Outdoor advertising group JCDecaux has launched what it describes as the first ever coverage and frequency system for retail media, developed in conjunction with TNS Worldpanel. More
It's hard to find anyone over the age of fifteen in Hong Kong that doesn't own a mobile phone, according to the latest findings from Nielsen Media's Media Index and Panorama. The survey looks at media habits, lifestyles, attitudes and product consumption across Asia Pacific. More
A new report from Datamonitor estimates the potential value of the global market for contactless payments to be US$724 billion. The technology is gaining momentum in the USA and in some markets across Asia-Pacific, with rapid future growth forecast in Europe. More
More than 300 people, largely from the public sector, are attending today's Ipsos MORI annual event, 'The State of Britain'. This year, the event assesses whether the Labour government's policies are truly going awry or whether there are successes behind the negative headlines. More
Nielsen Analytics and the Movie Advisory Board have this week released 'The Modern Movie Experience', a new study that explores how shifting consumer behaviour and digital technologies in the USA are affecting the theatrical film business. More
Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) in India will soon overtake IT-related Business Process Outsourcing as a revenue source, according to comments by a leading figure in the country's outsourcing industry. MR processes form a major component of KPO. More
The World Cup is kicking off as this news goes out, with hosts Germany leading Costa Rica 2-1 at half time. Research agencies the world over have been gearing up with press releases concerning opinion polls, merchandising markets and celebratory software and stats releases. If you don't want to know the statistics, look away now. More
In the UK, the Ofcom Consumer Panel has published its second annual report, reiterating its support for consumer-focused regulation and its commitment to research. Meanwhile, Ofcom reports rapid progress for digital, with Freeview for the first time outnumbering traditional analogue TV on primary sets in British homes. More
Cadillac beats Lexus to first place in luxury car customer satisfaction in the US, according to a study by AutoPacific. Meanwhile a satisfaction study among British customers, by J.D. Power and Associates for 'What Car?' magazine, finds that many of the top brands are produced in the UK, albeit for Japanese manufacturers. More
Some nine percent of US marketing departments are 'Growth Champions' who take advanced roles in their companies and contribute to superior corporate performance, according to a new study by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. More
Synovate has this week announced the early 2006 results for its PAX survey across eight key markets in the Middle East. PAX brings together media consumption, product purchase and purchase intention information for affluent consumers. More
The mood of consumers in Germany continues to brighten, according to GfK. The World Cup host nation has confidence in its new government, is planning major purchases and last considered the general economic outlook this rosy way back in early 2001. More
A new corporate reputation study by TNS released this week in the UK has named Nokia top out of 21 household companies. Almost 50% of consumers rated it highly for each of three key factors: business success, trustworthiness and product/service quality. More
In the USA, Experian Consumer Direct has this week announced the results of a nationwide study on consumer debt that shows consumers have increased their debt by more than 12% over the past two years. More
With the World Cup still 16 days away, MR companies are already rolling out related statistics and web site launches. Pulse Train has a World Cup stats system showcasing its Pulsar Web software; Research Now and NPD have released results on shirt purchase; and FIRM has launched a Confirmit-based World Cup predictions site. More
American consumers mention specific brands, on average, 56 times in their week's conversation, according to new findings from The Keller Fay Group. Perhaps surprisingly, nearly two-thirds (62%) of it is positive, and less than 1 in 10 conversations feature negative discussion of products. More
The Asia/Pacific telecom equipment market will continue to grow robustly, from US$43 Billion in 2005 to US$47 Billion in 2007, according to technology specialist In-Stat. More
Released this week, the Synovate Music Matters survey has found that North Asian consumers are embracing a digital music future. The survey asked 1,250 respondents in China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan about their music habits, activities and attitudes. More
Data compiled by RAJAR reveals that, for the first time, more than half the UK adult population claim to own a DAB radio set or to have listened to the radio via digital television (DTV) or the Internet. More
Blockbuster pharmaceutical brands receive an average marketing investment of $11.7m between Pre-Clinical and Phase II – and market research dominates early phase spending, according to a report by business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information. More
Latest research from MINTEL finds retail sales in the 9 emerging Central and Eastern European (CEE) market grew some 75% between 2000 and 2005 – more than five times faster than in Western Europe or the more developed CEE economies of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. More
UK consumers are considerably more positive about the economy and their own personal finances since last month, but still a lot less so than a year ago, according to the GfK NOP UK Consumer Confidence Survey for April. The overall index rose three points to –4. More
Ofcom yesterday published its Communications Market Report for the Nations and Regions of the UK. The report examines the availability, take-up and usage of Internet, telecoms and broadcasting services across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the nine English Regions. More
Media in India is gathering pace rapidly and is gaining progressive importance among key decision-makers, according to the latest Decision-Makers Survey 5 (DMS 5) conducted by ACNielsen ORG-MARG. More
German consumers are more optimistic than at any time since the end of 2001, before the introduction of the euro, according to the GfK MAXX consumer climate study for April 2006. They are also looking to make major purchases before the scheduled rise in VAT. More
TNS has released market size figures for British consumption of sandwiches, based on innovative methodology. Panellists text the bar codes of their purchases to the company, allowing it to track their snacking in real-time. More
Finland is the most expensive place in Europe for popular grocery products, while the cheapest countries are Germany and the Netherlands, according to new data from the twice-yearly ACNielsen Euro Price Barometer. The survey reveals huge differences across European countries. More
For eight of nine key brain areas, TV advertising generates more brain activity than the programming in which it appears, according to research conducted for VBS by Neurosense. The results are discussed by Agostino Di Falco, VBS' Head of Insight and Research, in an exclusive podcast interview this week with MR Insider. More
Amidst news of job changes at the White House in the last week, President Bush's job approval ratings remain low, with only 35% of US adults giving him a positive rating and 63% giving him a negative rating, according to the latest Harris Poll. More
Recruitment consultant Aquent and the American Marketing Association (AMA) have announced the launch of their Compensation Survey of Marketing Professionals 2006. The results draw upon data sampled from over 225,000 US-based respondents. MR salaries have bucked the trend by rising. More
Triple play services that bundle offerings of TV, phone and Internet have proven effective for operators and service providers in reducing customer churn and delivering operational economies. Now ABI Research says some operators will be adding a fourth element, wireless. More
A study released recently in the USA finds consumers who own digital video recorders (known as DVRs or PVRs) remember TV ads as well as those who watch programming live. The study was paid for by the four largest US networks, and conducted by Millward Brown. More
Power price rises have forced more Britons into reconsidering their supplier, according to the second annual Service in Britain survey, conducted by Research Now and Andrew Smith Research. Postal services are 'most improved' while train and bus companies and local councils are the least satisfactory. More
UK agency BMRB has been receiving wide coverage for its major survey for the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The study explores the financial standing and know-how of UK adults and highlights new financial challenges for young people. More
A report released this week by Datamonitor reveals that the UK has become a nation of consumer sceptics with less than half (44%) of the population trusting nutritional claims made by food and drink companies. The findings are not unique to the UK, but echoed elsewhere in the world. More
Soaring energy prices, faster global warming, news about rising CO2 levels and pollution, and rapid deforestation: all these may explain why 90% of Americans are concerned about the future of the environment, according to the latest GMIPoll. More
Estimated advertising spend across the three core media - television, newspapers and magazines - reached a record $US68.6bn across 12 key Asia Pacific markets in 2005, according to the latest data from Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile Asian business leaders' Internet usage is increasing but so is print media use, according to Ipsos Media's ABRS. More
The IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) in the UK has just revealed the results of its groundbreaking TouchPoints Survey: a week in the life of a representative sample of the GB adult population during the latter part of 2005. More
Consumer confidence in the current state of the Canadian economy has risen dramatically since mid-November, and the outlook for future performance is also better, according to the latest findings from TNS Canadian Facts' Consumer Confidence Index. More
In the USA, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), in conjunction with its Broadband Committee and Measurement Task Force, has this week announced a call for 'public comment' on a set of Broadband Video Commercial Measurement Guidelines. More
New research from TNS this week reveals a crisis of confidence in the Hong Kong workplace. Only around one fifth of employees had faith in the ability of top managers to provide clear leadership or serve as role models. More
Recent research from US-based In-Stat suggests that despite Microsoft's earlier launch of its next-generation games console, Sony will continue its domination of the market through 2010. However, the report predicts healthy shares for both Microsoft and Nintendo. More
For a change, some good news on the topic of pensions in the UK. Research by Marketing Sciences Financial (MSF) has identified a number of positive developments, including a slight turnaround in perceptions of the industry and an increased likelihood to save. More
A report released this week by Datamonitor reveals that British consumers spend on average £1,224 a year on eating and drinking out, and this figure is likely to increase to £1,335 by the end of the decade. More
After an explosive year of growth in 2005 that has seen the Bluetooth market more than double, 2006 should be another healthy year of profits for vendors of the technology according to a new study from ABI Research. More
UK consumer confidence has fallen back after its November recovery, as Britons take an 'increasingly pessimistic view of the economy and labour market', according to Nationwide and TNS whose monthly survey provides the index. The figures compare poorly with a very upbeat start to 2005. More
Ofcom has published a report providing an overview of developments within the UK's telecoms, radio and television industries. Among the highlights, the number of broadband connections has passed ten million, while total TV reach has declined two years running. Other research shows online radio listening growing fast in the US. More
Following recent cases of avian flu, German consumers are 'already in fear of a pandemic' according to GfK HealthCare. The agency says that one in five fear catching it themselves and 14% have asked doctors to prescribe a suitable medication or intend to do so very shortly. More
This week's announcement that England's Wembley Stadium will not be hosting the 2006 FA Cup final has come as no surprise to the majority of football fans. Research by Sports Marketing Surveys reveals that 82% of fans did not expect the stadium to be ready. More
Dell retained its position as the world's largest PC maker in 2005, with Hewlett-Packard still at number two, according to a preliminary ranking from analysts iSuppli Corporation. Meanwhile Chinese manufacturer Lenovo has gained the number three spot with its acquisition of IBM's PC division. More
GfK Asia has released its pan-Asian Consumer Electronics Data Summary for 2005. The study, based on an analysis of products sold in 21,000 stores, highlights a huge growth in LCD TV sales and DVD recorders, and a decline in sales of video camcorders. More
From next year, Nielsen Media Research will include the viewing of college students living away from home in its national television ratings. The addition is likely to increase ratings for young adult viewing by as much as 12%. More
Less than one in five Americans is expecting a romantic Valentine's day, according to research by QuestionPro. Meanwhile, NetRatings says half of Australians are planning to buy a Valentine's gift, and Hitwise finds that Brits are opting for Tesco flowers, backed up by romantic poetry downloaded for free. More
Eighteen months after joining the EU, most citizens in the new EU member states expect improved job and educational opportunities, but also predict rising prices, a lower standard of living, and increased corruption. These are the results of the latest Gfk EU Index survey. More
TGI, BMRB's continuous survey of the UK population, is introducing 'word of mouth' questions to help marketers make the most of viral marketing, by enabling them to target and understand the most influential and knowledgeable consumers. More
The latest UK supermarket share figures from the TNS Worldpanel show that, while Tesco remains dominant, there is increased competition as both Sainsbury's and Morrisons fight back. Year-on-year sales growth across all stores is 4.4% - the highest since September 2004. More
Just 32% of US adults believe the current state of the country is good, while 68% believe it is poor, according to a recent Harris Poll. The poll reveals a growing rift between Republicans and Democrats, something also identified by research from Ipsos Public Affairs and the Pew Research Center. More
JupiterResearch forecasts that online retail spending will increase by 17% in the next year - from $81bn in 2005 to $95bn in 2006, and by 78% in the next five years, growing to $144bn in 2010. More
It's not just the Americans who are affected by rising fuel prices. New research from ACNielsen finds consumers throughout Europe have been forced to change their driving habits and cut down on living expenses to cope with spiralling fuel and petrol prices. More
The Internet is the most important information tool for first-time vehicle buyers, according to new research from the Polk Center for Automotive Studies. The study states that TV, radio and newspapers have been rendered 'nearly obsolete'. More
Senior advertising and marketing executives are planning to expand their activities in interactive marketing, experiential marketing and database marketing/CRM, according to a survey from US investment bank AdMedia Partners. More
A new study from Information Resources, Inc (IRI) focuses on eating trends and highlights the product innovations that can meet consumers' growing health concerns. The report, based on analysis of consumer and retail data, is designed to help manufacturers identify profitable health-oriented opportunities. More
Increased sales of low-GI foods, innovations in the beer market, better customer service at small grocery stores, and dollar stores going upmarket. These are among the top retail trends for 2006, according to analysis from ACNielsen and fellow VNU company Spectra Marketing. More
A new study from JupiterResearch shows that the average US Internet user spends 14 hours a week online - the same amount of time they spend watching TV. As the web takes over, readership of paper-based publications is suffering. More
High oil prices are adversely affecting Asian consumers' spending power, according to a new survey from Synovate. Similarly, an InsightExpress survey finds that US consumers are cutting back on eating out due to rising gas and heating prices. More
The UK's Product of the Year awards ceremony took place last night. The 26 winners - who include Häagen-Dazs Cream Crisp, Gillette M3Power Razor, Flash Car Wash and Elastoplast's silver healing plasters - were chosen following a TNS survey of 12,500 consumers throughout the UK. More
US healthcare specialist Manhattan Research has published a summary of the major trends for health and pharmaceutical marketers to consider in 2006. The trends chart the increased use of the web and other new technologies as a health information and communication tool for both patients and physicians. More
Marketers should target single adults - a group set to make up 45% of the UK population by 2010, according to Singledom, a new research study from Carat. Meanwhile, a study from Deloitte & Touche USA advises retailers to meet the needs of another growing group - older consumers. More
The US Census Bureau is adding a new question to its Survey of Income and Program Participation in order to gauge the number of people who provide unpaid care or assistance to family members or friends with a long-term illness or a disability. More
Technology marketers should reach out to Hispanic Americans with culturally relevant, low-price products, according to the first Hispanic-American Technology Adoption Study from Forrester Research. Meanwhile, the latest Harris Interactive quarterly US Technology Report finds a nation of adventurous PC users, gearing up for a dual-core future. More
57% of US consumers could not recall any new products launched in 2005, despite a 2.6% increase in ad spending on launches. The figure comes from the fourth annual 'Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey', conducted by InsightExpress. More
More than half of organisations using word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing are unable to track WOM performance, and two thirds do not have faith in measurement systems for WOM marketing, according to a new study from Osterman Research and BoldMouth.com. More
Consumers' confidence in their local economies, job prospects and personal finances is on the rise across the world, according to the latest twice-yearly ACNielsen Consumer Confidence Index. Overall, confidence is highest in India and New Zealand, and lowest in Portugal. More
TNS Media Intelligence is forecasting a 5.4% increase in US advertising spend this year, well up on the estimated 3% in 2005. Meanwhile in Asia Pacific, Nielsen Media Research reports that ad spending grew by 14% last year, with the market in China surging by 21%. More
US consumers' confidence in the economy has risen for the fourth consecutive month, according to the latest survey from BIGresearch. However, a recent Ipsos survey records a drop in confidence. To help you make sense of such differences - and to bring you the confidence picture worldwide - we've introduced a new Consumer Confidence section. More
Two new studies claim success for new forms of advertising. The first, from Arbitron, shows that consumers engage with and remember interactive video-projection ads. The second, based on eye-tracking research, measures the impact of online ads targeted to individual surfers' interests. More
Just 3.5% of shoppers think retailers' online advertising is effective, according to new research from the USA's National Retail Foundation (NRF). The study also reveals that customer loyalty is dwindling, and that, while shoppers want loyalty programs, they are not prepared to divulge personal information in return. More
A new study from US agency Information Resources, Inc (IRI) recommends that retailers should look at the state of the economy as a whole to help them forecast trends and plan new product developments in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and healthcare markets. More
The proportion of US consumers who are strongly considering buying a hybrid vehicle leapt from 17% to 29% over the last year, according to a Maritz Automotive Research Group study. Respondents were also positive about fuel cell technology, but less keen on diesel. More
The winter of 2005-6 looks like being a leveller in terms of consumer confidence around the world. In Europe, the German index is rising from a long slump while the UK's falls to its lowest of 2005, both according to GfK; while in North America, Canadian confidence is rebounding even more strongly than that in the USA. More
Over the last year, 78m US citizens read books, 68m barbecued, and 3m took part in kickboxing. These are just some of the comprehensive findings of the 125th edition of the US Census Bureau's new Statistical Abstract of the United States 2006. More
Word of mouth has a bigger impact on purchase decisions than any (other) medium, according to the Simultaneous Media Usage Survey (SIMM VII) from US agency BIGresearch. However, the influence of other media varies widely according to the age and ethnicity of the purchaser, and the product being purchased. More
Sales of new vehicles fell 14% in early December, compared with the same time last year, according to J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network (PIN). The data also shows that US firms DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation all lost retail market share in the same period. More
Shops have not improved their level of customer service over the holiday season, according to a survey of more than 1,100 mystery shoppers conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). The Association says retail staff need to be more helpful, and take more advantage of opportunities to up-sell. More
Global telecoms industry revenue will reach $1.2 trillion by the end of 2006, with growth in wireless leading the way, according to Insight Research. Meanwhile, a study from the Leichtman Research Group finds that US broadband providers acquired a record 2.6m new subscribers in the third quarter of 2005. More
The latest Deloitte Research Leading Index of Consumer Spending brings mixed messages for consumers and retailers. The Index shows a rise in consumer confidence, buoyant spending over the holiday period, and lower energy costs. It also indicates falling sales of durable goods, particularly automobiles, and a heavier tax burden. More
Microsoft Chair Bill Gates is the world's most admired business leader, according to a study of 600 global business influentials conducted by Burson-Marsteller together with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). He is closely followed by rival Steve Jobs of Apple, while Virgin's Richard Branson takes fifth place, the highest non-US leader. More
Corporate America's reputation has declined slightly over the last year, according to the latest National Corporate Reputation Survey from Harris Interactive. Of the USA's 60 most visible companies, the study places Johnson & Johnson top, followed by Coca Cola and Google. More
US online spending is 23% higher this holiday season than in 2004, according to comScore Networks' latest figures, which closely match its predictions made in mid-November. Meanwhile, Nielsen//NetRatings reports a 33% rise in online shopping compared with last year - with a staggering 238% growth in books, music and video. More
The UK's two main consumer confidence indexes present conflicting pictures for November. The TNS/Nationwide index, released yesterday, shows a strong rise of 9 points after three consecutive monthly falls. Meanwhile, Gfk/NOP's index, released last week, showed no movement, and remained at the lowest level since March 2003. More
As the Turner report on the future of UK pensions is released this week, a poll by YouGov shows that the public is - just like the government - split in its views on how to solve the pensions crisis. More
Just 10% of marketing executives say their teams are 'highly influential and strategic' and less than half that they are 'well regarded and respected', according to research from the USA's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council. The study identifies particular weaknesses in customer insight, and in analytics and measurement. More
A mix of reward points and special privileges is the best way to influence shoppers' behaviour, according to research from US loyalty marketing specialist Colloquy. The company's new white paper outlines the results of a research project designed to analyse the most effective loyalty marketing techniques. More
A new study by Simmons Market Research shows that Chinese Americans are more likely than other groups to buy medicines, and less likely to use alternative treatments. Meanwhile, as pharma companies adopt voluntary guidelines for prescription drug ads, a new study analyses the most effective TV ads for prescription drugs. More
US consumer confidence rose in November following a substantial drop over the last few months. Four different confidence indexes - from TNS (for the Conference Board), Ipsos (for the Royal Bank of Canada), BIGResearch, and the University of Michigan - all report similar patterns of recovery. More
European consumers have less trust in food and drinks firms than in banks, insurance companies, utilities or car dealers, according to a new report from Datamonitor. The report also says nearly half of Europeans lack trust in mainstream media channels, and that trust in businesses overall is 'rapidly diminishing'. More
One in four European Internet users visited a job web site between July and September 2005, up from around a fifth the previous year, according to new research from Nielsen//NetRatings. The study also shows the popularity of university web sites. More
Synovate has launched its Media Atlas local media survey in Malaysia. The first results concentrate on the urban population, while subsequent phases will cover the whole of the country. Media Atlas was launched in Thailand in May. More
Less than a third of Canadian companies are involved in primary market research, and around a third of business decision-makers think their companies should spend more on MR. These are the findings of a study of 500+ business decision-makers conducted by Ipsos Reid for Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA). More
The UK public's confidence in official statistics has dropped in recent years, according to a new MORI study. To restore trust, MORI recommends an independent national statistics service, along with greater transparency and explanation about official information. More
Along with the Christmas decorations comes a flurry of Christmas spending forecasts. Research from Maritz suggests consumers plan to spend less than last year, while comScore and Hitwise predict a boom for online retailers. More
The UK's ORC International is due to deliver the first results from its new syndicated study - ORC Protection Track. The rolling six-month study is designed to assess what drives financial advisers' satisfaction with protection products and suppliers. More
Mediamark Research Inc (MRI) has released data from its first ever survey of American children aged six to 11. Most of the kids surveyed use the Internet at least once a month and most have a TV in their room - but only 4% use MP3 players. More
Australia's Roy Morgan Research has launched a new survey to measure what the country's top 1% is reading. Results from these high-earning senior executives and directors show high levels of newspaper readership, even among heavy web users. More
Advertisers in Asia are failing to communicate and engage with today's smart, independent women, according to recent research from Research International, based on interviews with women in India, China, Thailand and Singapore. More
The Monster Employment Index, which measures online recruitment activity, continues to show rapid growth. The European index is now 113 - up from 94 last December, while the US index is 143 - its highest ever level, and 29 points higher than a year ago. More
Radio news and talk shows attract affluent, educated listeners, according to new analysis from Scarborough Research. Also released today is Arbitron's network radio study, which claims that US networked stations reach nearly 80% of 25- to 54-year-olds, three quarters of teens, and 90% of black Americans each week. More
The latest Deloitte/MORI Delivery Index finds the UK public pessimistic about government policies on the economy and public services, in a sharp contrast to the post-election 'honeymoon period' earlier this year. GfK's Consumer Confidence Barometer for October also paints a gloomy picture as it falls for the third consecutive month. More
New research from the Yankee Group predicts increasing convergence between mobile phones and consumer electronic devices. As mobile products become ever more sophisticated, a plethora of reports from other research firms also analyse new developments in the high-tech mobile and wireless markets. More
Ownership of a DAB digital radio in the UK has more than doubled in the past year, according to RAJAR. Its latest figures also show increases in radio listening via mobile phones, digital TV, and the Internet - although these new methods have had little impact of the overall number of radio listeners. More
Recent studies from NPD and Packaged Facts find US consumers eating more takeaway meals and using fewer fresh products, while also becoming increasingly concerned about food safety. Meanwhile, dietary concerns are spreading to Australia, where a TNS study finds 67% of women overweight, and a third of teenagers underweight. More
According to Harris Interactive, 81% of UK adults dislike the trend of locating call centres overseas, and 54% believe companies who do so will lose business. The survey also suggests that overseas centres struggle to provide a good service, as 50% of customers do not trust them enough to disclose personal details. More
One in ten of the world's population now shops online, according to a new global survey from ACNielsen. In separate studies, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts a 5% increase for US spending this holiday season, and GQ magazine finds US men increasingly succumbing to the pleasures of shopping. More
MrWeb formally launches its US career clinic today. Two of the States' specialist MR recruiters, Karen Morgan of Morgan Search and Phil Reeve of Reeve & Associates, are available to answer readers' questions about careers in marketing research, and answers to ten commonly asked questions are already online. More
Independent consultants Richard Horswell and Roger Wheatley are commencing the 2005 round of their annual survey of UK MR agency prices. The £quotecheck 2005 survey is designed to help companies find out how their rates compare with the competition. More
Three quarters of US adults agree that 'protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be too high' and that 'continuing environmental improvements must be made regardless of cost'. The figure comes from the latest Harris Interactive poll, which finds the public more pro-environment than in 2000. More
The results of the 2005 British Business Survey (BBS) announced today by Ipsos reveal a UK business elite that watches far less TV than the rest of the country, continues to rely heavily on traditional print media, but also leads the way in the use and ownership of technology. More
The number of US households with more than one million dollars in net worth (excluding primary residence) has risen by around fifty percent so far this century, according to recent figures from TNS Financial Services. The total of 8.9 million such households is up for the third year running. More
The latest results from Synovate's PAX survey reveal that Asia's wealthiest consumers are spending more on high-end products than last year, funded by a big increase in income and an even bigger rise in borrowing on cards. More
US agencies Knowledge Networks (KN) and Harris Interactive are arguing over KN's claims that Stanford University research demonstrates the superior accuracy of its online surveys. Harris believes KN's reporting of the study is inaccurate and selective, and claims that KN's founders were closely involved with the Stanford research. More
The latest Consumer Intentions and Actions (CIA) survey from BIGresearch finds US consumer confidence falling, with shoppers picking budget brands, planning lower holiday spends, and using their cars less. However, although consumers are spending less on everyday goods, purchase intentions for cars, computers and major home improvements are on the rise. More
Consumers in Central and Eastern Europe are intent on increasing their consumption and more strongly focused on their careers than their counterparts in the West, according to GfK's Consumers in Europe 2005 survey. The research, based on 19,000 consumers in 16 countries, made use of the Euro-Socio-Styles lifestyle segmentation tool. More
Synovate has released the first results of its new syndicated Passport study of travel behaviour in mainland China, which it says is set to become the world's largest outbound travel market. The study reveals that most travel is still taking place close to home, and says the time is ripe for international travel marketing. More
New research from AOL UK, conducted by Quaestor, finds that the nation's ten-year-olds know all about the Internet, but still prefer playing out, and have not yet succumbed to digital cameras and MP3 players. Meanwhile, VoxPops International's video research reveals kids and teenagers' demands about technology. More
Three recent studies from Intelliseek, MarketingExperiments and IRI throw new light on the effects of PR, word-of-mouth and merchandising on consumers. Meanwhile media measurement firm CARMA International has launched a service to track the effects of PR and media relations. More
Competition in the UK grocery market remains as fierce as ever, according to figures from TNS Superpanel. Tesco's leading market share is still creeping up, but Sainsbury's and Asda are also continuing to grow. Meanwhile, analysis from Scarborough Research in the US defines distinct markets for discount stores Target and Wal-Mart. More
Three surveys of US retail spending and trends this week show technology - both as a product and a means of purchase - boosting sales, while high gas prices drag them back, making consumers more cautious and more budget-conscious. More
Digital technology is everywhere - three sets of surveys results released this week illustrate the growth of networked entertainment and storage devices and of color laser MFPs in the US. However, it can sometimes get ahead of consumers, as shown by a survey of UK digital TV subscribers. More
The introduction of the Euro is contributing to a price convergence across Europe for many popular products, according to figures from ACNielsen. Norway is the most expensive country for the products studied, and Germany remains the cheapest, while France and the UK have the smallest range of prices. More
Online pharmaceutical market research is growing at the expense of 'phone interviews, according to an international survey of pharma researchers by medical research agency Medefield. More
Two new surveys from US MR firms examine the effects of soaring US gas prices. Synovate finds that consumers are looking at cars powered by alternative fuels, while ACNielsen finds the price rises are changing shopping habits, with many people combining errands, eating out less, and doing more at home. More
Harris Interactive has introduced a new regular study, AUTOTECHCAST Europe, to measure Western European consumer demand and acceptance of 62 advanced automotive technologies. The study, to take place online next month, was launched at the 2005 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) this week. More
China's consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in almost two years last month as clothing and mobile phones became cheaper, according to figures from China Mainland Marketing Research Co. Meanwhile, a Kline study finds double-digit growth in the cosmetics and toiletries market in China. More
Carat, part of the Aegis Group, has increased its 2005 forecast of world ad spend growth to 5.2% -highest in China (18%) and Central Europe (11.4%) and lowest in Germany (1%). Its predictions for increased online ad spend are echoed by a new report from Roy Morgan in Australia. More
Use of online banking in the US has levelled off according to a new survey from Ipsos Insight. The study suggests that fears about identity theft, along with concerns that companies are selling records to third parties, are stalling growth in the market. More
Total US advertising expenditure for the first half of 2005 rose to $70.5 billion, a 4.5% increase from the same period last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence. Figures from Nielsen Media Research are slightly higher, showing an increase of 5.7% over the same period. More
Only 7% of UK companies make efficient use of customer knowledge, according to a new report. The study, from the Centre for Integrated Marketing(CIM) at Luton Business School, rates the practices of more than 200 brands. More
The latest results from the Kadence Business Omnibus (KadBUS) survey of financial decision-makers in Asia Pacific indicates that small and medium sized businesses prefer local banks. It also suggests that they choose banks based on their specialist products and knowledge, not just the amount of credit they offer. More
As the US-based Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) publishes a study critical of current audience research methods, the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has launched a blueprint for the industry's evolution. The latter urges the development of 'consumer-centric holistic measurement' to allow for increasingly complex media consumption habits. More
US agency MediaAnalyzer Software & Research is joining an international project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), to map and explain brain processes such as emotions and human will. The study will make use of the company's AttentionTracking web-based 'eye tracking' technology to conduct large-scale visual tests. More
The first monthly 'Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Personal Finance Poll' reveals that only a third of US adults have written a will, and just 8% financially support their parents. The two companies have also launched the WSJ Online/Harris Interactive Healthcare Poll. Full results from both are provided to WSJ subscribers. More
Research from Synovate reveals that, while most stick to TV and newspapers, one in five Asians access news on the web at least twice a week. One intriguing finding is the variation in the proportion of people who say they trust the news - this ranges from 78% in India to just 28% in Thailand. More
New research from US agency Kline & Company shows the market for cosmetics and toiletries in the US has shown only minor growth over the last five years. Department stores and food stores have seen their sales hit hardest, as consumers head for bargain outlets instead. More
The latest update from UK media and telecoms regulator Ofcom shows that, while local commercial radio listening is on the decline, multi-channel digital TV is now reaching 30% of households, 8 million households have broadband access, and consumer spend on mobile phones has increased by 17% since 2004. More
Asians' political views of the West have little impact on their consumption of Western brands, according to Millward Brown. GMI's latest research reaches similar conclusions: while a third of consumers worldwide boycott at least one brand, this is mainly due to unfair practices and unhealthy products rather than country of origin. More
September's relaunch issue of our MRWho supplement will be looking at changes in the UK MR jobs market, and in salary levels, in the last 12 months. This excerpt looks at the jobs market and the growth of new functions such as Panel Managers, Account Managers and pure 'Bus Dev' roles; next week, we'll examine salary levels. More
With the end of the month comes a raft of worldwide consumer confidence analysis. According to GfK, UK consumers are increasingly pessimistic while the German mood is improving, particularly in the West and for higher income groups. In the US, the Conference Board Index rises while the BIG index is stable. More
Time-pressed households in South East Asia are relying on ready meals and snacks more than ever before, according to findings from the TNS Asiapanel. However, Asia is not turning into a continent of couch potatoes: the findings also indicate high levels of interest in health, diet and exercise. More
The latest Simmons National Consumer Study is the first to include findings on consumer attitudes to product placement. They reveal that around half of US consumers are happy to see branded products on TV and in movies – but fewer than a quarter remember the brands in their favourite show. More
95% of UK drivers have experienced some form of road rage in the past 12 months, second only to South Africa (97%) according to a new, ten-nation survey from Synovate. But at least this is mostly just shaking fists and swearing: in India 14% have experienced physical assault or had a weapon brandished at them. More
US-based predictive analytics firm Compete, Inc. has released the latest round of its 'Spark!' automotive industry report. The company claims it as 'the first ever study to incorporate vehicle shopper counts and conversion rates in order to quantify incentive effectiveness', and says very large incentives can actually lower conversion rates. More
ACNielsen is rolling out its Homescan consumer panel service, together with its ScanTrack retail measurement technology, in Thailand. ScanTrack automatically measures sales and their relation to promotions, while Homescan tracks consumer purchases and trends. More
According to the annual survey conducted by TNS for Marketing magazine, Britain's most purchased brands are all convenience foods. The highest value categories overall are soft drinks, alcohol, and chocolate, but there are also significant sales increases for healthier brands including Flora, Muller and Danone. More
A new US consumer poll from the NPD Group shows that spending on clothes and accessories for the new school year started earlier than last year, but remains at roughly the same level. The back-to-school period, now the second largest retail season, is an important indicator for the upcoming holiday season. More
New analysis from Datamonitor lists ten overarching trends that it says will shape future products and services. The report states that, in order to retain customer loyalty, companies must capitalise on at least one of these 'mega-trends', which reflect changing attitudes to age, gender and lifestyles. More
A new study from US-based ABI Research focuses on ways to integrate information from radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging technology with retailers' systems to aid decision-making and improve profitability. More
A new study by J.D. Power finds buyers increasingly satisfied with digital cameras, especially those in the lower price segments; while two other recent surveys suggest strong demand for high-tech mobile services - as long as they are cheap. More
A new report from Datamonitor reveals that UK spending on charge, credit, debit and store cards grew by more than 11% last year, reaching a new record level and outpacing the overall rise in consumer spending. Increased competition in the market means lower rates and tighter margins for providers. More
The number of Australians using Internet banking increased 26% to 5.5m in the twelve months to May 2005, according to new research from ACNielsen. This growth comes despite concerns about ID theft, which are also reflected in a new US poll from Experian and Gallup. More
Despite a steady decline in gambling in recent years, ORC's annual GamblerTrack study reveals that 60% of the UK population still participates in gambling. Online gambling is on the rise, increasing by 46% last year, while traditional methods are declining. More
Four new reports on healthy eating and its converse, from both the USA and UK, show that while government guidelines and campaigns can boost awareness of healthier diets, they can't always compete with the urge to indulge. More
Ipsos UK's Public Affairs unit has won a major new research project for Sport England to explore participation levels and attitudes to recreation and leisure. The 'Active People' survey is described as the largest CATI survey ever commissioned. More
Four fifths of consumers in Europe, the Pacific and North America think that 'private label' or supermarket own-brands are a good alternative to other brands, according to ACNielsen's latest study. In developing markets, where own-label products are less well established, consumers are more likely to view them as inferior. More
Sound familiar? The latest State of the Market Research Industry study from RSM finds more UK research professionals reporting decreased budgets (26%) than increased budgets (20%) in the last six months. The study also highlights concerns about falling response rates and a lack of business focus. More
The latest TNS Promocar study shows that European car manufacturers spent 1,100 Euros on sales promotion for each vehicle sold last year – a 10% rise since 2003. TNS says it is now 'practically unheard of' for a car to be sold without some sort of incentive or discount. More
Four surveys out this week put British workers under the spotlight. ISR finds that most enjoy their work, but many are indifferent to their company's success. MORI finds that private sector workers feel more pride in their organisations than those in the public sector, while RPCushing reveals workers frustrated at the social 'niceties' expected of them. More
Sony has topped the Harris Poll of best brands for the sixth year running. Coca Cola drops from two to four while Microsoft, which fell from the top ten last year, reappears at number nine. Meanwhile, analysis by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) says Wilson and Nike are the top sports brands at Wimbledon. More
Despite July's terrorist activities, the newly launched Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index shows an upturn in confidence in the UK, following sharp falls in May and June. The Index, developed by TNS, uses the same methodology as the renowned US Conference Board's Index. More
Australia is the winner and Turkey the loser, while the US is let down by its politics and France fails in the hospitality stakes. This is the global perception of the brand appeal of 25 countries, according to the second quarterly Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index (NBI) report. More
The latest UK grocery market share figures from TNS Superpanel show that Tesco's growth continues apace. The supermarket has increased sales by 11% over the last year, taking its market share from 28.1% to 30.4%. More
Four new studies out this week reflect mixed feelings about the economy among consumers and business owners. Overall, the trend is downwards with decreases in the US Consumer Confidence Index and GfK's Consumer Climate Index for Germany. More
UK agency BMRB is conducting a new continuous survey for the government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to measure participation in sporting, leisure and cultural activities. More
Samsung and HSBC are among the biggest winners in the latest global brands ranking compiled by Interbrand and Business Week magazine. Meanwhile, brand values for Sony, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Morgan Stanley, and Ford have fallen since last year. More
Research released by the US Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) indicates that the use of Portable People Meters (PPMs) to gather radio ratings will increase advertising spend. The study, funded by PPM developers Arbitron, estimates that switching to PPMs could bring in an extra $696m a year. More
The cost of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology remains a stumbling block in the consumer goods market, according to AMR Research. Only 8% of companies surveyed are currently using the new technology but another 23% are piloting it and 12% have plans to implement it this year. More
A study by the UK's Critical Research suggests that agencies need to work closely with businesses to improve falling BtoB response rates. The study found senior decision-makers were often unclear about the purpose or benefit of research, and wary about being hooked into a sales call. More
US consumer confidence fell to the lowest level since October 2003, according to the RBC Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household (CASH) Index conducted by Ipsos. The decline is thought to be the result of worries about gas prices, job security and terrorism. More
Three surveys out this week highlight the continuing growth of our digital culture. In the US, purchases of hi-tech products are set to increase, while increased uptake of digital services means UK consumers now spend a third more on TV, radio, and mobile communications than in 2004. More
The average US worker admits to frittering away two hours a day – with the Internet the number one distraction, according to research from Salary.com. It's not always down to laziness, though: a third say they just don't have enough work to keep them busy. More
Australian consumers are significantly less confident than they were a year ago, according to the latest survey from polling firm Roy Morgan. The main driver of the decrease is pessimism about personal finances with 30% (up 6%) saying they are now worse off than they were last year. More
Results of the latest Ipsos survey of Europe's high-earning elite reveals a surge in hi-tech gadgets and online shopping, while readership of print publications is stable. The Europe 2005 survey represents the media habits of ten million high earners and business leaders (4% of all adults) in 16 countries. More
The results of two surveys conducted since last week's London bombings present two sides of a complex issue. ICM's survey for Newsnight finds the British as divided as ever on the issue of keeping troops in Iraq, while YouGov's poll for the Daily Telegraph shows a nation determined to get on with daily life and focusing on other things than terrorism. More
The global market for cosmetics and toiletries rose more than 4% in 2004 to almost $150 billion, according to a study due shortly from Kline & Company. The rise was fuelled by skin care products, which are the largest product category covered and grew by c.5% globally. More
Analysis from Hitwise shows that the official Live 8 web site, home of a mammoth online petition, was the sixth most-visited site in the UK on Saturday, outranked only by Google UK, eBay, Hotmail, MSN UK and Wanadoo. More
Three separate consumer confidence indexes out this week tell three very different stories. US consumer confidence is at a three-year high, while consumers in Germany are growing more wary of making big purchases, and their UK counterparts are slightly gloomier about the country's economy. More
India's television audience measurement agency Tam Media Research is planning to increase its panel from 4,800 to 10,300, following news that the number of Indian homes with access to cable and satellite TV has doubled since 2002. More
Mintel's first 'Childhood Obesity' report estimates that half of UK parents take little interest in their children's eating habits. Half the children surveyed claim to eat whatever they like, with bread, crisps and chocolate among their favourites. Meanwhile, 44% of all girls are trying to lose weight, and 41% feel guilty about eating. More
A new study from Kelley Blue Book reveals the number of Americans thinking of buying a gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle (SUV) is rapidly declining, mainly thanks to the high price of fuel. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles powered by hybrid electric or clean diesel engines is set to more than double, according to J D Power and Associates. More
Today's young Asian is 'consumption-crazy, aspirational, and driven' according to a new survey from Synovate, which looks at the spending habits, media consumption, favourite brands and aspirations of Asians aged eight to 24. More
Two new surveys released this week try to figure out what consumers want from mobile phone technology. Research from Forrester shows that Europeans are not interested in advanced mobile features, while a new Mintel report predicts that mobile gambling is set to rise rapidly in the US. More
British shoppers are buying more premium foods, drinks and toiletries than ever according to a new report from Datamonitor. Spend on speciality products such as hand-made, origin-specific food, drink and personal care products is expected to exceed £4.5bn in the UK by 2009, up from £3.4bn in 2004. More
If Wimbledon were a popularity contest, Maria Sharapova would win hands-down. And even Anna Kournikova would be in with a shout, despite her recent retirement. Data from Hitwise reveals the most searched-for tennis personalities online aren't always the best performers on court. More
Honda-owners are the most satisfied motorists in France, according to new consumer satisfaction survey. While Honda is the most satisfying brand to own, Toyota and BMW have snapped up the best car awards. More
The switch to Voice over IP technology (VOIP), combined with outsourced workflow models will 'shake the foundations of the market research industry' according to new research by software supplier VOXCO. More
Companies can turn regulatory compliance and heightened corporate governance efforts into opportunities that create value for their businesses, according to a new report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). More
The Royal Bank of Canada and Ipsos Public Affairs in North America recently announced an agreement to publish the RBC CASH Index (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household). More
With a renewed focus on restoring respect and the need to tackle anti-social behaviour in the UK, a new survey by MORI Social Research Institute provides a gauge of public opinion towards the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs). More
The UK's Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) has launched a consultation process aimed at steering future developments in measurement of the increasingly advanced UK television market. For the time being, the complexity of TV measurement means that BARB will not be prioritising calls for cross-media measurement. More
Australian consumers are currently the most pessimistic in Asia, according to a global study by ACNielsen. 43% said they felt the economy would deteriorate in the coming year compared to just 28% across the region – and 34% felt the strength of the economy had deteriorated over the past six months. More
High Street brands enjoy greater online brand strength than their pure-play competitors but are missing significant opportunities for customer acquisition from search, according to online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise in its latest 'Retail Update'. More
Surveys by London-based agency HI Europe will provide the backbone for a new Channel 4 comedy series, '8 Out of 10 Cats'. Two teams led by comedians will debate the results and the issues they highlight in a light-hearted style. More
Nearly nine out of ten people (86%) in Brazil, but only half (50%) of Germans think that it is important for a company to act ethically, according to the latest figures from TGI's Global Barometer. More
The AA and RAC continue their domination of the UK's roadside assistance customer service ranking, with the former going back to the top, according to J.D.Power and Associates. Overall satisfaction scores remain high and competition intense. More
Ipsos UK has announced that it is entering a mobile phone-based measurement system to compete with devices from Arbitron, NOP/Eurisko and GfK in the ongoing trials conducted by UK radio body RAJAR. Trials will use the Nokia 60 Series. More
Saying 'Non' is not the only thing the French have been queuing up to do. The longest and slowest moving queues in Europe are to be found in Sweden and France, according to a new survey by Research International and the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association). More
Synovate has launched 'Asia's first local upscale media survey', tracking the spending patterns and media habits of Bangkok's most affluent people. The 'Media Atlas' survey is supported by the Media Agency Club (MAC) of Thailand and by leading publishers, Advance Agro. More
America's retailers are feeling positive and forecasting steady growth through a period of change, according to the Shopping in America: Spring 2005 Retailer Survey. The survey was conducted on the opening day of the annual ICSC convention in Las Vegas. More
NOP World has announced the first results from its new Hispanic OmniTelTM Financial Services Study. Findings show Hispanic Americans far less satisfied with their investments than other Americans – only 35% are 'very satisfied with where they have their money today' vs 50% in the nation as a whole. More
Chinese travellers are the world's biggest spenders on shopping during outbound trips, according to a recent study conducted by ACNielsen and Tax Free World Association (TFWA). Their average spend on each trip outside China is US$987. More
The people of Hong Kong are 'riding a tide of confidence in the economy', according to the latest ACNielsen Hong Kong Consumer Confidence Index. The overall score passed 100 last quarter for the first time since its launch in the 1980s. More
An influx of news in the UK retail sector. NOPWorld has today announced the winning of a contract for mystery shopping for Kwik Save supermarkets, and ESA has this week retained its mystery shopping contract for Tesco Ireland. Meanwhile MINTEL reports Britain's tea-drinking on the wane and IGD says convenience store takings are set to grow. More
NPD Funworld, the entertainment division of US agency The NPD Group, has launched a Video Games Hits Monitor, a quarterly tracking service giving consumer purchase information in-depth at the game title level. NPD also released results of a study of 'Cross-Entertainment Shopping' showing the power of licensing and product mentions in games and movies. More
Recent findings from Roy Morgan International present an interesting picture of the UK's Premiership football supporters, and underline why so many people were walking around looking worried last week at news of US businessman Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United Plc. More
Central and Eastern European companies are ahead of their Western European counterparts in the use of integrated marketing campaigns, according to Millward Brown's EuroMedia Trends 2005 Study. Online marketing is increasingly important across the continent, but as yet well behind the US in adoption. More
Qual research should only be done by specialist quallies, according to the ever-controversial Neil McPhee of Nuance Research, addressing a workshop at last week's BIG Conference. However, the excellent afternoon and evening programme subsequently proved that tennis should not be left to tennis players, and that good things come in threes... More
The latest MusicLab report from US agency The NPD Group highlights the rise of music-listening via computer. Radio, audio devices and music videos on television still dominate behaviour, but portable music players, streaming music online and listening to music on a computer all show big increases. More
With the recent high profile of religious issues in schools in France, the UK and elsewhere, major agency Roy Morgan has found Australians overwhelmingly in favour of teaching religion in Government schools, according to its latest 'Single Source Survey'. However, there is a slight downward trend in support. More
'We would like to knit our automotive quality studies together as a global study... the auto companies weren't ready for it yet. Maybe they were products before their time. Actually, some other companies have tried and have bent their pick a little bit'. CEO Steve Goodall on J.D. Power's global future with McGraw-Hill – the concluding part of our exclusive interview. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has developed a service for telecoms providers enabling them to measure and analyse mobile content usage. Three major carriers are already using or trialling the system – Optus, Hutchison 3 and Telstra. More
Foreign relations ranks as the number one concern among 'Influential Americans' according NOP World's latest survey of the US opinion-forming elite. The group's Roper Public Affairs division says concern about the country's international ties is at an all-time high among this key group. More
'I think the industry is ultimately making a bet on hydrogen' 'The US will move like the European or Western European markets... where c.50% are diesel engines' 'Asia ... will drive more and more future product development' - J.D.Power CEO Steve Goodall on what's in store for automotive, in part 2 of our exclusive interview. More
J.D. Power and Associates, perhaps the world's best known name in automotive research, was recently acquired by publisher McGraw-Hill. In April, CEO Steve Goodall talked in-depth to MrWeb's Michael Kenyon about the new owners, the road ahead for the company and the future of the automotive industry worldwide. [first of three parts] More
With Britons going to the polls today, research from TNS suggests that the campaign has failed to address the key healthcare issues as perceived by the country's doctors. Healthcare manifestos of all three major parties led on hospital cleanliness and the importance of reducing levels of MRSA. More
Labour has a four point lead over the Conservatives, among those who are most likely to vote in the British General Election tomorrow, according to the latest from HI Europe. These figures suggest a closer race than those reported by MORI yesterday. More
British employees are wasting up to 80 working days every year through inefficient office practices, according to a study by Research Now for BACS Payment Schemes Limited. The leading time-wasters are technology (48 minutes), 'dealing with colleagues' (34 minutes), and unnecessary phone calls and meetings (26 and 23 mins respectively). More
US registrations for new hybrid vehicles rose 81% to 83,153 in 2004, according to R. L. Polk & Co, with the Toyota Prius (64%) and Honda Civic (31%) still getting the lion's share. Meanwhile research from ACNielsen shows China's automotive market on a plateau, despite rising private car sales. More
The latest round of the Ipsos Face of The Web study paints a picture of the global take-off of a broad range of Internet activities beyond simple browsing. Seven in ten Internet users in the 12 countries surveyed have purchased and half have banked online; two thirds have sent digital pictures or videos; and one in ten has already downloaded a feature length movie. More
More than half of the UK's 16-24 year-olds (56%) would be interested in using their phones to make what it terms 'micropayments', buying small items such as public transport tickets or vending machine goods, according to new research from TNS. Around a third (32%) are 'very interested'. More
Nielsen Media Research has publicised disclosures made by its opponents in the LPM debate, confirming the heavy involvement of News Corp in the Don't Count Us Out campaign. The lobbying firm involved also admitted directing a campaign of calls to Nielsen execs which shut down their corporate switchboard. More
... the UK's general election is just over a week away, and this is our first mention of it. Lightspeed Research and branding and design consultancy Landor Associates have released results of a study of brands associated with the three main party leaders. Charles Kennedy may laugh inwardly to see both Tony Blair and Michael Howard associated with Rover, but he himself is a Mini... More
TNS Media has been appointed by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) to undertake the main survey work for its 'TouchPoints' UK media study. TNS says the research will be the first to 'connect single media channels such as TV, radio, print media and online through an industry-wide measurement system'. More
UK radio audience research body RAJAR has agreed a further £500,000 to fund the next stage of its extensive testing and analysis of two audiometers, the Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) and the Eurisko Media Monitor. TV research body BARB will piggyback its own test of the PPM on the RAJAR study. More
A new war is imminent among automakers, with the focus on safety as the key differentiator for vehicle lines, according to ABI Research in the US. More
Fewer US consumers are now confident about the strength of their economy, according to the BIGResearch Executive Briefing for April. Domestic issues are the main worries. Looking longer-term, separate research from Ipsos-Insight suggests that many consumers around the world have written off public pension sources as their retirement mainstay. More
Almost one third of American Catholics would like a more liberal Pope next time round, while two thirds want more of the same and only 3% a more conservative figure, according to results from Le Moyne College/Zogby. Asked about the possible origin of a new pontiff, respondents favoured one from Latin America (55%) or Africa (48%). More
Eighty-seven percent of Canadians believe that market and survey research serves a valuable purpose, according to a poll by the country's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA). However, sugging calls are widespread and remain a threat to this goodwill. More
America's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has told Congress that it will not be formally monitoring the accuracy of media ratings, and that it believes Nielsen did not misrepresent its Local People Meters or fail to disclose 'material facts' about the system. The Commission says self-regulation via the Media Rating Council appears to be working. More
European car owners show a strong preference for 'home grown' brands, according to the survey of car ownership and purchasing intentions conducted by ACNielsen [have to exclude the UK I suspect - Ed]. Globally, Toyota ranks as the number one car brand, but Volkswagen is top in Europe. More
Mortgage lending in the UK will decline 10% over the next three years as the housing market and house price growth stalls, according to the latest from Datamonitor. Among other trends, the independent analyst says 'serial remortgagers' are exploiting lenders' habit of attracting customers with short-term fixed rates. More
The UK's grocery wholesaling market will reach £18.3bn by 2009, from £16.7bn today, according to Food and grocery researcher IGD. This steady overall growth reflects stronger performance for delivered (3.5% per annum forecast) and near stagnation (0.5% growth only) for Cash & Carry. More
CSM Media Research has appointed T.S. Chan as MD of its Hong Kong business. Chan will be responsible for setting up and maintaining the TV Rating operation in Hong Kong SAR, and will also act as the Deputy MD for CSM China. More
Rural India is opening up to marketers, helped by the work of entrepreneurial, domestically-based technology companies offering villages affordable Internet connectivity. The newly formed Rural Marketing Agencies Association Of India (RMAAI) will promote and develop the sector through activities including syndicated research. More
Just over half Britain's back-bench MPs (51%) believe that the level of participation of young people voting in elections is 'a big problem', and almost all the remainder think it 'quite a problem', according to the latest from TNS. The UK is likely to see a general election within the next two months. More
The average Australian child is spending no more than 10% of its free time playing outdoors at home, according to research by Newspoll for detergent company Omo, which (surprise surprise) wants parents to be 'less anxious about letting their kids get dirty'. The company has declared Sunday April 3rd 'National Dirt is Good Day'. More
Nielsen Media Research yesterday made public, and welcomed, the content of the report of The Independent Task Force on Television Measurement. The Task Force was established last year as an independent body, amid the controversy over Local People Meters and their measurement of the viewing behaviour of people of colour. More
The Chinese grocery market will grow by 65% to $456 billion (£240 billion) in the next five years, according to food and grocery think tank IGD. The new report 'Retailing in China' highlights the diversity of Chinese consumers and the challenges facing retailers. More
TNS last night declared Marks and Spencer Britain's 'Retail Brand of the Year', at the Retail Week Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. M&S received 50% more votes than second-placed Asda, in a poll of the agency's 15,000 FashionTrak consumer panellists. More
'Reconstructions', the MRS Conference 2005, continues on Friday at London's Barbican Centre. Here's our own interpretation of Thursday afternoon's papers, with not a little opinion thrown in. More
Another 'cultural revolution' is sweeping China, according to US-based ABI Research. Instead of LRBs (Little Red Books) this one is fuelled by HDTVs, MP3s and other media devices. More
The number of PCs in use worldwide surpassed 820 million in 2004 and is projected to top 1 billion before the end of 2007 according to a report by Computer Industry Almanac. Growth is slowing as the industrialized world approaches the top of the 'S-curve', but will continue strongly in the developing countries for another decade. More
UK agency Opinionpanel has launched a new 'Decliners Study' to identify reasons why students reject universities. The company established its original Student Panel in 2004. More
Ownership of cellphones among American 12-14 year olds has increased from 13% in February 2002 to 40% in December 2004, according to the fifth wave of the mKids tracking study from NOP World Technology. More
Despite a housing market slowdown, the UK re-mortgage market remains buoyant and over 1m households are considering borrowing more, according to results from GfK Martin Hamblin. Mortgage switching is increasingly popular / fashionable and the agency says lenders now 'need to develop genuine retention strategies'. More
They may sound cheerful (sometimes) but the UK's call centre employees are the least satisfied of any occupation according to ORC International. The agency's latest benchmarking study found only 25% satisfied with their pay, compared with an overall UK average of 41%. More
India will have almost one million 'affluent' individuals with a collective wealth of over US$200bn by 2008, according to the latest from Datamonitor. The number of such people has grown by 17.6% per annum over the last five years, backed by a large skill base and robust domestic stock market. More
Americans are growing increasingly unhappy with their jobs, according to a recent report from The Conference Board, based on research by TNS. The decline in job satisfaction is widespread among workers of all ages and across all income brackets. Half of all Americans say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from nearly 60% in 1995. More
The vast majority of British adults (86%) make at least one complaint to a service provider each year, according to the new 'Service in Britain' survey by Andrew Smith Research and Research Now. The major utilities, telecoms providers and supermarkets top the list of target organisations. More
Western European countries are overlooking the opportunity of outsourcing to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in favour of Asian countries, according to findings from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report says that CEE countries compare favourably with China and other rapidly developing economies in several respects. More
The UK's first-time buyers want more help getting on the housing ladder, according to findings from Brahm Research and financial services policy specialists Cicero Consulting. While media and industry attention has focused on stamp duty reductions, the survey showed that the biggest concern for younger people is affording a deposit. More
Sales of plasma TVs surged worldwide in the last quarter of 2004, according to flat panel display specialists DisplaySearch (FPD). Shipments soared 67% versus the 3rd quarter 173% versus Q4 of 2003, to a record 1.1 million TVs, of which just under three quarters have 42-43 inch screens. More
Digital still camera shipments surpassed 63m units worldwide in 2004, up more than 35% on 2003, and should pass 100 million units in 2008, according to the annual report and forecast from US-based Lyra Research. In 2004, Europe overtook the US for the first time as the largest market in terms of unit shipments, with Japan still third. More
Texas-based computer company Dell is America's Most Admired Company for the first time, up from no.5 last year, according to FORTUNE magazine working with Hay Group. Wal-Mart, no.1 for the last two years, drops to number four. More
Chinese agency CTR Market Research, part of TNS, has given further details of the ad spend increase for the region announced in DRNO recently. The top advertising category in 2004 was Cosmetics & Toiletries, followed by Foodstuff, Pharmaceuticals, Retail & Services and Real Estate. More
Life is increasingly tough for Europe's department stores, according to the latest research from MINTEL, which claims that poor performers in the sector are key targets for property developers. Combined sales of mixed goods retailers in seven major markets studied rose by just 1% or 0.7 billion Euros in 2004. More
Print media, in general, are more effective than television for reaching influential Americans, according to new analysis from NOP. 41% of this group are among the nation's most avid newspaper readers, and a third of among the heaviest magazine readers, whereas just 14% are heavy TV viewers and 20% avid radio listeners. More
The last ten years in New Zealand have been 'fabulous' and life has been rapidly improving, according to results from Nielsen Media Research. Could this be connected to a separate Nielsen survey revealing that they and their neighbours in Aus get more sleep than anyone else in the AsiaPac region? More
US prescription drug sales grew 8.3% from $217.3bn in 2003 to $235.4bn last year, according to IMS Health. The volume of total US dispensed prescriptions grew 3.2% after adjustments. Despite seeing less than double-digit growth for the first year since 1995, the industry's performance is seen as solid in the face of various pressures. More
The global telecoms industry showed modest growth in 2004 and should continue it in 2005, according to Insight Research. The report predicts a compounded annual growth rate of 5.9% from 2005 to 2010. More
Following RAJAR's announcement this week that the GfK Telecontrol MediaWatch had been dropped from its next wave of audiometer trials, the Group has issued a statement saying it is 'highly astonished' and questioning the scientific basis of the tests. More
The British press and clergy may be in turmoil over the impending marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, but judging by the views of the public, as seen in a BMRB poll this weekend, there is little reason not to just 'get on with it'. More
UK radio audience measurement body RAJAR has announced the result of its Audiometer Validation Test which took place in November 2004. The Arbitron PPM and the Eurisko Media Monitor have been selected for further fieldwork tests, while the GfK/Telecontrol MediaWatch has, for the time being at least, dropped out of the running. More
Fully 24% of US adults believe that 'liberals' oppose gun control, and 40% think that 'conservatives' support it, according to Harris Interactive. However social scientist Leo Bogart, who suggested the study, says that confusion over the meaning of such political labels reflects the way the words are used in normal speech, and the fact that 'Americans don't adhere to a party line or doctrine'. More
The automotive industry in the US is under threat from low cost competition, according to its CEOs in a survey by PwC – but 'offshoring' also represents a huge opportunity for the sector. A separate survey by J.D. Power says the market for hybrid vehicles will top out at around 3% by 2011, with price sensitivity a major factor. More
So the Patriots beat the Eagles and established the first 'dynasty' since Dallas in the '90s. Confused? Well most Americans say that the ads or spending time with friends and family are more important than the game itself anyway, according to comScoreQ2's annual look at the off-the-field stats for the SuperBowl. More
More than one fifth (21%) of US adults report having a home computing network of two or more computers, according to a report from Harris Interactive. However, current intentions suggest that the figure will grow by only 7% in the near future, and 88% of the remainder say they have no need for one. More
UK consumer confidence took a sharp upturn in January, according to the latest index figures from GfK Martin Hamblin, working on behalf of the European Commission. Whilst a rise in January is normal, the headline figure at +1 is the highest for more than two years. More
Advertising expenditure in the Greater China Region soared by 27% last year according to figures from Chinese agency CTR Market Research and its partners admanGo in Hong Kong and Rainmaker in Taiwan. Total spend for 2004 amounted to RMB359.3bn versus RMB283.7bn in 2003. Figures are based on ratecard and including TV and print media only. More
Only a fifth of UK citizens are in favour of the draft European Constitution, and only half are even aware of it, according to the findings of a special Eurobarometer, conducted by TNS for the European Commission. Across the EU as a whole, the proportion in favour is 49%. More
With the tax return deadline today and fines for late filing, UK taxpayers are rushing to the web site of the Inland Revenue, according to online measurement specialist Hitwise. Visits to the site are up 48% since the first week of January. More
Affluent US households have 'very shallow relationships' with the bank they consider as their primary savings and investment provider, according to a new study by market management firm Phoenix Marketing International. However, few of them at present are going elsewhere for other financial services. More
British women are closing the gap on men in terms of the number of business start-ups, according to a study by IFF Research for London Business School and Babson college in the US. More
The World Economic Forum at Davos this week will discuss economic aid, with the Tsunami disaster still in the headlines. More than half of adults in Britain, France and Germany believe that either Africa or the global spread of AIDS should still be the number one priority for international aid, according to a new CNN/TIME poll by TNS. More
The UK's 'Tweens' and Teenagers are Europe's richest, according to new results from Datamonitor. Annual income per capita reached £775 in 2003 - more than twice as much as their Spanish counterparts. More
Americans are becoming much more aware of digital video recorders (DVRs) but likelihood to buy one in the near future continues to increase only slowly, according to research by Ipsos-Insight. More
With the Iraqi elections only days away, the American public is not overly optimistic about their effect on the country's future, according to the latest Harris Poll. However, very large majorities believe it is right to promote democracy in Iraq, even if the resulting government is unfriendly to the USA. More
UK audience measurement body RAJAR has announced the findings of its industry-wide consultation survey on the future of radio research. More
Continuing a long-term trend, consumers in the USA made fewer trips to traditional grocery stores in 2004 as they sought greater savings, variety or convenience in other retail outlets, according to a new study based on analysis of the ACNielsen Homescan consumer panel. More
A recent Harris Poll has found that American wine drinkers (ie over-21s who buy and drink wine) would be willing to try wines produced in many countries in addition to the countries whose wines they normally drink. More
Increased awareness of the need for a healthier lifestyle is (after all) changing the habits of the British public. Figures from the recently published Retail Pocket Book 2005 show that over half of the population make a conscious effort to maintain or improve their general health. More
In the USA, the Consumer Reports annual cell phone report shows that consumers have experienced chronic, major problems with service, billing, and complaint handling with every national wireless carrier. More
The over 50s represent over a third of the population in the UK, and are the most affluent consumer group in terms of income and wealth. However, a new report from Datamonitor suggests that many financial services providers ignore changes among senior customers and often take them for granted. More
A new report from MINTEL finds Britain's kids adopting a refreshingly healthy approach towards what they eat. As many as seven in ten (71%) 11 -16 year olds agree that 'it is important to eat a balanced diet' and only one in ten 7-16 year olds find buying health foods a strange concept. More
TNS has this week released the results of its Global Corporate Reputation Study 2005. The study, which was conducted in the last quarter of 2004, used TRI*M, TNS' business solution for Stakeholder Management, to measure perceptions across 40 countries, surveying more than 36,000 members of the general public. More
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is the person most trusted by Europeans to provide information about the world's Millennium Development Goals (MDG), according to a recent Harris Interactive survey. However, in the US he is way down the list. More
The UK business of Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced a strategic partnership with William Morrisons, whose EpoS data will be incorporated into IRI's leading-edge continuous UK retail scanning service, InfoScan®. Morrisons have now completed the review of MR strategy which followed the acquisition of Safeway. More
Employees in Australia and New Zealand are optimistic about 2005, with around four in five feeling that their current job is safe and two thirds that they could find another job quickly if they did lose it, according to the latest poll by Roy Morgan. More
If you're planning to forget the diet for a few days, you may be interested in some facts about chocolate consumption from Datamonitor. The British are the biggest consumers of chocolate in Europe, eating on average 10kg (24 pounds) of the stuff each year - nearly twice the European average, and the equivalent of 154 Mars Bars. More
Asia is just as much in the grip of fast food culture as the US or Europe, according to the latest from AC Nielsen – in fact there are three Asian economies where a higher proportion eat take-aways than in the US. More
Media researcher Knowledge Networks/SRI (KN/SRI) has announced the rollout in early 2005 of a syndicated Yellow Pages measurement service. The 15 biggest US Yellow Pages publishers are signed up as sponsors - representing over 95% of the medium's ad revenue nationwide. More
Despite the reputation of Britain's cities for culinary cosmopolitanism, the fish and chip shop is still the UK's favourite place to eat, closely followed by a meal down the local pub, according to the latest research from MINTEL. The total of £25bn spent on eating out this year is forecast to increase to £31bn by 2009. More
The UK's High Court has thrown out Kelvin MacKenzie's legal challenge to RAJAR over radio audience measurement methods. The judge ruled that claims RAJAR had abused its market power under competition laws 'simply did not correspond with the facts'. More
The number of personal computers in use worldwide will reach almost 1.3 billion by the end of the decade, up from 575 million today, according to research by technology analyst Forrester. The study measured PC adoption rates across 16 emerging markets including China, Russia, and India. More
Apart from the just-departed Home Secretary himself, the recent focus of UK Government announcements has been security - tackling crime and terrorism. With the forthcoming Queen's speech due to set out Labour's legislative programme for the session before the next election, BPRI has been examining whether this mirrors the concerns of the UK public. More
The music industry still faces challenges in attracting and maintaining customers to the new digital formats, according to the latest data from The NPD Group, presented recently at the Music 2.0 conference in Los Angeles. Consumers attach different values to CDs and digital formats, requiring different marketing approaches. More
The CEOs of America's fastest growing private companies expect a significant increase in productivity over the next 12 months, but regard their caution in spending on hiring and innovation as an important factor in their future success, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' 'Trendsetter Barometer'. More
Ipsos-Insight has announced a number of changes to its BookTrendsSM syndicated service, including the amalgamation of hitherto separate databases for Adult Trade and Juvenile Books into one. The new package also offers improved data delivery, enhanced classifications and analysis, and quarterly rather than bi-annual reporting. More
Synovate has announced pilot results from 'Media Brand Values Asia' (MBV Asia), a new syndicated survey looking at the way senior people in Asia view local and regional media. More
US agency Simmons has announced the release of Hispanic Cohorts(TM), which it claims is the first Hispanic household-based segmentation system. Hispanic consumers are the fastest growing ethnic group in the US, with over 10 million households today. More
British consumers continue to be sceptical over headlines about diet, health and nutrition. A substantial majority (61%) believe their diet is always healthy and only 11% think they are not eating healthily, according to new research by food and grocery think tank IGD. More
Sixty per cent of UK workers are proud of who they work for, according to employee research specialist ORC International. Housing sector employees top the table, with 72%'proud to work for their organisation'. More
The rise of the 'phishing' scam notwithstanding, three in ten British adults (30%) are 'more confident' about the security of online banking now than they were three years ago, according to TNS. This rises to 41% among people aged 16-24 years old. More
Britain's consumers are feeling more confident for the second month running, according to The UK Consumer Confidence Survey, conducted by GfK Martin Hamblin on behalf of the European Commission. The headline index improved two points from –6 in October to –4. More
US businesses will spend an estimated $278 billion on advertising next year, but the advertising industry will 'drive' an estimated $5.2 trillion into the economy and 'generate' 21 million jobs, according to claims and projections made in a new study for a coalition of the industry's trade associations. More
This year's Christmas shoppers are feeling cautious, according to MINTEL's latest UK Retail Briefing. One in ten (10%) adults say that they will be spending 'a lot less than last year' whereas only 5% said this 12 months ago. The report looks at online buying intentions, projected spend and the types of present in and out of fashion. More
Rachel Lomax, the Bank of England's Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, has raised questions about the business and economic data available to UK government, referring to the 'statistical fog surrounding the true state of the economy' and backing a report calling for fundamental changes. More
Consumers in Asia Pacific are confident about their economic outlook - more so than their counterparts in the US and Europe - but have yet to forget completely the spectre of Asia's recent economic downturn, according to ACNielsen. They are also the most likely to save spare cash, while Americans and Europeans spend theirs. More
British adults may be more supportive than French or German of American involvement in Iraq, but they are just as pessimistic about the likely outcome / long-term situation, according to the latest TNS poll for CNN and TIME magazine. The poll also notes that pessimism does not always translate into support for the rapid withdrawal of troops. More
Discount supermarket Lidl is the one to watch in Europe, according to the latest report from food and grocery specialist IGD. Between 1996 and 2003 IGD estimates that the retailer trebled its European sales, with an average increase of 17% per annum. More
The median price paid for a new vehicle in the US in 2004 is $26,000 — up from $25,500 in 2003, according to J.D. Power & Associates - with Jaguar and Lexus in joint first place for sales satisfaction. Meanwhile Nielsen//NetRatings has released its first Automotive Sector Spotlight report, looking at UK automotive web site traffic. More
America is still split down the middle over most issues relating to Iraq – attitudes have changed very little after the assault on Fallujah, according to the latest Harris Poll. More generally, the popularity ratings of President Bush and his cabinet show no sign of the usual 'honeymoon period' for a newly elected or re-elected President. More
Another Pat on the back for UK agency Nunwood Consulting, which has won a major continuous contract to measure customer satisfaction for the Post Office. The project aims to develop an end-to-end understanding of customers' service experience, taking soundings at various lifecycle stages. More
Whatever your views of Chelsea Football Club and their current fortunate position, you'll now have to concede that blue is most definitely the colour. All 17 countries in a recent survey by US consulting and strategic research firm Cheskin, from China to Brazil via Sweden, voted blue their favourite colour by a large margin. More
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) is perhaps familiar to readers mostly for its detrimental effect on the clarity of MR industry league tables. However, the cost to others is rather greater: US companies will spend an estimated $5.8 billion on meeting its requirements in 2005, according to AMR Research. More
Almost three quarters of UK consumers (72%) are familiar with Guideline Daily Amount labelling (GDAs) according to research by food and grocery think tank IGD. GDAs are a focus of the current, much-discussed Public Health White Paper. More
Japanese businesses are generally happier with their telecoms providers than they were two years ago, according to J.D. Power & Associates. Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) ranks highest in customer satisfaction among nine providers. More
UK banks are the most crowded in Europe, serving on average over 5,000 people per branch, according to a new report by Datamonitor. The figure reflects mass closure of high street branches in the late 1990s and is five times that for Spain. More
Europe will outpace the US in online holiday sales this year, with eCommerce during the holiday season in Western Europe up 44% to €13bn, according to forecasts by technology specialist Forrester Research. Forrester forecasts around €10bn ($13bn) for the US, while a separate forecast by comScore Networks says it may top $15bn. More
It is probably fairly common knowledge that if Europeans had chosen the US President, George W Bush would be twiddling his thumbs by now and John Kerry in the Whitehouse. However, GfK Media's results from seven countries show the full extent of Bush's old world unpopularity. More
T-Mobile takes first place for customer satisfaction among the UK's mobile phone retailers, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Among other findings, more than half those upgrading their handset in the last 12 months had switched to a different brand. More
Seniors are the most affluent consumer group in the UK, as well as the fastest growing, according to a recent report from Datamonitor. 'Older consumers: Destroying marketing myths' looks in detail at trends influencing the senior market over the next five years in Europe and the US. More
The worldwide mobile phone market grew again in Q3 2004, with renewed strength for Nokia, according to IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Qview. More
Supermarkets in the south of England are the country's worst performers in terms of customer service, says retail specialist ESA. Three of the UK's most southern regions scored lowest in a survey looking at whether staff greeted customers with a smile, stated the cost of purchases and managed to say Please, Thank You and Goodbye. More
With the election seemingly all over bar the legal challenges, Republican and Democrat parties may have to pay attention to their overdrafts. US political advertising spend for 2004 reached historic heights - more than $1.45 billion - and will set the precedent for future campaigns, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. More
New luxury markets are taking shape alongside the high-priced exclusive brands usually associated with luxury, according to a multi-country study by Euro RSCG Worldwide. Luxury is defined as much in terms of finding the time and energy to enjoy as it is in terms of finding the money. More
As a close-run and hard-to-call US presidential election draws near, Harris Poll Chairman Humphrey Taylor acknowledges that there is no one 'right way' to do surveys and that 'the first rule of credibility is to admit to fallibility', but says the track record of polling companies is the best reason to trust them. More
The market for nano-enabled electronics will reach $10.8bn in 2007 and grow to $82.5bn by 2011, according to US-based technology analysts NanoMarkets. More
TGI has announced the winners of its own 'Olympics', measuring nations' general performance in terms of health, food and sports. Japan, China and Australia take the overall medals with France and Germany also among the individual medals. More
New research from Mintel sheds light on British parents' involvement with their children's play and their purchase of toys. Among other findings, the survey shows more children playing on their own and more being left to watch TV or play TV games: but also more money spent on toys and the existence of substantial groups prioritising 'quality time' or home education. More
With less than two weeks to go before the US presidential election, most Americans are not switched off or fatigued by politics – a result which may surprise more cynical and weary Europeans, according to a poll by integrated marketing communications agency Euro RSCG Worldwide. More
US technology trade group the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says that polling companies may be leaving as many as eight million US households out of their calculations due to consumers changing to cellular phones as the sole means of taking calls. More
J.D. Power and Associates have released data from three separate studies covering satisfaction with automotive dealers in India, Japanese views of emerging automotive technologies and Japanese customer satisfaction in the mini-car segment. More
The majority of Americans think that space agency NASA is 'marketed' poorly or very poorly according to research by consultants Dittmar Associates. However, more than two-thirds support the space exploration program and more think NASA's budget should be increased (42%) than decreased (29%). More
With two weeks to go before the US election, President Bush has either an eight-point or a two-point lead, depending on the definition of 'likely voters', according to the Harris Poll. However, the closeness of the race along with social and technological changes make the result very hard to call. More
Following recent endorsement by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Neilsen's controversial Local People Meters (LPMs) have received further support from Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the NAACP, who describes the new system as 'a vastly improved way of measuring television viewership'. More
During September, US vehicles were sold at an average discount of more than $5,000 below sticker price for the first time in history, according to online automotive information resource Edmunds.com. The sales-weighted average new vehicle sticker price was $30,104 and average net price was $24,817. More
Eurisko, the Italian arm of NOP World, has been formally invited to take part in RAJAR's Audiometer Validation Trial in November 2004. Eurisko's passive portable radio and TV metering system is said to rival those currently on offer by Arbitron and GFK. Further details of the trial format have also been released. More
Offshore outsourcing seems to be returning to the headlines of late – DRNO reported on the call centre concerns of European consumers last week, and now a new report by the META Group says offshore outsourcing by IT firms in the US will continue to grow nearly 20% annually through 2008, despite the reservations of many Americans. More
Most Americans tend to talk politics with people who agree with them, judging by results from the latest Harris Poll. The majority share the political loyalties of most of their families, friends and people at work, whether Republicans or Democrats. More
The US public's views on immigration are less negative than they were shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to a new national survey released by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. More
Financial services daily American Banker and online researchers InsightExpress have published the first results from their quarterly survey of senior banking and financial services professionals. The results show that bankers in the US are bullish about hiring and spending for 2005, despite worries about fraud and privacy issues. More
T-Mobile ranks highest in overall retail sales customer satisfaction among the top seven wireless providers in the US, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The 2004 Wireless Retail Sales Satisfaction StudySM was released last week. More
Most adults in Britain, France and Germany support the idea of government action to stop companies outsourcing jobs overseas, according to the latest poll by TNS for CNN and TIME magazine. Almost half of German adults (48%) also think that people in their country should consider wage cuts to prevent this. More
More than 14 million US households will be able to receive HDTV via some kind of compatible hardware by the end of 2004, according to new research from Strategy Analytics. Competition, falling prices and new regulations will drive mass adoption over the next five years. More
Britain is the only major economy where two or more used cars are bought for every new one, according to the latest figures from TGI. GB comes bottom of a list of 16 countries surveyed, in 11 of which a greater proportion of consumers said that the last car they bought was second-hand than said it was new. More
Interactive Program Guides (IPGs) are becoming the 'killer application' for enhanced TV, according to high-tech researcher In-Stat/MDR, which expects the worldwide IPG market to grow to nearly $1 billion by 2008. More
Mercedes, BMW, Toyota and Nokia are the world's most advocated brands according to NOP World's 2004 Global Advocacy Study. More
US kids and teenagers aged 8-18 currently prefer President Bush to Senator John Kerry by 48 to 38%, according to results from Harris Interactive – the gap has widened from 6% (46 vs 40%) in August. More
Television-enabled cell phones are on the horizon, but at the moment there is not strong consumer interest in the new technology, according to a study conducted by imaging specialist Lyra Research's DTV View group. More
US consumer confidence fell slightly in September due to rising oil prices and increased concern about slow growth in employment. The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment edged down from 95.9 in August to 94.2 in September, but is still well above the 87.7 recorded last September. More
Synovate has released the results of a global study into viewing of and attitudes to the Olympic Games. 82% claim to have followed the Games, with US respondents, despite their country topping the medals table, least likely (73%) and Germany second bottom with 78%. More
President Bush has a two-point lead over Senator John Kerry among likely US voters (48% to 46%), according to the latest Harris Poll, conducted online. Harris calls this 'a virtual dead heat' and therefore not dissimilar to the previous (telephone) poll two weeks earlier which put Kerry one point ahead of Bush (48% to 47%). More
Arbitron and VNU have announced an agreement to examine the development of a new, national MR service to help understand consumer exposure to multiple media and its effect on purchasing. Procter & Gamble will collaborate with the two to provide a client viewpoint during development. More
Radio audience measurement body RAJAR has committed itself to a 'roadmap' with a timetable for up-grading the current system, including the possible introduction of electronic measurement. The tender process will be launched in April 2005 and the new contract awarded as early as September 2005. More
Total spending on drinks by British consumers in bars, cafés, restaurants and hotels is set to increase by almost 10%, from £26.7bn to £29.1bn by 2008, according to Datamonitor – this is equivalent to £625 per Briton. France is second in Europe with sales of £22 billion and Germany third with £18 billion. Consumption of alcohol by women is growing especially fast. More
J.D. Power and Associates has announced results from its pioneering Digital Camera Satisfaction StudySM. Kodak ranks highest in two segments, and Sony and Canon in one each. More
UK consumers agree with the main provisions of the recent Treasury Select Committee Report on pensions, including a belief that people should be able to access their pension savings during periods of unemployment or illness, according to a joint investigation by Brahm Research and Cicero Consulting. More
Worldwide sales of 'traditional' PC game, video game and portable game hardware and software are expected to increase from $23.2 billion in 2003 to $31.6 billion in 2009, according to games research specialist DFC Intelligence. Combined with the online games market the 2009 total should reach $41.4 billion. More
Banks' marketing budgets are on the rise, according to a survey by WirthlinWorldwide for the American Bankers Association (ABA). Overall, banks increased marketing budgets by 5% over 2003, promoting products, services and their corporate brand. More
The 'convention bounce', which showed President Bush ahead of Senator Kerry by 6-11% after the Republican convention in New York, appears to have disappeared according to the latest poll from Harris. The two have almost equal levels of support. More
New findings from BPRI's panel of UK MPs shed light on the House's views of particular professions and sectors of industry. According to 'MPs & Industry: Knowledge, Communications and Trust', the financial services industry is one of the least trusted, on a par with nuclear power and just above tobacco, bottom of the league with 75% of MPs not trusting it. More
New MORI research for Citizen's Advice shows that use of call centres in the UK is now pervasive as four in five (79%) respondents have used a call centre in the past 12 months. More
For many people in the USA health care costs stand out compared to other goods and services as being exceptionally expensive. This is according to the results of a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive. More
The 2004 edition of MINTEL's European Retail Rankings shows Tesco steadily closing the gap on Carrefour. Tesco is the clear second player in Europe (and the fourth world-wide) and its sales have risen from under two thirds of Carrefour's a couple of years ago to almost three quarters in 2003/04. More
Automotive research specialist J.D. Power & Associates has announced its completion of the first long-term vehicle quality study conducted in Japan. Toyota ranks highest in vehicle dependability for vehicles purchased in all three years covered - 2000, 2001 and 2002. More
By the time British girls reach 14 years old, around nine in ten regularly use make-up, with eyeshadow, mascara and lipsticks proving the most popular choices, according to research published by MINTEL. Perhaps more surprisingly, the report says a high proportion of 7 - 10 year olds do so as well. More
Two thirds of consumers say that discounts are the reason they participate in loyalty programs, according to recent results from Maritz Loyalty Marketing: however, Maritz's tracking of the loyalty marketing programs it operates itself suggests that most choose to redeem their points for gift certificates. More
Worldwide revenue from at-home printing of photos captured by digital camera will grow from $7.1 billion in 2003 to $9.9 billion in 2008, a compound annual growth rate of 9%, according to a new report from imaging industry specialists Lyra Research. More
A further salvo in the battle over Local People Meters: Nielsen Media Research announced yesterday that the methodology has been endorsed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president of the Rainbow / PUSH Coalition and arguably the USA's best known politician of color (at least until Don King's convention performance last week). More
The low-carb brands segment has grown from non-existent to $1.1 billion in under two years and a 1% share of total food / beverage sales, according to IRI's latest Times & Trends report – 'Carb-Cutting Shoppers'. An estimated 26m Americans are on a low-carb diet today and some 70m limit their carb intake informally. More
More than a quarter (26%) of UK mortgage holders - some 4.3 million adults - would struggle to cope with a further 2% increase in interest rates, according to a report from MINTEL. Around 4% say that a rise of these proportions could prove 'catastrophic' to their financial situation. More
Branding firm Landor Associates and research firm Penn, Schoen and Berland have released a study indicating how Messrs Bush and Kerry are viewed by their own supports and other voters. Respondents aligned the presidential hopefuls with leading brands in a number of categories. More
The Guardian is the most popular read for Britain's MPs according to a new survey by BPRI. The average number of papers read is nearer to two than one (c.1.7) and a range of titles are included, indicating broad reading, but it seems true that most prefer to read something which reflects their own views. More
According to the latest figures from TGI, mobile phone ownership levels in Sweden are considerably higher than any other country, at 88% - Great Britain is second with 78% and Japan third with 74%. The study looked at 15 markets. More
UK consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level this year (overall index –5, from –3 in July), according to the monthly consumer confidence barometer, published by GfK Martin Hamblin on behalf of the European Commission. More
Losses to credit card fraud in the UK fell for the first time in 9 years, by over 5% in 2003 to £402.4 million, according to figures produced by APACS (Association for Payment Clearing Services). The results are published by Datamonitor, which predicts further falls in 2005 given the anticipated completion of the EMV migration. More
IDC has released preliminary figures showing that the Australian market for PCs reached record levels in the second quarter of 2004. 791,079 units were shipped in the quarter (Desktop and Notebook PCs), representing a solid 8.1% increase from the first quarter of the year. More
Credit card ownership in the key Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou is rising fast, according to data from ACNielsen. Penetration rose from 18% in 2003 to 22% in 2004 thanks in part to a mass of new product launches. More
Football fans are fine with the idea of sponsors names appearing not only on shirts but also on their stadium, according to recent research by UK agency SPA. The research was commissioned by sponsorship consultancy, Connexus PreciSion, on behalf of the English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers. More
Europe will have 4.6 million HDTV households by 2008, up from 50,000 at the end of 2003, according to the latest from Datamonitor. More
ACNielsen US has launched LabelTrends(TM), a new service developed in association with Kraft Foods, that monitors sales trends in 13 of the hottest consumer packaged goods (CPG) product segments, using claims made on the labels. Segments include low-carb, low-fat, organic, and sugar-free. More
US consumer demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is weakening, according to recent transaction data from the Power Information Network (PIN), LLC, an affiliate of J.D. Power and Associates. SUVs are sitting longer on dealer lots before selling, while prices have declined and incentives increased. More
The UK's Reality TV pioneer show Big Brother is over for another season, but others such as 'I'm a Celebrity...', 'Fame Academy' & 'Pop Idol' are gearing up for new series, so Alas the phenomenon continues. Ipsos UK recently used its weekly Quest media issues panel of 4000 individuals to probe the reasons for its popularity. More
US businesses expect 87% of their employees to receive an increase in base pay (excluding promotional increases) this year, up from 83% in 2003, according to the 31st annual WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey (SBS) which reported earlier this month. More
The UK secured loan market has grown from £19.8 billion in 2002 to £28.1 billion a year later, a leap of 42%, and will continue to boom, according to Datamonitor's new report, 'UK Secured Lending 2004'. More
A recent report from DFC Intelligence forecasts that the worldwide market for online games will reach $9.8 billion in 2009. This represents a 410% increase over 2003 revenue of $1.9 billion. By 2009, the largest market for online games is expected to be the Asia-Pacific region with $4.2 billion in revenue. More
The UK Grocery Retail Market should grow by 2.7% this year to £118.1 billion, according to IGD. The growth comes despite almost static food prices, and reflects the increasing contribution of non-food groceries as well as trade-up by consumers to premium ranges. More
Half the adults in Britain, France and Germany feel that racial prejudice is increasing in their country according to the findings of a new CNN/TIME poll conducted by TNS. The poll also asked about work-life balance and smoking bans. More
British men, sometimes depicted as a shabby bunch, are in fact more likely than women to buy designer clothes, according to a new report from MINTEL. However a second report, published at the same time by Datamonitor, suggests men are still reluctant when it comes to spending on 'grooming'. More
North America has 23.1m broadband households, up 4.3m on last year, according to technology researcher Forrester, which expects the number to triple by 2009. Even faster growth is predicted or DVRs and camera phones. More
The UK PC market continued to go from strength to strength in Q2 of 2004, recording double-digit year-on-year growth for the fifth quarter running, according to a report this week from IDC. More
The Greeks may have invented the Olympics, but according to figures from TGI they are the globe's most reluctant sporting participants. Only 1% of Greeks claim to play two or more sports, whereas at the other end of the table figures are 59% in urban China and 70% in the USA. The report also gives detailed figures for watching sport on TV. More
A significant improvement in the perceived climate for making major purchases has nudged the UK Consumer Confidence Index up one point this month to -3, according to the July wave of the regular survey conducted by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission. More
Half the adults in the United States (51%) believe that participation in the Olympic Games should still be limited to amateurs, according to the latest Harris Poll – but younger generations do not tend to agree. The survey also found that most people (69%) support partial federal government funding of US Olympic athletes. More
US consumers will consider a broad variety of suppliers for media hub products or 'Digital Dens' as technology converges, according to Ipsos-Insight. PC companies, consumer electronics giants, telcos / ISPs and others are all expected to be players in the fast-developing market. More
The British Prime Minister is the only world leader about whom a majority of Americans feel positive, according to the latest Harris Poll. His positive rating is well up on those of President Bush, Kofi Annan and the Pope, and more than 30% ahead of any other leader of a foreign country. More
After explosive growth in the last few years, the European market for flavoured alcoholic drinks (FABs) is finally slowing down and will be in decline by 2008, according to analysis and forecasts by Datamonitor. More
Adults living on the Sussex, Devon and Norfolk coasts are those most at risk in the UK of suffering a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years, according to GeoMedics, a new research service developed by TNS and the University of Portsmouth. More
Global wireless subscriber growth is experiencing robust expansion, following several years of slower growth, according to tech researchers In-Stat/MDR. By 2009, the company forecasts more than 2.5 billion subscribers based on GSM and CDMA technologies. More
The UK's Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) has given its 2004 Prosper Riley-Smith Effectiveness Award to Bryan Urbick, Director of Research at CKC/KidsLink Research Limited, for innovative research on the Kellogg's Froot Loop cereal brand. More
The USA's power companies have taken a slight knock from the 2003 Northeast blackout but have generally done an 'outstanding' job of maintaining high customer satisfaction, according to the latest from J.D. Power and Associates. Five of the six top utility companies are the same as last year. More
Less than one out of every five businesses started in the US has 'the innovative spark that could lead to strong job generation capabilities over the next five years', according to researchers at Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Overall US entrepreneurial activity is on the rise, however. More
Synovate has released the results of a global study into perceptions of budget air travel and the importance of various factors in consumers' choice of airline. The results show very attitudes to the trade-off between comfort, perks and price between fliers from Europe, Asia and North America. More
The proportion of US telephone consumers visiting their local telephone service provider's Web site has grown fast in the past six months. 20% of households have done so, up 6% from 2003, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Residential Local Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study. More
Technology will enable a growing proportion of healthcare to take place away from formal institutions, according to a new report from Forrester Research, Inc., 'Who Will Pay For Healthcare Unbound'. More
BBM Canada, the Canadian industry consortium for audience ratings, has adopted the Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) as the official ratings system for buying and selling commercial airtime on French-language television in Quebec and Montreal. More
Germany is the number one beer drinking nation in Europe, with a high proportion of men saying they drink 'to get drunk' according to a new report by MINTEL. In 2003 German adults drank on average some 145 litres (255 pints) of beer each - 20 litres (35 pints) more than the British. More
Synovate has released data from the Pan Asia Pacific Cross Media Survey (Synovate PAX) for Q2 2003 to Q1 2004. The survey tracks media, prosperity and influence by talking to affluent Asians in eleven markets across the region. More
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the US are spending nearly half their total telecoms budget (45%) on wireless voice and data services, according to Boston-based comms & networking consultants the Yankee Group. More
Synovate has released results from the first annual Top 1,000 Brands of Asia survey, conducted for Asian Integrated Media, the organisers of the Superbrands awards and publications. More
Lidl may be headed for the no.1 spot in the European small format discount market by 2012, according to 'European Grocery Retailing 2004', the latest report from food and grocery specialists IGD. Lidl is establishing operations in fifteen European countries in which rival Aldi has no presence. More
With the growth of OTC products for the treatment of human ailments, it is perhaps not surprising that Ipsos PetTrends finds more Americans turning to sources other than the vet's office for treatments for their pets. More
Thirty-six per cent of the software installed on computers worldwide in 2003 was pirated, according to a study released recently by the Business Software Alliance (BSA). This represents a loss of nearly $29 billion to the major software manufacturers who are its members. More
Only 14 percent of British adults believe the recent rise in interest rates announced by the Bank of England will cause house prices to begin to drop, according to HI Europe. A much higher proportion (40%) believe they will continue to rise, albeit slowly. More
British families will spend around £15 billion on holidays this year, with the average family spending £1,830, according to 'Family Holidays', the latest report from MINTEL. More
With the battle for control of UK retailer Marks and Spencer raging this week, a new poll from HI Europe reveals that around three quarters of all Britons have shopped in the store in the last year. More than half have bought food, just over a third underwear and a similar proportion other clothes. More
US agency Financial Insights and Thomson Media publication American Banker have announced collaboration on a ranking of the top 100 global technology and service providers to the banking industry. The ranking, covering hardware, software and services suppliers, will be published in November 2004. More
For the fifth consecutive year, Sony is the 'best brand' among US consumers according to the annual Harris Poll. Coca Cola climbs steeply to second spot, and Toyota bursts back in at no.5 after a 2-year absence from the top ten, whilst Microsoft, Kellogg's and Pepsi Cola drop out of it, having been no.5, 9 and 10 last year, respectively. More
A review commissioned in May by Nielsen Media Research but conducted by an independent body has concluded that criticisms of Nielsen's methodology for measuring ethnic audiences made by Rincón and Associates 'Latino Television Study' were not solidly supported. More
With the football now over, the latest analysis from Nielsen//NetRatings shows the BBC Sport site attracting the largest audiences in the UK throughout the Euro 2004 tournament. More
In a recent poll by BPRI in the UK, 57% of MPs say that a national road pricing policy will help reduce congestion. MPs believe that the London congestion charge has been effective in reducing traffic and are now backing the idea that it should be extended nationally. More
Last week, the end of Euro 2004: this week the launch of Europe 2004, the fifth wave of Ipsos-RSL's media survey of business decision-makers and leading consumers in Europe. The survey measures readership, TV viewing, web site use, consumer and business behaviour and attitudes of the top 10 million (4%) of Europe's consumers and decision makers. More
Four new members have this week been added to the TV measurement Task Force assessing Nielsen Media Research's representation of people of colour. Among the four – who arrive just in time for the Task Force's first meeting - is George Takei, alias Star Trek's Mr Sulu. More
British children aged 7 to 14 receive a massive £1.5 billion per annum in pocket money and handouts, according to a new report from Mintel. In total Britain's 7 - 10 year olds receive almost £417 million, while the 11 - 14 year olds receive some £1.1 billion a year. More
Shoppers in the UK are making supermarkets their destination for non-food according to new shopper research from food and grocery think tank IGD. Shopper Insight report 'The Non-Food Offer' says that 11% of shoppers now go to a supermarket just to buy non-food items. More
As the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts robust growth for the global travel industry during 2004, the latest figures from TGI reveal that while the majority of consumers love the idea of foreign travel, the top holiday hotspots are generally those which are closest to home. More
Teenage boys probably bring cars and video games to mind, but according to The NPD Group, fragrance is on the minds of teen boys in the US today. According to results taken from the NPD Beauty FragranceTrack 2004 Men's Study, 82% of teen boys today (aged 13-17) wear fragrance. More
Wrap accounts have the potential to dramatically alter the UK's financial services landscape. According to a new report on the sector from Datamonitor, the UK is Europe's fastest developing market for wrap accounts. More
The German health and beauty market is the biggest in Western Europe, valued at almost 40 billion Euros in 2003 according to MINTEL – this reflects not just Germany's size but a greater level of awareness and concern with their wellbeing and appearance. More
Both MPs and NGOs have rated Tesco as the most effective communicator from the top 50 FTSE companies in BPRI's latest report, 'Should Business Care?'. Financial services, retail, FMCG and telecommunications companies all rate highly in the lists. More
The UK consumer confidence headline index has dropped two points this month to –4, the lowest so far in 2004 and similar to the level of late 2003, according to research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission. More
Nearly two out of three US consumers (64%) say they are not familiar with products that would easily connect their home entertainment systems to the Internet to share music, movies, games, and other digital content, according to Ipsos-Insight. However, 72% say they are interested in such a product and most of these (64%) would be ready to purchase within 12 months at a reasonable price. More
UK sales of beer and lager during the Euro 2004 tournament are 25% higher than those seen at any point during the 2002 World Cup, with kick-off times a big factor, according to TNS Superpanel. TNS are running weekly reports on supermarket beer and lager sales throughout the Euro 2004 competition. More
A majority of Americans think the economy and the jobs situation are more important factors than Iraq and the war on terrorism in deciding who they vote for in the Presidential Election, according to the latest Harris Poll. On both issues President Bush is ahead of Kerry in the numbers thinking him likely to do a good job. More
Even before last night, the British needed a holiday, according to a survey by online sampling specialists Ciao Consumer Access. A survey of 40,000 respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK found that the British take the fewest breaks: last year, a massive 30% failed to get away at all, compared to just 9% of Italians and 11% of Spaniards. More
Airport advertising is a highly effective medium for reaching upscale Americans, according to a new study by Arbitron Inc. According to The Arbitron Airport Advertising Study: Exploring an Undiscovered Upscale Medium, the 92 million Americans who have flown in the past year represent a generally affluent and well-educated group. More
Observers of British politics who are bored with Labour and the Conservatives agreeing with each other can take heart from the latest BPRI findings. The panel of 100 backbench MPs shows a clear split between the main parties on some of the issues surrounding speed cameras and road safety. More
Rising gas prices have left consumers with a little less confidence in the economy, according to the June Executive Briefing from BIGresearch. Meanwhile consumers are less concerned about political and national security issues, and still relatively confident about employment. More
While hot weather in Europe turns many people's attention to the need to work on their tan, Asian women are redoubling their efforts to lighten their skin. Skin-whitening products are increasingly popular across the Asian region, according to new data from Synovate. More
The barbecue season in Britain has extended beyond the traditional summer months, according to food and grocery specialist IGD, with many consumers now barbecuing between March and November. In London and the Midlands IGD found people who barbecue all year round, and overall a slight majority of Britons (51%) now barbecue at home at some time of the year. More
Shipments of VoIP (Voice-over IP or Internet calling) PBX phones in the US are expected to grow at a compounded rate of more than 20% over the next five years, according to a new report from Insight Research. However, VoIP phones in the enterprise will not represent the majority of the installed PBX base until 2009. More
Employee satisfaction in the UK workplace is steadily rising, according to a new report from ORC International entitled 'Putting it in Perspective'. Two thirds (67%) of employees rated as satisfied, compared to 58% in 1999. More
Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation had the highest levels of automotive customer loyalty in early 2004, according to R. L. Polk & Co's mid-year consumer loyalty rankings. The results are published as a precursor to the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards, held annually in Detroit. More
Most British adults (55%) have regretted purchasing a particular financial product or signing up to a particular financial service, according to a new report from MINTEL. Poor advice and being misled are considered the most common reasons for making a mistake, and one in every seven (15%) adults felt that they had actually been misled. More
Recent figures released by the US Census Bureau show that the nation's Hispanic and Asian populations continue to grow much faster than the population as a whole, while non-Hispanic whites have the oldest age profile. More
As the recent passing of Ronald Reagan brings discussions about his historical legacy to the forefront of the news in the US, a Gallup Poll for which fieldwork began before his death shows him to be one of the highest rated of recent presidents, just behind Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy but well ahead of the rest of the field. More
Vehicle manufacturers' web sites are an increasingly important part of their sales machinery, according to new results from J.D. Power and Associates. More
English football fans finding it hard to concentrate on work anyway this morning may be interested in some pre-tournament findings from HI Europe. A poll conducted in May reveals that well over half (58%) of British people intend(ed) to watch some or all of UEFA Euro 2004 on TV, including almost half of women. More
Nucleus Research has this week announced the results of its 2nd annual independent study researching the cost of spam to US organizations. 'Spam: The Serial ROI Killer' found that the average cost of spam per year per employee more than doubled from the previous year to $1,934. More
Released this week, the 2004 Asia Telecom Index from TNS reveals that the region's current and future wireless subscribers want colour screens (77%), integrated digital cameras (71%) and multi-media messaging (67%) above other features. More
Fresh concerns about US jobs being shipped overseas are not encouraging the public to 'buy American', according to a recent Ipsos/ Associated Press poll. Just over one-third say they regularly check labels to see if an item was made in the United States, and older Americans are more likely to do so than those who are younger. More
With the long-awaited overhaul of the UK's consumer credit laws is fast approaching its October 31st deadline, a new report from market analyst Datamonitor warns that one effect could be higher cost of credit and greater difficulty in obtaining credit for those consumers with adverse credit histories. More
A majority of the public in the UK think gambling reform will do more harm than good according to a new report by YouGov and The Gambling Consultancy. More
According to a new report by MORI Market Dynamics, the majority of credit card holders in the UK use their credit cards wisely and have sufficient assets to service credit card debt, even if the economy deteriorates. More
Total advertising expenditures in the USA for the first quarter of 2004 increased 9.6% to $31.5 billion compared to the same time period in 2003, according to data released recently by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. More
RAC has overtaken the AA to rank highest in the newly released J.D. Power and Associates 2004 UK Roadside Assistance Customer Satisfaction Study(SM). The overall customer satisfaction scores of the two are 830 and 825 respectively out of a possible 1,000, showing intense competition. More
A recently released study from ACNielsen, involving 15,000 consumers across the Asia Pacific, shows that supermarkets are slowly eroding the share of the traditional wet market when consumers are out shopping for groceries. More
With online questionnaires growing in importance, industry commentators are advising researchers to brush up their (sometimes rusty) self-completion survey techniques. Aussie researcher Philip Derham has analysed responses to open-ended questions in a number of paper and Web-based surveys and drawn some interesting conclusions. More
Delegates to last month's BIG Conference heard from a keynote speaker how RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) will change the face of retailing, and especially the data available to researchers. This week UK-based grocery think tank IGD have announced headlines from a new report entitled 'RFID - The Next Big Thing'. More
From today (June 3rd), Nielsen Media Research is offering Local People Meter (LPM) data in New York. The new system will run in parallel with the old Meter/Diary system for a transition period of three months, with either set of data allowed for commercial use. More
The recently beleaguered UK life assurance market will grow by over £1.8bn in the next four years to £5bn as stock markets recover and protection products remain popular, according to a report from Datamonitor. More
American parents buy an average of $276 worth of toys and games (including video games) each year for each child, according to survey findings just published by Decision Analyst, Inc. Surprisingly perhaps, a child with a single brother or sister gets slightly more on average than an only child. More
With a third of western European consumers now classified as 'overweight' and forecasts suggesting this will increase to almost half by 2006, many food and drink manufacturers now regard the development of low-carbohydrate foods as a priority, according to Reuters Business Insight. More
US consumer confidence declined in May 2004 due to rising inflation and higher interest rates and despite better news on employment, while the interest rate rise in the UK left consumer confidence unmoved, according to separate surveys by the University of Michigan and GfK Martin Hamblin. More
Independents and small chain restaurants in the US are still struggling, while the bigger chains are 'coming back to life' after the worst slump in more than a decade, according to data and commentary just released by NPD Foodworld. More
The cyclical upswing in net new IT spending is continuing, according to the 2004 Wendover-Global Insight IT Spending Index. The Q2 2004 Index is now predicted to show a 60% increase over the Q2 2003 level, which was the lowest level of IT spending recorded by the Index. More
Virgin Mobile, appearing in the category for the first time, tops the pre-pay customer satisfaction tables in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 UK Mobile Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study[SM]. Among contract (pay monthly) providers, Vodafone narrowly beats Orange for the top spot. More
Nearly half of US consumers (43.2%) do not believe rising gas prices will have a major impact on their spending, but others are choosing to scale back on vacation plans, new clothes, and even groceries, according to a new survey by BIG Research for the National Retail Federation (NRF). More
By 2008, the UK will have 8.5 million 'Early Empty Nesters', people aged between 50 and 64 whose children have left home or who have never had children, according to the latest from Datamonitor. Their annual disposable income per capita will have increased by 8.5% to £17,872, almost 50% above the national average. More
Nearly four in five people in the UK believe that the public is ill-informed about financial matters, according to new findings from Brahm Research in conjunction with Cicero Consulting. The report foreshadows the publication by the country's Financial Services Authority (FSA) of a 'Financial Capability strategy'. More
The average quarter-hour TV audience in the US increases by 4% (1.7 million adults) when out-of-home viewing is included, according to a new study from The Total TV Audience Monitor (T-TAM). Among persons aged 18-34, the increase is 11%. More
Germans still account for almost two fifths of European spend on coffee, according to Mintel, but the German market has declined by 39% in 5 years while spend in the rest of Europe remains fairly constant. The net effect is a decline in the European market (excluding coffee shops) from 8.5 billion Euros in 1998 to 6.8 billion Euros in 2003. More
Almost all US adults believe that professional baseball players use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. On average, Americans believe that around one third of all players take them, according to the latest Harris Poll. More
Portable gaming is set for rapid growth over the next few years, fuelled by competition, according to a new report from JupiterResearch. Revenue for the sector is forecast to grow from $1.6 billion in 2003 to $2.7 billion in 2009, while the audience almost doubles from 23 million to 43 million. More
American employees are feeling happier about the state of the companies they work for and the positions they hold at those companies, according to results published by Maritz Poll. More
Further moves in the saga of Nielsen's local people meters and their representation of ethnic audiences. Nielsen Media Research has announced that it has contracted with the University of Southern California's Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI), to review the findings of a Latino Television Study which questioned Nielsen's techniques. More
Brits are Europe's biggest snackers, according to the latest from Datamonitor. By 2008, snacking will account for 44% of all 'eating occasions', and UK consumers will spend a total of £10.3bn on snacks, 20% more than the 2003 figure of £8.5bn. More
Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet are establishing themselves as the leading brands among the increasingly influential Hispanic American market, with 44% of new vehicle registrations between them, according to automotive specialist R. L. Polk & Co. More
Total newspaper readership has declined slightly in the past 6 months, according to the latest figures from the NAA. However, papers in the top 50 US markets are reaching nearly eight out of 10 adults (78.6 percent) each week, web site audiences are up steeply and more than a third of papers have raised their circulation. More
British consumers' increasing concern about healthy diet and lifestyle is bringing continued growth for the 'functional food and drinks' market, according to the latest from Mintel. More
Americans are more aware of identity theft and are taking measures to protect themselves against it, according to a recent online survey by InsightExpress. 15% of Americans have been a victim themselves and one third have a friend or family member who has been a victim. More
For the first time, Korean-branded vehicles outpace both European and US in initial quality, according to the recent J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). However, manufacturers from most countries and regions performed well with more than 80% of nameplates improving on their 2003 scores, and problems down 11 percent overall. More
The convenience retail sector in the UK is growing rapidly - by 7.3% in the last year - according to Convenience Retailing 2004, the latest report from grocery think tank IGD. The sector is now worth £23bn and could exceed the £30bn mark by 2008. Convenience retail now accounts for 20p in every £1 of grocery spending. More
Suggestions of a price war between the UK's major motor insurers are premature, according to a new report from independent market analyst Datamonitor. The report suggests that while the majority of insurers are still covering rising claims costs with increased premiums, the 'sky-high' rises of 2000 and 2001 will not be repeated. More
Luton Borough Council has more than doubled the response rate for its employee research after a five year gap, using a consultative approach initiated by ORC international. Forty-two per cent of staff responded to the recent survey, against only 17% in 1999. More
A majority of the UK's backbench MPs reject the recent conclusion of David Elstein's Broadcasting Policy Group that the BBC licence fee should be scrapped, according to research by BPRI. More
After a troubled month for coalition forces in Iraq, US public confidence has declined significantly. Previous months had shown little or no change with attitudes hardening and the pattern of events seeming more established. However, positive ratings remain just above those of November 2003, prior to the capture of Saddam. More
Only three out of ten US workers agree that their company's performance management program actually does what it's intended to do: improve performance. So says a recent survey by human capital consulting firm Watson Wyatt. More
UK consumer demand for financial services products is healthy, according to the latest Financial Activity Bulletin from Martin Hamblin GfK and John Gilbert Associates. The survey measures savings, investment and borrowing intentions. More
Job ratings for President Bush and the major members of his cabinet have fallen to their lowest levels yet, according to the Harris Poll. However, neither the democrats nor Senator John Kerry in particular appear to be benefiting at present, with voting intentions suggesting a very close result. More
Backbench MPs and leading UK Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) believe that the UK's parents should take responsibility for changing habits leading to obesity, according to researchers BPRI, part of Kantar. However, they also feel that many other groups have a role to play. More
Scarborough Research has enhanced its consumer and media database with information about viewing of television program genres. Beginning with this month's release, in-depth qualitative information is available about consumers who watch program types from documentaries to reality dating shows. More
Nearly half of all UK households are now receiving Digital TV, either by satellite, cable or DTT. Recent gains are largely down to the growth of Freeview, according to the quarterly DART (Digital Audience Research Tracker) survey by Ipsos-RSL. More
More than one third of e-mail marketing offers tracked in a recent study by JupiterResearch are not compliant with the federal Can-Spam Act. More
Beginning next weekend, US Census Bureau workers on the 2004 Census Test in Georgia will use handheld computers instead of paper and pencils. Enumerators following up non-responder households will input their answers direct and submit completed questionnaires electronically to their headquarters in Suitland, MD. More
More than half the adult Australian population (51%) now own shares either directly or through a managed fund, according to the annual Share Ownership Study conducted for the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) by Millward Brown Australia. More
A survey of US end-users of b2b wireless technology, by The Yankee Group, suggests that corporations have trouble keeping track of spending in this complex market. More
More on the UK's credit card obsession, this time from Datamonitor. Debt levels have reached a new high, according to 'UK Plastic Cards 2004', which provides an overview of the trends and major issues facing the credit, debit and private label markets. More
Global telecoms is on the rebound, according to a new report from Insight Research. The study estimates that worldwide telecommunications services revenue will grow at a compounded annual rate of eight percent from 2004 to 2009. More
Two separate sets of statistics have just been released by the AAA, the USA's largest organization for motorists, showing the high number of deaths to passenger car occupants and the more day-to-day costs per mile of car ownership. More
Synovate has released data from its Pan Asia Pacific Cross Media Survey (Synovate PAX) for the final quarter of 2003. The survey tracks media, prosperity and influence in eleven markets across the Asia Pacific region. More
Outsourcing of US jobs to countries like China, India and Mexico where labour costs are much lower remains very unpopular, according to the latest Harris Poll®. Only 16% of Americans agree with President Bush's economic advisor's comment that it is 'good for the US economy'. More
Despite all the low-carb diets and foods, The NPD Group's new Report on Carbohydrate Consumption Patterns finds Americans still consuming plenty of them. Even among people who say they are on low-carb diets, only one out of four is actually significantly cutting carbs. More
A double bill of technology firm rankings from DRNO today, covering online customer experience and media relations / reputation. HP and IBM score highly in both, although Dell scrape into the no.1 spot in the media survey. More
Familiarity with store layout, already the most important factor in choosing a grocery store, is becoming still more important to the UK's shoppers according to IGD. However, improvements in shopping experiences over the last year are mainly put down to price factors. More
British company car drivers are generally - if not universally - complying with new mobile phone legislation, according to a new study by NOP World Automotive. Over 85% of those using a phone whilst in their company car have a hands-free installation. More
Those who think the days of traditional TV programming are numbered may be surprised by results of a US benchmarking study by CTAM (Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing) and research partner Lieberman Research Worldwide. Most respondents were still happily watching scheduled TV programs at appointed times. More
The average Briton spends £1,272 on alcoholic drinks each year - almost twice as much as Germans and more than any other nation in Europe, according to new figures from Datamonitor. However, in terms of pure alcohol content they consume less than most Europeans: and they are less likely than most to be drinking in their own home. More
A second look at the Mintel British Lifestyles survey, showing ten year trends in spending / activity in the areas of housing and pensions, telephone and internet banking, food and health, travel and clothing. More
The homes of Hollywood and Bollywood top the list of 15 movie-going nations covered by the latest TGI data. Thirty-two per cent of Americans and twenty-eight per cent of Indians have been to the cinema at least once in the last month. Around 4% of all Americans went at least four times in the last month - representing around 8.3 million movie fanatics. More
2003 saw the arrival in the mainstream of fee-based digital music services and a nearly threefold increase in paid downloading, according to TEMPO, Ipsos-Insight's quarterly tracker of American digital music behavior. More
Mintel's annual report on British Lifestyles claims that the British are not really as pushed for time as is sometimes thought, and that there are, after all, 'enough hours in the day' for the majority of us. It's already causing controversy and is certainly news to us so we hope DRNO readers will find it interesting as well... More
The first tabulations from the latest US economic census show six industry sectors with sales or receipts above $1 trillion. The Census Bureau's statistics are based on data collected last year from more than 7 million business locations in over 1,000 industries. More
The Australian Labor Party has held a lead in the opinion polls for a while, but until now more people thought the governing Liberal-National Coalition would actually win an election. This weekend, for the first time, Roy Morgan Research's poll showed more people think the ALP will win. More
After five stagnant years, household savings and investments in the UK are set to increase by 40% from just over £1,300 billion to £1,840 billion by 2008, according to a new report by Datamonitor. However, UK consumers are currently confused by the sheer number of options and providers. More
A joint poll on favourite US cities by AOL Travel and 'Travel + Leisure Magazine' has perhaps unsurprisingly rated New York as having the most stylish people and Honolulu as the best for a honeymoon. Fans or residents of Houston, however, may be disappointed with last place in four categories and no appearances in the top three. More
Ipsos-RSL has announced results from its first Asian Business Readership Survey (ABRS) in three years. The survey provides planners with an understanding of 234,000 top business executives at the largest and most influential companies in the region. More
Projections released this week by the US Census Bureau suggest that the American population could grow 49% by 2050, in sharp contrast to most European countries, whose populations are expected to decline by mid-century. America's 420m people would be roughly 50% non-Hispanic whites, with Hispanic and Asian populations tripling, according to the release. More
European mobile users 'have dealt a massive blow to the prospects of early mass 3G adoption' according to an HI Europe Poll of just under 10,000 mobile users in six EU countries. The findings come just months ahead of the widespread launch of 3G services across Europe. More
Trouble - of rather different sorts - for audience measurement providers on both sides of the Atlantic. The UK's radio audience research body RAJAR is being sued for £66m, while in the US Nielsen Media Research has been criticised by News Corporation over its imminent launch of People Meter technology in New York. More
The American public continues to worry about the influence of big companies, lobbyists and the media in Washington, according to the latest Harris Poll. However, whilst there is 4 to 1 support for more influence for public opinion, opinion *polls* are not necessarily seen as the way to gauge it. More
Two short items on the personal care market: Datamonitor reveals that British women claim to spend less time grooming themselves than British men - an average of 2.5 hours per week, versus 3.1 (and rising) for men; and BIGresearch finds American personal care shoppers grumbling on their way up the aisle. More
The UK spends nearly three times as much on Visa and Mastercard branded credit cards as the rest of the EU put together, according to a new report from Mintel. Total EU credit card spending is up 76% from the equivalent of c.139bn Euros (£93bn) in 1998 to 244bn Euros (£165bn) now. More
By 2006, Toyota and Honda hybrid vehicles alone could account for 10% of the over two million midsize passenger vehicle sales in the US - no longer a niche market, according to a study by automotive specialists ABI. More
Sony and Heinz are still the two best known brands in the UK, each mentioned by 19% of respondents to the latest Brand*Check survey by Martin Hamblin GfK. More
Healthcare market intelligence provider Solucient has released its first ranking of top US hospitals. The list recognizes the hundred hospitals with the highest rates of improved patient outcomes and financial performance over a five-year period. More
More than one million Britons visited the Inland Revenue web site in January 2004, just prior to the tax return deadline, according to the latest research from Nielsen//NetRatings. More
Fewer than one in six IT professionals (15%) believe that 'most IT companies can be trusted completely', according to a new TNS survey evaluating the drivers of IT brand trust. Findings from the UK, US, France and Germany all suggest that IT professionals are wary of their suppliers. More
One in five British mortgage holders are considering changing their mortgage, and more are intending to change supplier than stay with their current lender, according to The Mortgage Market Survey by Martin Hamblin GfK. More
Production of four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles in North America is expected to increase from around a quarter of all new light vehicles produced to close to 37% by 2008, according to a new report by J.D. Power and Associates. Sales are expected to grow in Europe but decline in the Far East. More
Two-thirds of the UK's grocery suppliers (68%) are devoting more resources to the wholesale sector this year than last year, according to survey results in Grocery Wholesaling 2004, a report by grocery industry think tank IGD. The value of the sector is forecast to grow to £17.6bn by the end of 2007. More
The great majority of Americans continue to support tough - and even tougher - measures to prevent terrorist attacks, according to the latest from Harris Interactive®. The Bush administration gets high marks for its prevention measure so far, and relatively few people feel that their own privacy has been threatened. More
US-based Youth Media and Marketing Networks (Y2M) has announced the results of its fourth annual eGrad Research Study, giving insights into the lifestyle, behavior and purchasing intentions of America's college graduates. More
The Oscars ceremony is considered the second largest network television buying opportunity of the year among US advertisers, second only to the Super Bowl – but advertising recall is lower and viewing behaviour rather different, according to advertising researchers Ipsos-ASI. More
After the weakest year in more than a decade, the US restaurant sector shows signs of recovery, led by major fast food chains, according to The NPD Group. More
Around two thirds of kids in the US and key western European markets think they are 'healthy', and only one in fourteen think they are not healthy according to recent research by TNS OK (Online Kids). More
Wal-Mart has retained its position as the 'World's Most Admired Company' in FORTUNE magazine's 2004 All-Star list, on sale from today. General Electric and Microsoft (respectively) retain the next two positions, but Johnson & Johnson and Berkshire Hathaway climb over Dell into 4th and 5th positions. More
Despite massive recent publicity, Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) have yet to penetrate very far into the US market, according to a survey by Ipsos-Insight. However, the average user already spends less time watching 'live' TV than watching using the various functions of the DVR. More
After two gloomy months, German consumers' outlook has brightened somewhat, according to the consumer climate survey carried out by GfK Marktforschung on behalf of the EU Commission. Income expectations are more positive and willingness to make larger purchases in the next few months has also increased. More
Access to technology is creating an unbridgeable gap between developed and developing countries, according to a poll of more than 2,100 respondents by the Science Advisory Board, a panel of professionals developed in 1997 by US-based BioInformatics, LLC. More
The majority of citizens (74%) continue to characterize corporate America's reputation as either 'not good' or 'terrible' according to the fifth annual RQ study, conducted by Harris Interactive® and the Reputation Institute. The study calculates and then evaluates the 60 most visible companies in the US. More
Bigger depots and reductions in stock levels are two of the trends discussed in IGD's Retail Logistics 2004 Report, which looks at the supply chain activities of the UK's grocery retailers. The survey found that Tesco and Asda between them now account for almost half the five billion cases passing through distribution sites each year. More
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved last month, weakened significantly in February from 96.4% to 87.3 (1985=100). The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by NFO WorldGroup. More
Wrap accounts, which enable investors to view all their financial assets on one platform, and which have been popular for some time in the US and Australia, are gaining popularity in the UK. A recent report from Datamonitor estimates that £150bn worth of UK assets could be under wrap administration by 2008. More
... a familiar cry to those pub-goers who are slow volunteering to buy their round – but it may have some substance, according to specialist drinks researchers RHMR, who found that the UK's brand owners and retailers almost certainly lost sales and profit as a result of stock shortages on the shelves of multiple grocers at Christmas. More
Today sees the official launch of a home page for Australian researchers. MrWeb has attracted a significant audience of MR professionals Down Under for most of its 5 years, without much specific targeting, but from today is providing specific feature content, a job search and recruiter index, and directories with a more Australian focus. More
People in the ten countries due to join the European Union (EU) after 1 May 2004 have mixed feelings about it, according to the latest EU Index survey conducted by GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide. Employment and training opportunities overseas are offset by fears of price increases at home, and more corruption. More
Airport security waiting times have decreased over the last year, although they are five minutes longer in the US than elsewhere, according to a recently released study by J.D. Power and Associates. In terms of passenger satisfaction, Frankfurt tops the list of large airports and Singapore's Changi International that of medium-sized airports. More
American men prefer fast and powerful vehicles and women practical ones. OK, so now we'll try and tell you something you don't know, based on an annual survey by R. L. Polk & Co - starting with the fact that three of the men's top 5 models are German and three of the women's are manufactured by Saturn. More
The US Federal Trade Commission has released 2003 figures concerning the newly launched 'National Do Not Call' register. Consumers registered over 55 million numbers last year, and there have been just over 150,000 complaints made. Fewer than 45 companies have been the subject of 100 or more complaints. More
Nearly a fifth of British men buy a Valentine's card 'because they feel they have to', while half of their American counterparts feel the day 'gets too much attention'. With the red roses still fairly fresh in the vase, DRNO brings you a quick summary of Valentine's Day polls and web site visitor stats. More
Gourmet food is flourishing across Europe, according to the latest report from Datamonitor. France is Europe's largest gourmet food market in terms of overall spend. The UK is second, but first in terms of spend per capita, with British consumers spending over £900 per year each on fine foods. More
Two years after the publication of the Curry Commission Report on the Future of Farming and Food, a survey by food and grocery think tank IGD finds consumers very patriotic about Britain as a farming nation, but farmers themselves mostly unaware of any effect the report has had. More
With John Kerry powering ahead in the democratic nomination, exit polls analysing the reasons for his success have featured highly in US news. Polls for the November General Elections will be conducted by the same team of Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International, with data collection by Interviewing Service of America (ISA) and Universal Survey Center (USC). More
African-American television network BET is to launch a new research initiative among black consumers, in partnership with multicultural research specialists NSightsWorldwide, LLC and global research giant TNS/NFO WorldGroup. More
Levels of anxiety about possible terrorist attacks are very similar in Britain and the US, according to the latest results from Harris Interactive® and its subsidiary HI Europe – but there are differences in attitude between the two countries. More
Impulse or spur-of-the-moment CPG purchases are influenced chiefly by discounted prices and trusted brand names, according to a US survey conducted by Knowledge Networks in association with Advertising Age. Relatively few claim to be influenced by in-store TV advertising and scarcely anyone by celebrity endorsement. More
Last Sunday's Super Bowl XXXVIII, complete with an array of unscheduled sideshows, produced the usual crop of impactful ads and big increases in Web site traffic for related companies and products, according to two sets of results from comScore and The Claria Corporation. More
RoperASW has been commissioned to conduct an annual, in-depth research program into the motivating forces in women's lives, on behalf of Oxygen Media and with the support of strategic media planners and buyers MediaCom. The study will probe the unique wants, needs, and motivations of America's female consumers. More
A new report from Datamonitor reveals that Europeans are under half as likely to be affluent as US citizens (8% versus more than 16% of the population). Spain has Europe's fastest growing affluent market but the UK the most developed range of financial offerings for the better off. More
Travelocity and Expedia are the most valuable brands in online travel, and their brand equity plays a key role in driving traffic to their sites, according to a new study released today by ACNielsen International Research. More
More than a quarter of British adults (28%) are trying to lose weight 'most of the time' according to a new report from MINTEL, 'Attitudes Towards Healthy Eating in the UK'. Even among men, almost one in five (18%) are doing so, whilst among women the figure is 37%. More
TNS Healthcare has announced results from its 'Power of Image' study, entitled Oncologists: An Assessment of Pharmaceutical Company Image in the United States and Europe. More
UK public opinion pollster YouGov has launched a research panel of over 3000 girls aged 11-17, teaming up with the mykindaplace web site. Results of the first wave of interviews reveal some of their views and habits regarding music, fashion, games, gossip, mobile phones and politics. More
UK consumers' confidence may be rising, but German consumers do not share their optimism, according to GfK's latest consumer climate survey, carried out on behalf of the European Commission. With ongoing uncertainty surrounding tax, social security, healthcare and pension reforms, all consumer climate indicators were down in January. More
Worldwide shipments of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) fell 5.3% in 2003 to 11.5m units, according to preliminary results from technology consultants Gartner, Inc. The decline may reflect the impact of smartphones and enhanced mobile phones. More
UK consumer confidence is zero – but that's good news, honestly. The headline index in Martin Hamblin GfK's Consumer Confidence Barometer, conducted on behalf of the European Commission, has left the red for the first time since November 2002, leaping from –5 in December to the relative comfort of Nought. More
Political web sites are making an impact on voter opinions, according to findings from comScore Survey Solutions. Visiting such sites correlates closely with a high level of political activity, and sites often influence the views and intentions of visitors. Meanwhile Howard Dean's web site received nearly twice as many visitors in December as that of any other Democratic challenger. More
Five million people in the UK are considering changing their current account provider in the next couple of years, according to the new Current Accounts report from consumer, product and media intelligence provider MINTEL. This equates to some 13% of all current account holders, up from just 7% in 2002. More
IT buyers expect spend on Open Source/Linux applications to grow by 2.8% in 2004, according to the NOP World Technology Confidence Barometer. Thirty per cent of organisations surveyed are using Open Source with a further 32% considering implementing it in the next 12 months. More
Employee benefit costs rose to 42.3% of all payroll costs in 2002, up from 39% in 2001 according to the annual benefits survey by the United States Chamber of Commerce. Medically related payments are the largest category, followed by payments for time not worked and retirement benefits. More
Football / Soccer is the world's favourite televised sport, but try guessing which sport comes second, or estimating how many Chinese have attended a live football match in the last 3 months, without the help of Synovate's recent survey of sport watching on 4 continents... More
More evidence last week of research findings impacting on the thinking of the Blair Government. Leeds-based Brahm Research presented a consumer perspective on mortgage preferences to an audience of specialists at Westminster, as part of the Miles Review, commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown. More
A study of customer service experiences among US mobile phone providers shows that automated systems can work, but are often a key cause of customer frustration. Vocal Laboratories' SectorPulse report rated the highly-automated Verizon Wireless no.1, but logged many complaints about automatic systems generally. More
Almost half the world's adults believe it will be 'less safe' in a generation's time, while just a quarter think it will be safer, according to results presented to a session of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week by TNS / the Gallup International Association (GIA). More
A new survey by consumer intelligence firm BIGresearch provides a steer on consumer attitudes to American beef in the light of recent scares. Nearly 70 percent believe the country's beef supply is safe. More
By 2014, there will be 15m online gamers in the US, and the online gaming market as a whole will be sized at $9bn, according to data from the Themis Report on Online Gaming 2004, as distributed by DFC Intelligence. More
Retail sales of new vehicles in California have bounced back following Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's repeal of the vehicle license fee increase on Nov. 17, his first day in office, according to transaction data from the Power Information Network (PIN), LLC, an affiliate of J.D. Power and Associates. More
Good news from GiftTrak, TNS's continuous gift purchasing survey, for those opposed to the commercialisation of Christmas: Britons' spending on Christmas gifts did not keep pace with inflation this year, rising by less than 1% to £15.1bn. The number of gifts increased by 4.3% but the average cost per gift was less. More
London, currently launching its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, is Europe's no.1 city break destination according to new research published by MINTEL. With 11.6m foreign visitors in 2002, London is well ahead of Paris with just under 9m. More
American teenagers spent $175 billion in 2003, a three percent increase from 2002, according to a new study by specialists Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU). The teen population is rapidly expanding and its spending appears relatively recession-proof. More
UK customers have higher opinions of their online banks than a year ago, according to Quarter 4 '03 results from Web specialists Virtual Surveys. 70% of online bank customers now rate the service as excellent or very good. More
A poll in Greater Mexico City by Indemerc Harris Interactive, coinciding with George Bush's visit, has found that just over half its inhabitants support NAFTA. However, the great majority disapprove of Bush, feel that the US does best out of NAFTA and dislike the presence of US security agents at Mexican airports. More
British consumers have reduced their expectations regarding saving and borrowing activities over the past few months, according to Martin Hamblin GfK and John Gilbert Associates' Financial Activity Bulletin. More
Nearly half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have trouble finding suitable business accommodation, according to research conducted by TNS for the Spacia Small Business Property Monitor 2004. This represents a major increase from a year ago. More
Online holiday shoppers in the US spent a record $18.5bn online excluding travel during the 2003 holiday season, according to the eSpending Report from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive®, and Nielsen//NetRatings. This represents an increase of 35% over the $13.7bn spent in 2002. More
Prospects for expansion of the US economy in 2004 look good, according to the latest data from Decision Analyst's U.S. Economic Index. Measured business activity was up strongly for the second month to its highest level since summer 2001. More
The year 2003 was a good one for global and international retailers, according to new research from the grocery industry think-tank IGD. Nine of the top ten groups improved their ratings in its Global Retail League, which is designed to look beyond mere turnover to underlying global capability and strength. More
It's been a busy time for automotive research announcements. This afternoon DRNO provides summaries of four recent stories covering customer loyalty and retention, hybrid and diesel development and the Harris Interactive® Automotive Panel. More
Interactive television (iTV) is available to millions of digital cable and satellite subscribers in the United States and many media executives are predicting a big future for it after Rupert Murdoch's recent acquisition of satellite giant, DIRECTV. However, a recent survey by Ipsos-Insight suggests that only one-half (50%) of Americans have even heard of iTV, and most of these know little about it. More
Two recent polls conducted by Gallup and Harris Interactive suggest that US citizens are on the whole very happy, and that they feel less 'alienated' than they did ten years ago. Both are the latest in long series charting the attitudes of Americans over several decades, and both provide interesting insights into the public mood and the differences between groups. More
The success of UK-based online bank smile reflects not only its service levels and interest rates, but also its ethical stance, according to recent customer research by Nunwood Consulting. The research, among credit card consumers, provides pointers for banks wishing to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market. More
UK consumer confidence improved only slightly in December, according to research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission. The headline index figure is up 1 point to –5 from November, reflecting slightly more optimism about the general economic situation. More
Five in six Americans will register for a 'do-not-spam list' for which legislation was recently approved in Congress, according to a new study from Synovate. The law, likely to be enacted in 2004 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will require those sending email to addresses on the list to comply with certain standards and regulations. More
Special finance packages like 0% financing are losing popularity among US automotive dealers, according to a recent report by J.D. Power and Associates. New incentive ideas – in particular dealer cash – are now rated most effective by dealers. More
In case you hadn't noticed, England are rugby union World Champions. The sport has rocketed from eighth place to second equal in popularity, according to research supported by financial services company Zurich and conducted as part of MORI's SportsTracker. In January 2003 just 18% of Britons said they had an interest in rugby: now, it's 27%. For comparison, 45% are interested in football. More
The capture of Saddam Hussein appears to have had a small if noticeable effect on American attitudes to the war in Iraq and views of the prospects for US troops remaining there, judging by results of a Harris Interactive survey which was in the field when the capture was announced. The effect on ratings of leading cabinet members (but not the President himself) is more marked. More
Sony, already voted the best brand by British and American respondents earlier in the year, is also no.1 in Italy, according to research by HI Europe. Sony is the only brand to feature in all three top tens. More
New evidence from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) suggests that e-government in the US is becoming a preferred means of getting information, often outstripping private sector sources. More
Private investors in both Europe and the US continue to prefer short-term savings products, according to the Investment Barometer, a representative survey by the GfK Group on behalf of The Wall Street Journal Europe. The mood in Western Europe is more cautious than in the USA, which is reacting to positive economic forecasts. More
BellSouth is ranked number one local 'phone company in the US in 11 of the 12 customer satisfaction categories measured in a survey by the Yankee Group. The Technologically Advanced Family® (TAF®) survey has been conducted since 1985 by the Boston-based comms & networking specialists. More
The use of e-government in Britain has increased by five percentage points from 13 per cent of adults in 2002 to 18 per cent in 2003. This compares with worldwide use of online government services of 31 per cent, according to new research conducted by TNS. More
An overall increase in IT investment of 5.3% across Europe and the US is forecast in 2004, according to NOP World's annual Technology Confidence Barometer. More
Anti-whiplash seats, brake-by-wire and electronic stability control are among new automotive features covered by the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2003 US Automotive Emerging Technologies survey. Of the seven features of most interest to consumers, five are very likely to be considered at their expected market price, with the prices of the other two acting as a bigger deterrent. More
The latest consumer research from the Institute of Grocery Distribution in the UK finds that consumers expect to see instant changes if Safeway is acquired and these will include lower prices, more special offers, better customer service and food quality, and the introduction of more own label foods. More
The recovery of the U.S. economy is being driven by accelerating output from American firms according to the latest data from Decision Analyst's November U.S. Economic Index. The overall Index pushed up to 111 in November, the highest level reached in the last 12 months. Measured business activity was up strongly, reaching a monthly level matched only once in the last two years (in March 2002). More
The latest research commissioned by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) shows that the Internet now represents 10% of Europeans' media consumption. This places the Internet ahead of magazines (8%) and just behind newspapers (13%) in media consumption terms. The study finds that while TV controls the largest share of people's media time (41%), nearly 45% of consumers watch less television as a result of using the Internet. More
A major survey, involving 110 of Europe's largest companies, has revealed the Top Companies for Leaders in Europe. The study, which was carried out by global HR outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates, identifies the leadership practices that differentiate the most effective organisations for developing talent and which can be linked to financial success. More
According to a recently released Harris Interactive Poll, public perceptions in the US of the job President Bush is doing in handling the war on terrorism are somewhat better than public perceptions of how he is handling events in Iraq. The public is split, 49% to 48%, on the job the president is doing in handling the war on terrorism, compared to a 58% negative, 40% positive rating on handling Iraq. More
A new report from Mintel on clothing retailing in Europe shows catwalk designs at high street prices, so-called fast fashion, is driving the European clothing market. Companies such as Hennes and Mauritz, Zara and Mango, the leaders in fast fashion, have all experienced fantastic growth since 1998. More
Despite their ongoing economic struggles, American Airlines and Delta Airlines are still America's favorite carriers according to a recent survey by Decision Analyst, Inc. More
In the wake of new legislation allowing the transfer of landline numbers to wireless carriers, MetaFacts Inc. has published figures from its Technology User Profile survey (TUP) to illustrate how more US homeowners are giving up on standard landlines. The rise is most rapid in homes with one person, where the percentage without a landline has more than doubled in the last year. More
Consumers in both Britain and Germany are showing positive signs in the run-up to Christmas. The GfK consumer climate survey for November 2003 sees Germans expressing hope that the economy is finally recovering and that their personal finances are improving, while Mintel are predicting that shoppers in the UK will spend more than last Christmas. More
Around half of Britain's Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) are aware of the Raising Standards Quality Mark scheme introduced by The Association of British Insurers (ABI) in 2000, and a significant proportion say it has influenced their choice of provider, according to research by ORC International. More
On Tuesday DRNO looked at the Indian obsession with cricket and with batting genius Sachin Tendulkar in particular. Today we look at the Synovate / Blackstone Market Facts survey's other findings, which concern Indians' views of other sports, their membership of fitness clubs and use of exercise regimes, and the effect of brand endorsement by cricketers and film stars. More
It is no surprise to hear that on the whole, Europeans do not trust politicians, managers and journalists. However, some nations trust them more than others, as revealed by a GfK survey commissioned by The Wall Street Journal Europe. More
A new study of corporate innovation in the US sheds light on the influence of innovation leaders, and the extent to which their job functions dictate the choices they make for the direction of the company. The report, by strategic consulting and research firm, Cheskin and the international design firm, Fitch:Worldwide, is available for free online. More
Bigger than Becks, bigger than Jonny... In a nation of a billion people, Sachin Tendulkar is the most admired celebrity, beating even the Bollywood stars - and cricket is of course the national sporting obsession. In the first of two articles based on a survey by Synovate and Blackstone Market Facts, DRNO looks at sport and celebrity in India. More
Home electronics items are higher on US consumers' holiday shopping lists this year, according to recent results from Ipsos-Insight. Smaller items such as wireless phones and MP3 players are likely to sell in higher numbers but it is big-ticket entertainment offerings, such as home computers, home theatre systems and HDTV, which may do most to make retailers merry. More
As Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) climbs the UK's political and social agenda, Britons are cynical about companies' performance to date, according to MORI Reputation Centre's Summer CSR study, part of the Key Audience Research programme. However, they are also keen to hear companies talking about it provided they don't spend a fortune on promotion. More
While the RIAA pursues its high-profile lawsuits against filesharers, more and more Americans are paying for digital music downloads for use on portable audio devices, according to TEMPO, Ipsos-Insight's quarterly study of digital music behaviours. The number paying a fee for download music or MP3 files of the Internet has roughly doubled in just 6 months. More
Nine per cent of British adults are expecting to buy a mobile phone as a present this Christmas – equivalent to around 3.75m handsets - according to NOP World. Drivers include new deals on low-end 'phones from High Street retailers, and a number of new handset features encouraging premium purchases. More
With President George W Bush making a State Visit to Britain this week, a CNN/TIME poll conducted in Britain, Germany and France by TNS suggests low levels of public support for the Bush administration. The poll, conducted on the eve of the visit, also reveals skepticism about the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK. More
Retail giant Wal-Mart is turning its attention to the increasing opportunity presented by the '63% of world GDP beyond the US', and will derive $30bn worth of sales from its European operations by 2007, according to new research by food and grocery specialists IGD. More
With interest rates at a record low, US customer satisfaction with home mortgage lenders has increased for the second consecutive year, according to the recent J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Home Mortgage Study(SM). More
The number of Ultra-High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals in the UK is set to rise by almost 60% between 2002 and 2007, according to a new study. However, say authors Datamonitor, many of them lack capital to 'live on a day-to-day basis', offering opportunities for innovative financial service offerings. More
Use of self check-out lanes in US stores is fairly widespread - 61% of US households have used them already, accordingly to research published by ACNielsen US. However, there are mixed feelings among those who have tried them and a hard core of people not planning to do so. More
Ninety five per cent of UK healthcare specialists say that levels of pre-diabetes* and Type II diabetes will worsen over the next ten years, according to new research from TNS. One in six (16%) believe they will reach 'epidemic' proportions over the coming decade. More
A slight majority of Americans (51%) agree that Wall Street is 'dominated by greed and selfishness' but a larger majority (68%) feel that, on balance, it benefits the country rather than harms it. Views are more positive than a year ago, according to a Harris Poll conducted in October. More
Around half of British parents (51%) feel the Government does not listen to the needs of parents and children, according to newly published research from MORI. More
Americans' awareness of the illegality of downloading music and films has risen steeply since earlier this year, not surprisingly given recent lawsuits filed against consumers by the RIAA. However, 50 per cent of respondents to surveys by E-Poll had downloaded music at some time. More
The organic food and drink market in the UK is forecast to grow by around 75% between 2002 and 2007, according to a new report from Datamonitor. The UK is second in Europe in its spend on organic foods, but far behind Germany, with high prices remaining the strongest barrier to acceptance. More
American public support for policies on Iraq is steadily declining, according to the latest Harris Poll. A two-to-one majority (51% to 25%) now says they are not confident that US policies in Iraq will be successful, and support for the President's handling of the crisis is down to 41% positive, 58% negative from roughly 50/50 in July. More
A majority (60%) of MPs in a poll conducted by BPRI approve the idea of dedicated Directors / Managers for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) with major companies. However, this does not excuse Chief Execs from accountability – the buck still stops at the top. More
Pharmaceutical companies may be starving the next generation of blockbuster drugs of the development support they need, according to a study by business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information. More than $100bn worth of products face patent expiration over the next three years, says the study. More
It's tough getting US consumers' attention these days – many of them claim to mentally screen out ads and one person in 6 even watches the TV *whilst* listening to the radio. The findings, from BIGresearch's twice-annual Simultaneous Media Usage Survey (SIMM), present a challenge to conventional audience measurement approaches. More
Motor manufacturers are generating 75 per cent more US new-vehicle sales leads online than they were last year, according to J.D. Power and Associates. More
German consumers currently have low expectations of general economic development and their own finances, and are remaining reticent when it comes to making purchases, according to the GfK financial services, consumer and savings climate survey published by GfK Marktforschung. The mood is unlikely to change much before 2004. More
UK financial services companies have new opportunities to market their products at both ends of the age spectrum, according to the first three in a new series of financial lifestyles reports from independent market analyst Datamonitor. More
People who 'shake their magazines over the bin' are not, after all, riding the wave of the future. According to research commissioned by marketing and advertising solutions provider Vertis, advertising inserts are now the single most popular and influential form of media in consumers' buying decisions. More
Older consumers (aged 55 plus) will account for more than half of all UK spend on food, drink and household products by 2006 - £53bn of a predicted £104.4bn market - according to a new report from Reuters Business Insight and TNS. More
More proof of the width of the Atlantic. In the UK this week, Her Majesty's Opposition appear to have done away with the nuisance of elections for leader and agreed one among themselves in a few hours. Across the Pond however, the long lead-up to the Democratic Nomination is still giving few hints, according to the Harris Poll, as to who will challenge President Bush next year. More
Approval ratings for practically all the politicians and groups asked about in the Harris Poll have declined in the last 6 months - some more than others. President Bush, Colin Powell and the Republicans in Congress have all lost ground, but Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft have fallen further while the Democrats have failed to show corresponding improvements. More
Sales of hybrid electric vehicles may not take off in the US as fast as previously predicted, according to the latest from J.D. Power and Associates. The downward revision is the result of cautious expansion planning by some manufacturers, which is contributing to higher-than-expected vehicle costs. More
Almost half of all adults (49%) in Britain, France and Germany believe that many top athletes and sporting personalities are using non-approved performance-enhancing drugs, according to a new CNN/TIME poll conducted by TNS. More
Thirty-nine per cent of Canadians say they are likely to vote for the new Conservative Party of Canada, according to a new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released today. The party will be the result of the recently announced merger between the federal Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance. More
Pharmaceutical companies that continue to focus their business strategies predominantly on 'blockbuster drugs' for low-severity conditions will lose market share over the next decade, according to a report just published by US management consultants Easton Associates, LLC. More
The final months of 2003 offer promise for Financial services providers, according to the latest Financial Activity Bulletin from Martin Hamblin GfK and John Gilbert Associates. Most categories of saving and investment have strengthened since June and returned to the levels of September 2002. More
It may be unlikely to convert many British Euro-sceptics, but new research by Synovate Germany can confirm that seven out of every ten Germans believe Britain should join the Euro. The feeling is particularly strong among men, and among the young. More
A majority of Europeans (57%) feel that the policies of President George W. Bush have 'made the world a more dangerous place to live' according to a new poll conducted by TNS for CNN/TIME. More than a third say their feelings about the US are more negative than a year ago, although a slight majority say they have not changed. More
More than a third of British households reject digital TV on the grounds that they are happy with existing channels, according to Ipsos-RSL's Digital Audience Research Tracker (DART). Four in ten UK households now receive digital TV, but the number is not set to rise rapidly in the next year. More
The MORI Reputation Centre is launching a second wave of its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) study among members of the British public. The first results from the new multi-client study will be available next March. More
Bose is the leading car audio brand and Michelin top of the heap for tires in terms of consumer recognition and reputation, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Automotive Component Branding Study(SM). More
The war on obesity continues to fascinate the US press and attract column inches on a scale comparable to the war on terrorism. Three recent studies / surveys, of which DRNO presents a digest (sic) this morning, highlight the nature of the problem, the response, and some possible opportunities. More
More US consumers are buying prescription drugs from abroad, often over the Internet, according to a poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal Online / Harris Interactive Health-Care. The survey also warns of the dangers for US companies of being seen to fight this. More
The proportion of UK electricity customers who have changed suppliers at least once since the full deregulation of the market in 1999 has passed 50%, according to figures released by J.D. Power and Associates. Also significantly, power cuts for the first time loom larger than price cuts in customers' priority list. More
Mintel's latest research into working patterns in the UK underlines the decline of the 'job for life' and charts the steady growth of flexitime and homeworking. A third of British workers (c.10m people) have been in their jobs for less than two years, and a sixth less than one year. More
The world's businesspeople and analysts see corruption - defined as the abuse of public office for private gain - as rife in most parts of the globe, according to the 2003 'Corruption Perceptions Index' published by Transparency International. Seventy percent of the 133 countries covered score less than half marks, while half the developing countries in the survey score less than 3 out of 10. More
The UK is rapidly becoming a nation of wine drinkers, according to The Drink Pocket Book 2004, published this month. Since 1995, both consumption levels and imports have increased every year, and the volume of wine passed through HM Customs has increased by 55.4%. Brands from the New World and Southern Hemisphere are prominent. More
With the number of pharmaceutical sales reps in the US more than doubling to c.90,000 since 1995, and the larger companies dedicating upwards of $1bn for field force budgets*, healthcare specialists G & S Research have published RepReview, which analyses the views of 430 reps from leading manufacturers. More
Canadians' use of real estate web sites has remained at a very high level, according to a recent Ipsos-Reid study. 85% of those who have purchased a new home in the past two years have used the Internet to look for home information, slightly above the 80% who had done so in 2001. More
American consumers are less inclined to use credit, go out of their way to buy American merchandise or pay more for environmentally safe products than they were in 1998, according to new 'Buying Styles' data from Mediamark Research Inc (MRI). More
PCs and PC-related products have been selling well according to the 10th annual CIMS study, released this week by Millward Brown IntelliQuest. Encouragingly, after the recent downturn in the sector, single-computer households in the USA grew by 8.2m, and multiple-computer households by 9.5m in the last 12 months. More
Around 2.7m British mums will buy an estimated 35m licensed character products this year for their toddlers, with the Tweenies and Bob the Builder taking the top slots. The findings, from child & youth research specialists Carrick James Market Research, show that eight in ten mums of pre-school children have bought at least one such product in the last 3 months. More
Toys are more important to North American parents and children than ever before, but children give them up earlier in life, according to a recent survey by Playthings magazine and Reed Research Group. More
UK agencies are quoting widely differing rates for projects, according to the latest £quotecheck pricing survey, undertaken this summer by Midlands-based research consultancy RHMR. The survey compared prices from around 25 agencies for a number of different types of project, domestically and internationally. For both quant and qual projects, the highest price was, on average, more than twice the lowest. More
The UK's Consumer Confidence Index, researched by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission, remained static in September with an overall score of -3. The index appears to have stabilised after swings around the time of the Iraq war. More
Europeans feel they are exposed to far too much advertising and that most of it is not even entertaining, according to a survey carried out by GfK Marktforschung in 21 European countries. More
Business satisfaction with broadband and high-end data services has increased substantially in the last year, according to recently released results from J.D. Power and Associates. Perhaps as a result, buyers are looking for more cost savings, often by switching multiple services to the same supplier. More
Ipsos-RSL has announced its third annual survey of European Opinion Leaders (EOLS 2003), which captures attitudinal and media data for individuals with influence across a wide variety of sectors. EOLS 2003 will include viewing measures of pan-European satellite TV channels for the first time. More
Synovate have released full year results for Synovate PAX - a survey that tracks 'media, prosperity and influence across Asia Pacific'. Coverage includes purchase of high-end products, business and leisure travel and purchase of financial products, amongst elite consumers. More
The American public will have been pleased to learn - if they heard the headline from his Conference speech yesterday - that Tony Blair has no reverse gear. British polls may be showing a loss of trust in the PM, but the latest Harris Poll shows that in the US he is extremely popular and widely trusted, while Britain is held to be by far the most influential of European states. More
China's car buyers are no longer looking for basic transportation - 'status, belonging, and attraction' are becoming key considerations according to a new study conducted jointly by TNS and NFO WorldGroup. 'Status' buyers now outnumber 'utility' buyers four to one in the cities surveyed, whereas in 2001 there were similar numbers in each category. More
The future of TV advertising may be threatened by new technology which enables viewers to forward over commercials, according to the recent Yankee Group report, 'The Death of the 30-Second Commercial'. More
Bans on pre-election opinion polls are still in place in many countries, and in some have recently been put in place or increased in scope, according to a recent study conducted by the Foundation for Information in association with ESOMAR and WAPOR. Those maintaining or increasing bans include some EU countries. More
Despite all the high profile press coverage of legal action against food companies, most Americans with weight problems / children with weight problems accept responsibility themselves, according to an online study conducted by Research International and Lightspeed Research. Whilst holding up their hands, however, they're often grabbing another burger. More
The United Nations is considered to have lost its relevance to solving world problems by a majority of British adults and more than 40 percent in France and Germany, according to a new CNN / TIME poll conducted by TNS. More
Many Americans have given up on eating desserts at home, according to the NPD Group's upcoming 18th Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America. The percentage of in-home dinner meals that include dessert has declined from 21 in 1990 to only 15 in 2003. More
Sales of private label goods, defined as any Consumer Packaged Goods brand that is sold exclusively by a specific retailer or chain, are growing relative to manufacturer brands according to recent research by ACNielsen. More than 95% of Private Label sales are found in Europe and North America but growth is fastest in other regions. More
Three quarters (76%) of council officers feel that the government is being unrealistic about the resources needed for authorities to meet the e-Government agenda, according to recent survey results from ORC International. The target for authorities to make all government services available electronically, set by the Office of the e-Envoy, is December 2005. More
Online banking usage has doubled again in the last 12 months among companies with a turnover of $50k to $20m, according to a study by Informa Research Services, Inc. More
Non-luxury Japanese- and Korean-made cars and compact vans are being let down by their tires (that's tyres if you're in the UK), according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction StudySM released this week. Across all makes, Pirelli and Michelin divide the spoils at the top of satisfaction ratings. More
Two years on from September 11th, more Americans are fearful of personal harm from a terrorist attack, more are doubtful that terrorism can be eliminated, and more believe the world has been changed fundamentally than thought it would be, according to a poll conducted for the Orlando Sentinel by Ipsos Public Affairs. More
Eating habits in Europe and the US seem to be following some familiar patterns despite rumours of change. Italians are still the most likely to eat with the family, Britain is second to the US in takeaway consumption and very few people in the former eastern bloc countries eat out, according to Ipsos' global reporting service World Monitor. More
US consumers see generic prescriptions as offering far better value for money than brand-name drugs, and the gulf is probably growing, according to results from the recent Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll. The survey also looked at perceptions of services such as doctors, pharmacies and nursing homes. More
According to the FTC, around 42 million telephone numbers have already been registered on the US' new National Do Not Call Registry, which aims to regulate unsolicited telephone calls to the public. The latest findings from Harris Interactive® estimate that c.60m households will sign up eventually, but show confusion about the extent of its coverage to areas such as canvassing, fund-raising and of course, research. More
Corporate citizenship - whether a company is perceived as doing business in a socially responsible manner - is affecting the purchasing decisions of Canadians, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid. Significantly, majorities claim to have consciously 'rewarded' or 'punished' companies for this performance by making or rejecting a purchase from them. More
Many Americans think the imminent 'recall election' in California shows the state in a bad light, according to a recent Harris Poll. However, as most email users / spam recipients worldwide are probably aware, there is little chance of the election remaining remotely low key with Arnold Schwarzenegger standing against incumbent Gray Davies. More
Almost six out of ten (57 per cent) adults in Britain, France and Germany trust neither their own government nor national TV companies most to give them truthful facts about Iraq, according to a recent CNN/TIME poll conducted by TNS. More
The US advertising market grew strongly in the first half of 2003, according to data from TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. The total of $61.6 billion in ad expenditures for the 6 months represent an increase of 6.8 percent as compared to the first half of 2002. Fifteen out of sixteen measured media experienced growth with Network TV the only exception. More
As the second anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center approaches, Americans have once again voted New York their favourite city, according to the Harris Poll. The 'Big Apple' has topped the poll in six of the last seven years, beaten only in 1998 by San Francisco. The remainder of this year's top five are in the west - San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. More
'New Luxury' companies, with high-quality premium-price products targeted to middle-market consumers, are posting growth rates well above that of the overall US economy, according to new research from management consulting firm The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The 15 New Luxury companies studied averaged 18% sales gains in the first half of 2003. More
Recent figures from Nielsen Media Research put the total number of television households in the USA (including Alaska and Hawaii) at an estimated 108,400,000. This represents an increase of 1.7 million television households, or 1.6%, from the 2002-2003 season. More
The Consumer Confidence Index, based on research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission, fell in August for the first time since March. The index is down two points to -3 despite a general improvement in the FTSE 100. More
Despite sluggish sales in the European consumer electronics sector in early 2003, certain newer technologies are achieving rapid growth, according to a report on the global market for technical durable goods, published by GfK to coincide with a major show in Berlin. More
In the late nineties, the US FDA loosened restrictions on branded promotional advertising of drugs to consumers, leading to a 200% rise in activity over the last six years. This has resulted in increased awareness not only of brands but also of symptoms of illness, and the need to follow drug regimens, according to Rx and OTC purchase tracking service Ipsos PharmTrends®. More
They may already be disappearing into memory for most of us, but August's record temperatures have contributed to growing concern among British mothers about the effects of strong sunlight on their children's skin, according to the latest data from TNS Omnimas. More
Americans may be less likely to travel abroad since September 11th, but according to Harris Interactive® their ideal destinations have not changed much. France has actually recovered from 6th to 4th place in the rankings despite its stance on Iraq. Australia is the no.1 choice for the 7th year running, and the biggest faller this year is Canada. More
The US computer industry continues to enjoy the best image of any of the countries business sectors, although most segments have seen an improvement in the last year, according to Gallup. The restaurant and grocery sector is second, while accounting, suffering last year from scandals and failures, has jumped back 14 points. More
A minority of the Hong Kong population are taking any precaution against mosquito-borne diseases, despite Government attempts to raise awareness, according to results from Synovate. Dengue Fever is the most widely considered with 71 per cent of the population aware of it but still only 17% reporting concern about it. More
There is no coherent body of opinion among British MPs about the timing of a referendum on the Euro, according to recent research by agency BPRI. Backbenchers are split down the middle over whether the timing depends on Chancellor Gordon Brown's five economic tests, and are deeply divided on whether or not next year might be a suitable time. More
Advertising spending for the first half of 2003 rose 2.8% versus first half 2002, according to preliminary figures released last week by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information service of Nielsen Media Research. The fastest growth was in Hispanic TV (19%), National Magazines (c.14%) and Local Newspapers (c.10%). More
Nearly two thirds of consumers believe that certain foods can reduce the risk of developing some ailments and conditions, according to new research from food and groceries specialists IGD into 'functional foods' - but only one third have bought such a food and less than a quarter buy them regularly, indicating enormous untapped market potential. More
Sir Isaac Newton has been named the greatest ever Briton in a worldwide follow-up to the BBC TV series 'Great Britons', at the end of which a British audience originally chose Winston Churchill. Votes were cast by overseas viewers to international TV channel BBC World. More
Car and truck buyers unhappy with their treatment by salesmen are as likely to go off and buy an entirely different make and model as they are to find a better dealer for the same vehicle, according to new research in the US by J.D.Power and Associates. Customer satisfaction with new purchases as a whole is up but this is due to stock levels and low interest deals rather than any improvement in sales processes. More
With the new Premiership 2003/04 football season starting this weekend, traffic to football sites has increased by 33% in the last 12 weeks, now accounting for 0.94% of all Web traffic in the UK, according to Hitwise. The most visited football site is Football365.com, which accounted for 7.26% of football site traffic, and unsurprisingly the most visited club site is Manchester United. More
If death and taxes are the only two certain things in life, it must be significant that Americans are feeling less worried about the latter. A poll by Harris Interactive shows that only 52%, comfortably the lowest percentage since the question was first asked in 1970, believe themselves to have 'reached the breaking point on the amount of taxes they pay'. More
There are a bewildering variety of Internet-based radio stations and broadcasters, so it may be enlightening for DRNO readers to get an idea of who is listening to what, courtesy of Arbitron's Internet Broadcast Ratings. Recently published data for the week of July 21st shows Virgin Radio as the number one commercial Internet Broadcast Station but AOL stations make up 11 of the top 20. More
Moderate drinkers are more likely to succeed at work than those who don't touch the stuff, according to economists at the University of Stirling, who have studied the habits and careers of more than 17,000 people born in the same week in 1958. The results are reported in the newspaper Scotland on Sunday. More
Dollar stores, discount US retailers with a traditionally basic product range and layout, are experiencing strong growth in sales in the current difficult economic climate, according to recent research from ACNielsen US. More stores, better quality and more variety all add up to a widening appeal which now encompasses a new breed of wealthier shopper. More
New York has moved rapidly up the list of Americans' favourite states to no.5, according to the Harris Poll - but it may struggle to climb higher as the top 4 are unchanged from last year with California first and then Florida, Hawaii and Colorado. More
Americans aged 18 to 24 are increasingly likely to see their mobile as their main 'phone and are beginning to give up on 'land lines' according to The Yankee Group's 2003 Mobile User Young Adult Survey. As yet, only 12% of them have actually replaced their landline phones with wireless, but another 28 percent are planning to 'cut the cord' over the next 5 years. More
Temperatures in the UK reached near-record levels yesterday leaving unaccustomed Brits gasping, but some of us are enjoying it, and according to the latest from Datamonitor the sun cream market is recovering from a slump last year. Worldwide sales are also expected to rise. More
US teenagers are Getting Around in some new makes of car, and their dreams are by no means all-American, according to new research by NFO Automotive. Honda and VW are top of the wish list and Honda is particularly popular with the girls. A separate study by J.D. Power this week reveals the extent to which used car shoppers are making use of the 'Net. More
Supermarket chain Asda have continued their advance into the UK clothing market with the 'George' range, and could pose an even greater threat to other major discount retailers when they open up new stand-alone George stores in the high street from September onwards, according to new data from TNS. More
A report released last week by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows that a minority of US farms have Internet access, but that more are getting connected and the percentage might be expected to pass 50 soon. More than half of farmers own or lease a computer but only 30% use it for farm business. More
The Consumer Confidence Index figure, based Research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission, improved fractionally in July, by one point to -1, continuing a slow rise since April. Likelihood to make major purchases is up significantly, but is mostly cancelled out by a fall in the figure for savings intentions. More
The race for the Democratic nomination for the US Presidency is wide open at present with four candidates polling between 12 and 16% of votes in a recent Ipsos/Cook Political Report Poll. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has come into the running with a rise from 7% in May to 12% choosing him now. More
Responses to a survey conducted online may suggest sharper opinions than a paper equivalent, with more high and low ratings and strong agreements / disagreements, as opposed to fence-sitting or moderate answers, according to a paper at the recent ORC International 8th annual employee research conference. More
Public opinion is divided over two recent high-profile rulings of the US Supreme Court, according to a Harris Poll conducted in mid-July. The rulings cover murder convictions where the defendant has no competent lawyer, and the right of a university to use race as one of several factors when deciding whom to admit. More
Orders for salads at US restaurants, including side and main dish salads, decreased between June 2002 and May 2003 according to research from the NPD Group whose 'Annual Eating Patterns in America' will be published in October. However, main dish salads are enjoying a renaissance in a seemingly unlikely quarter, fast food restaurants. More
For the fourth year running Americans have voted Sony number one in the annual Harris Poll of 'best brands'. Kraft moves up from fourth to second place this year while Dell slips from second to third place. General Motors jumps from tenth to fourth place. Microsoft, Kellogg's and Procter & Gamble are new to the list. More
The latest report from Datamonitor, 'Targeting Seniors Effectively', heralds a 'new-age' of senior consumerism in the UK and Europe, revealing that 50-64 year olds, in particular, are one the most affluent segments of European society, yet overlooked or misunderstood by marketers and the packaged goods industry. More
US consumers choosing a cell phone prioritise small size and voice-related functionality over more advanced features such as integrated digital cameras, games, PDAs or music players, according a survey by Jupiter Research, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation. Most are unwilling to pay even $49 extra for such 'smartphones'. More
Around forty per cent of US workers would like to leave their jobs for new opportunities in the next 12 months, despite the troubled national economy and a difficult employment market, according to the 2003 Spherion Emerging Workforce Study. More
The latest quarterly Financial Activity Bulletin produced by Martin Hamblin GfK and John Gilbert Associates shows consumers' appetite for savings and borrowing fell in June despite an 8-point rise in consumer confidence since March. More
Unsecured debt in the UK has risen by more than £1,000 per head over the past five years, according to independent market analyst Datamonitor. Borrowing via credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and personal loans now averages £3,383 per person, compared with just £2,231 in 1998. More
A study sponsored by a US center for mid-and long-term strategic thinking has predicted that the US will continue to lead the IT revolution, while Europe's prioritisation of the protection of existing business will hold it back. The study also looks at the relative strength of Asian economies in IT and the way in which IT may transform the world in the next 20 years. More
Consumers in the US are more realistic about the state of the economy, with a narrow gap between expectations and assessments of the economy, according to Ipsos' National CASH Index Poll. Most are being cautious after a rollercoaster year, reflected in the movement of the Index, but high income investors are beginning to sound more bullish after a good quarter on the markets. More
Consumers in most countries feel closer to their own culture than they did a few years ago, and more distant from American culture, according to the recent Roper Reports 2003 Worldwide study. Some of the likely causes are short-term and results vary with region, but generally consumers are more likely to be thinking as well as acting local. More
Most American companies claim to be committed to corporate citizenship and see it as a fundamental value, according to a recent survey by the US Chamber of Commerce and Boston College. Although cynics will observe that the top executives of Enron would no doubt have voted the same way if questioned, the results could help to shift discussion of the topic to a more positive plane. More
High Profile Australian MR firm The Leading Edge is providing research backing for the Reach Out! Web site, which helps young people get through tough times. A new advertising campaign for Reach Out!, informed by Leading Edge research, will be launched this week across print, radio and online. More
Overall support for President George W. Bush is still strong among older and younger voters, but on aspects of job approval not related to foreign affairs he is faring much worse, especially among voters age 50 and older, according to the Ipsos-Public Affairs/Cook Political Report Poll. More
Japanese car makers still lead in terms of long-term vehicle reliability, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Vehicle Dependability Study(SM) just released. However, some traditionally strong European brands have fallen from grace while US makers improve. More
Prices charged by UK research agencies will be investigated over the next few weeks by UK Consultancy RHMR - this is the 6th year in succession that the price check has been carried out. Between 1998 and 2002 the average quotation received from participating agencies has risen by only around 10-15%, reflecting very competitive conditions in the industry. More
Continuing our coverage of Marketing Magazine's Research Awards 2003, held recently at the Langham Hilton Hotel, London, the Media Research Award was won by TNS and Northcliffe Newspapers for an innovative 18-month survey involving nine newspapers. More
American public opinion about the merits of the Iraq war is changing with the lack of positive news about weapons finds, peaceful reconstruction or capture of Saddam and his sons. More
HP has taken the top slot among the top 100 US companies, in a survey of online customer experience carried out by research consultants The Customer Respect Group. HP received a mean ranking of 9.7 out of a possible 10, and beat technology rivals Dell and IBM. More
Ipsos-RSL has released data from Europe 2003, the fourth wave of its annual survey of 'top' Europeans for pan-European media planning. The results give a picture of an elite 4% (10.4m) of Europeans including insight into their outlook and attitudes, alongside their media consumption and lifestyle. More
Americans feel slightly more positive about race relations in their country than they did in previous years, according to The Gallup Minority Relations poll, conducted in June. Large majorities of Americans believe that relations among the races and ethnic groups are good. In most cases, results are fairly similar regardless of which group is being surveyed. More
Retailers could lose 43% of intended purchases when products are out of stock, whilst manufacturers could lose 25%, according to global food and groceries specialist IGD. The finding is published in 'Shopper Insight', a new quarterly report series that looks at developments in the food retail environment through the eyes of shoppers. More
UK consultancy Through The Loop has released details of recent research among the single-sided deaf, which aimed to develop a patient perspective for the BAHA direct bone conduction hearing device. This morning's DRNO brings you a rare insight into the lives of this group, a small agency case study with a life-changing message and the chance to confound your spellcheck with the word 'osseointegration'. More
The UK's Consumer Confidence Index figure has risen for the third consecutive month and is now at a level higher than that of December last year. However, the rise is slow and the mood cautious, according to research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission. More
In-car 'Personal Assistance Services' (PAS), which put drivers in direct two-way contact with call centre operatives who can pinpoint a vehicle's exact location and send help or provide support, show major potential for growth according to the latest from J.D. Power and Associates. More
The surge in US public support for President Bush seen during the war with Iraq has subsided, leaving his ratings in a similar position to that at the beginning of the year - but still fairly strong - according to Ipsos-Public Affairs / the Cook Political Report. More
TNS has started its European polls for TIME and CNN (as reported on DRNO on 10th June) with a survey on views of air travel, and found more than one-third of people in Britain, France and Germany 'less likely to travel by air' than they were 12 months ago. Britons and Germans were most likely to cite terrorism, whereas the French cite 'economic factors' as the main reason. More
Major pharmaceutical companies typically spend around $3 - 4 million on pre-launch research for a product, and spend an average of $710,000 on post-launch or 'in-line' product research, according to a new report from US pharmaceutical intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information. More
With the 5th Harry Potter book launched at one minute past midnight on Saturday, statistics about the many records already broken by this and previous volumes have been all over the papers this weekend. But even the build-up to the launch produced massive surges in Internet traffic, according to Hitwise. More
Older Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of private insurance companies delivering them prescription drugs, and happier with the Medicare system as it is, according to a survey released last week by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Legislation currently before Congress aims to attract more people into privately run prescription drug programs. More
According to the latest Harris Poll, a majority of Americans believe that what they were told by the government before the Iraq war about Weapons of Mass Destruction and links to Al Qaeda was generally accurate. More than two thirds of all adults believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and more than one third believe that the US has found clear evidence of these weapons. More
American marketers have been reminded of the importance of the Hispanic community by information from the US Census Bureau this week, confirming that Hispanics are the nation's largest minority group. Meanwhile research by comScore suggests that there are more Hispanics online in the US than in any other country. More
A typical survey will cost over a third more to conduct in the USA or Japan than it does in the UK, France or Germany, according to new research from ESOMAR, the World Association of Research Professionals. The 2003 Research Prices Study invited 407 member companies worldwide to quote for six different types of project. More
Following last week's sneak preview of our 'Hours and pay in MR' survey, DRNO continues its summertime navel-gazing with the help of a series of video interviews conducted by Vox Pops International with delegates at the recent MRS Conference, and based around a SWOT analysis for the UK research industry. More
In the face of fierce competition from value retailers, drugstores need to get customers to buy more at the front-end [as opposed to the pharmacy] on each visit, according to a paper at the 2003 NACDS Marketplace Conference in San Diego this week, supported by research from Information Resources Inc. More
The Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) has just published a public consultation paper about attitudes to traditional court dress in England and Wales. The paper is based on public opinion research conducted by ORC International. Wigs get majority support but (other) traditional attire does not. More
Support for Canada's involvement in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Mexico has grown in the past two and a half years from 64% of Canadians to 70%, according to an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted last week. More
Results are in from MRWho's June poll of over 200 UK research professionals, and the shock news is that only thirty per cent think that MR is 'Not Very Well Paid'. We had certainly feared worse, and the 1% who think it is 'Very Badly Paid' are a drop in the ocean. Hours worked are also less off-putting than they might have been, with a mean of only 43 a week. Nevertheless, many researchers dream of dropping out and 'doing some good for society'. More
Certified pre-owned vehicles are an increasingly popular choice among US used-car buyers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Used Vehicle Sales and Certification StudySM just released. Both sales and awareness of the scheme have grown despite competition from aggressive new-vehicle incentives. More
Harris Poll results for May show that US support for President Bush's handling of Iraq is still high - four points down on April's 67% high but 7% ahead of the rating in March when the war was underway. However, more people would prefer the U.N. to take the lead in the rebuilding of Iraq than the United States, and 80% believe more generally that it is important to involve a broad coalition of countries in the process. More
Asian telecoms consumers, among the world's most sophisticated, are showing interest in the next generation of wireless services - even if it means paying 20-30% more on their monthly phone bill. TNS' 2003 Asia Telecoms Index (ATI) study found 25 per cent of mobile phone owners either using 2.5 and 3G services, or at least 'quite likely' to start using them within the next six months. More
The much-reported rise in obesity in the UK is being mirrored by a rapid expansion of health and fitness club membership, according to the latest research from Mintel. Private health and fitness clubs in the UK have an estimated 3.8 million members, more than double the figure for ten years ago but more significantly over a million up on last year. More
According to a recent consumer spending study, released by market information company The NPD Group, many US consumers are now planning to spend more on apparel and footwear, despite disappointing retail sales of late. According to NPD, the apparel and footwear industries saw dollar volume decreases of two and five percent respectively in 2002 over 2001; however, consumers surveyed said they are willing to spend more on apparel and footwear post-war, compared to an identical study conducted prior to the war in Iraq. More
Synovate has released survey results showing the impact of SARS on the behaviors and attitudes of Taiwanese consumers. More
Britons bought nearly 24 million Mother's Day gifts and only 10 million for Father's Day last year, according to research by TNS GiftTrak. There is a similar ratio between the amounts spent, with the average Father's Day gift costing just fractionally more. More
Hybrid electric vehicle sales in the USA are expected to exceed 500,000 units annually by 2008 and 872,000 units by 2013, according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Hybrid Vehicle Outlook. More
There is little sign of German economic recovery from the May 2003 GfK consumer climate survey, conducted on behalf of the European Commission. The indicator for economic outlook fell slightly, almost entirely cancelling the increase in the previous month. Income expectations of German consumers reflect a slight upward trend of three per cent, but the propensity to buy is down for the second month in a row, losing more than seven points. More
Employees' trust in upward communication has risen dramatically in the past decade, according to MORI's latest research in the UK, presented at the Communicators in Business conference in May. The survey pinpoints the most and least trusted information channels, enabling internal communicators to fine-tune their communications strategies. More
In the last two months, despite the recent resurgence of the disease in Toronto, Canadians' personal fears over SARS have declined, according to a new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released last week. They are also less worried than they were about BSE, despite one recent case. More
The Consumer Confidence Index figure has returned to levels seen at the beginning of 2003, according to Research carried out in the UK by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission. Perceptions of the general economy and personal household situation in the last 12 months remain low, but future expectations continue to improve, now that the Iraq war has concluded. Purchase intentions and preparedness to save have also risen. More
Brahm Research and public affairs specialists Cicero Consulting played host to a major pensions event at the House of Commons in London last week, attended by key policymakers. Speakers included the former minister for welfare reform, the Rt Hon Frank Field MP and Edward Garnier QC MP, currently masterminding the Retirement Income Reform Bill. More
Americans give supermarkets significantly better marks for customer service than any other sector, according to the annual Harris Poll, which ranks fifteen industries. Supermarkets were included for the first time and achieved the highest rating for any sector in the 6 years the question has been asked - 85% believe they do a good job of serving their consumers. More
Customers of HSBC are the most confident and those of Halifax expect to be the most active, according to the latest Financial Activity Bulletin produced by Martin Hamblin GfK and John Gilbert Associates. These findings are part of the quarterly survey that links consumer confidence with consumers' expected saving, investment and debt activities in the coming 6 months. For the first time, consumers were asked about who they regarded as their main financial services provider. More
Latest research from Mintel in the UK shows that television is the most popular way to enjoy sport. Nearly all (99%) of the 35 million adult supporters in Britain watched live sport on television at home or at a friend's house during 2002. More
According to a new report from the Institute of Grocery Distribution, Convenience Retailing 2003, the UK convenience market grew by 4.1% to £21.5bn in 2002 with symbol groups leading growth. More
Many people believe that the risks to American tourists travelling outside the United States are worse today than they were three years ago - before September 11 - and over a quarter (26%) of Americans think they are much worse. In this context, a new Harris Poll in the US has both good and bad news for the travel industry. More
With EUR21,884, Munich occupies the leading position in terms of purchasing power amongst German cities, followed by Bergisch Gladbach with EUR21,251 and Erlangen with EUR21,090. In a comparison of the 439 urban and regional districts in Germany, the Hochtaunus region is way out in front with EUR23,058 per capita, followed by Starnberg and Munich. These are the findings of the purchasing power 2003 survey carried out by GfK Marktforschung. More
Some 54 per cent of people in Britain feel that recent US military action against Iraq was justified, according to new research from TNS. This is a significant increase from the 10 per cent of Britons who said they would support the war in a similar study in January, reflecting a major shift in opinion since the war took place. More
Latest research from Mintel studying savoury snacks consumption across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy highlights the UK has having the largest snacks market in Europe. More
According to the findings of a GfK consumer climate survey commissioned by the European Commission there was a slight improvement in consumer sentiment in Germany in April compared with March with even income expectations rising somewhat. More
Weekly book sales dropped by 5% in value the week the Iraq war started, recording the lowest week of revenue for the Australian book industry in 2003, according to the latest data from Nielsen BookScan. More
The majority of UK consumers (63%) expect that 'local food' comes either from their county or is produced within 30 miles of where they live or buy it, according to new research from IGD, Consumer Watch: Local & British Foods. More
A new report from Mintel forecasts a promising outlook for European leisure travel despite the challenges facing the industry. More
A new analysis by MORI has identified distinct 'breeds' of British news-gatherers. The research, for Richmond Events Ltd, classifies British people on the basis of their news-gathering habits and social characteristics. These classifications will enable communications professionals to target their audiences even more precisely - essential in today's '24/7' media culture. More
For the first time in more than three years, the average total communications spending of American consumers has fallen, according to the latest quarterly tracking data compiled by TNS Telecoms, the telecommunications division of market information group of Taylor Nelson Sofres. More
Latest research from Mintel in the UK sees the complementary medicines market rising almost 60% in the last five years to reach £130 million. More
The Q1 2003 Bellwether Report, the quarterly survey of marketing budgets, published this week by NTC Research on behalf of the IPA, shows marketing budgets in the UK were revised down on average for the third quarter running, but the rate of decline has slowed for the second successive quarter. More
Recent food & drink highlights from Mintel's GNPD service (Global New Products Database) include melon flavoured instant cappuccino and mini Nutri-Grain snack bars. More
Global market research firm, Synovate, has recently issued data that shows the people of Hong Kong are doing whatever it takes to combat the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, even if it means abandoning social conventions. More
Ipsos-RSL has this week announced that Europe 2003, the fourth survey in the successful Europe 2000 series, will be launched on 3 July 2003 in London. The survey has established itself as the main currency for trading pan-European print and television campaigns and is an essential tool for advertisers, planners, buyers and media companies worldwide. More
Synovate has announced that its Pan Asia Pacific Cross Media Survey (known as Synovate PAX) will publish a special report for subscribers analysing changes in media consumption in the Asia Pacific region due to war in Iraq and the battle to contain the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). More
New research completed by Nunwood Consulting's Youth Research Unit last week in the UK shows that the war in Iraq has captured children's natural curiosity, with 1 in 4 children paying more attention to the news. More
A recent Harris Poll showed a national sample of 2,271 adults in the USA a list of 15 industries and asked them which ones should be more regulated, and which should be less regulated. Four industries were mentioned by more than fifty percent of those surveyed as needing more regulation, and the top three are all in the health care industry - managed care (60%), health insurance (59%) and pharmaceuticals (57%). The only other industry to be mentioned by more than fifty percent is the oil industry (52%). More
ACNielsen U.S. has released new research findings showing that direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is effective not only in generating initial sales of advertised prescription (Rx) medicine brands, but also in boosting patient 'compliance' -- that is, the degree to which chronic-condition sufferers refill their prescriptions in a timely manner. More
Today's global consumers connect with brand franchises that symbolize trust, offer a specific expertise and group products logically, according to a study released this week by ACNielsen. More
According to a GfK consumer climate survey in Germany commissioned by the European Commission, carried in March, a reversal in the consumer confidence trend is likely to take a while as consumers continue to have their doubts concerning an economic upturn. More
A survey commissioned by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) in the UK, carried out by MORI, finds that headteachers are viewed as better leaders than any other group in Britain. More
When eating out, consumers' priorities are the taste of the food and knowledge of its ingredients. However they will sacrifice taste for products that are easier to prepare when shopping for food. Although on the whole, consumers make decisions in the same way when eating out and when buying food in a supermarket, their expectations of taste are higher when eating out according to IGD's Consumer Tracker in the UK, part of the Consumer Watch series. More
The Consumer Confidence Index figure in the UK as carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission continued to fall during March, registering a score of -10. The latest drop of one point, following a large fall in February, brings the overall Index score to the lowest level since December 1995. More
A new report from Mintel in the UK finds 62% of mortgage holders willing to switch to a euro mortgage if it means paying a lower interest rate. More
Business in the Community in the UK has recently published the first Corporate Responsibility Index. This is the first business-led, voluntary, Index, publicly benchmarking the responsible business practice of companies in a range of different industry sectors - no company was excluded because of the nature of its core business. More
A recent Harris Poll in the USA finds that there are three very different consumer groups when it comes to issues of privacy. More
Confidence among senior marketers in the UK has hit rock bottom, in sharp contrast with the position just three months ago, according to the latest figures from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). More
Global agency Synovate has released data confirming that Indonesia is a country of smokers - or rather a country of male smokers. More
Consumers in the US are continuing to scale back their trips to the grocery store, opting instead for 'supercenters', dollar stores, and warehouse club stores, according to the latest 'Channel Blurring' study from ACNielsen U.S. More
New research conducted by MORI in the UK for ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents) shows that the prospect of war and the threat of terrorism are not generally affecting travel plans. More
Latest research from Mintel highlights rapid growth of some 165% in the food intolerance and allergies market since 2000. Valued at £55.6 million in 2002, there have been a number of key factors driving this sector, including the growing number of consumers who perceive that they have a food allergy/intolerance. More
Results from a £250,000 Conversion Study conducted by Millward Brown UK for the Newspaper Society demonstrate that local press advertising plays a vital role in pushing consumers along the buying process towards purchase. The study represents the largest piece of independent advertising effectiveness research ever undertaken by the UK regional press. It tracked multimedia advertising campaigns for 26 brands in four regions of the UK, and involved over 9,000 face-to-face interviewers. More
Latest research from Mintel studying health & beauty retailing across the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland highlights Boots as the largest health and beauty specialist in Europe by a large margin. However, it has so far been largely unsuccessful in exporting this beyond its home market. More
More than four out of ten (41 per cent) bank customers in Great Britain are 'uncommitted' to their current account provider, according to the findings of research by Taylor Nelson Sofres published in the March edition of 'Financial Marketing' magazine. More
While Americans are far from gung-ho about attacking Iraq, they are much more supportive of doing so than are the British and the Canadians, according to a new Harris Poll conducted in these three countries. More
The promotion of offset mortgages has so far focused primarily on the benefits of offsetting savings against the mortgage, to reduce the overall amount of interest paid. But their future appeal may be as much to reduce the cost of expensive unsecured debt, according to NOP Financial's article in the latest issue of the CML's journal, Housing Finance in the UK. More
Overall, the Consumer Confidence Index figure as carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission in the UK plummeted by six points in February and currently stands at -9. This score is the lowest seen since October 1998, when economic turbulence in Asia impacted greatly on UK consumer confidence. More
FORTUNE has announced that Wal-Mart, the retail giant, is ranked as number one on the magazine's annual survey of Most Admired Companies, marking the first time in the survey's 21-year history that the nation's largest company is also its most admired. More
According to findings from the newly released IRI study, What Do Americans Really Eat? ready-to-eat snack products with strong convenience benefits are fulfilling the demand for snacks and meal replacements for on-the-go consumers. More
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising in the UK (IPA) has recently published the Q4 2002 TV Trends Report. This reveals the lowest share seen for two years for the total commercial/non terrestrial sector. More
Aggressive marketing of the ITV Digital replacement, Freeview (for a one-off payment consumers can buy a digital box enabling them to receive around 30 extra digital channels free of charge) is proving a considerable boost to the multi-channel industry, according to Continental Research's Winter 2003 Digital TV Report. More
According to the annual survey by Japanese advertising agency Dentsu, the sector hit hard times in 2002 with adspend falling for the year. This was despite a temporary boost in the first half from the Winter Olympics and the World Cup. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau(IAB) has recently released new research results from the latest of its Cross Media Optimization Studies (XMOS) based on advertising campaigns from Kimberly-Clark's Kleenex Soft Pack tissues and Colgate-Palmolive's Colgate Total toothpaste. More
Asians are consuming more milk and other dairy products than ever before, according to findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres' (TNS) Asiapanel - Asia's first pan regional continuous consumer panel, which reveals growth in the dairy sector is strongest in China and Taiwan. More
Most IT journalists in the UK think Bite Communications is the PR agency which 'best understands their needs', according to MORI's latest survey. Bite, which also held the top slot in the previous year's survey, secured twice as many of the journalists' votes for 'best' agency as second-placed August.One. More
Latest research from Mintel studying ready meals consumption across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy highlights the UK as having the largest ready meals market in Europe. More
Even with the wide variety of foods available in supermarkets and on restaurant menus, many British meals still include chips. According to latest research by Taylor Nelson Sofres, fish and chips is still one of the nation's most popular meal choices, with 541 million meals consumed in the home, in restaurants or as a takeaway, in 2002. More
The nation's interest in sport - and its viewing of sport on TV - are generally on the decline, according to MORI's latest SportTracker survey in the UK. More
With the traffic congestion charge imminent in London, more than a quarter of people who drive in or around the centre of the city say they will avoid driving in the charge zone altogether after its introduction according to research from BMRB. More
Advertising spending for 2002 in the USA rose nearly 6% over 2001, fueled by gains across most major media, according to preliminary figures released by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information service of Nielsen Media Research. More
Latest research from Mintel questioning 993 adults finds strong preferences among consumers towards buying British and locally grown produce. More
New research from Strategy Analytics quantifies the steady decline of analogue television broadcasting and the progress towards so-called 'Analogue Switch-Off'. More
Forty two per cent of European mobile phone users are interested in 3G services, according to the TNS Telecoms 3G 2003 report, carried out in 10 countries. But the good news for telecoms operators and manufacturers is that the majority of those users interested in 3G were prepared to pay extra for 3G handsets and services. More
On the other side of the Atlantic, Valentine's Day week generates more candy sales than any other holiday week, according to ACNielsen U.S. A review of one-week total candy sales in the combined grocery, drug, and mass merchandise channels (excluding Wal-Mart) shows Valentine's Day week topping all others in 2002. More
More than 700 million gifts, valued at £19.3 billion, were purchased in Britain in the run up to Christmas 2002, according to new research published by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
In a recent survey carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK, car drivers in the UK were asked to think of all the different options for powering a car, either in existence or to be developed. More
Trust in the UK Government is low, with a quarter to a third of Britons believing that the Government is acting in the public interest in relation to each of five different risk issues. This is according to one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of British attitudes to risk in recent years, carried out by MORI Social Research Institute for the University of East Anglia (UEA). More
Four out of ten people in Britain (40 per cent) are not in favour of military action against Iraq 'under any circumstances' according to findings published by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) and Gallup International Association (GIA). A further 39 per cent of Britons would only support a war with Iraq if it were sanctioned by the United Nations, with just one in ten (10 per cent) fully supporting military action. More
A recent study conducted amongst 200 schoolchildren in the UK by Vox Pops International reveals some interesting insight into eating patterns and attitudes towards food. More
Figures recently published by Bureau van Dijk (BvD) confirm reports that Europe is now the dominant force in merger and acquisition activity. More
At the beginning of 2003, consumer mood in Germany remains virtually unchanged compared with the last few months of 2002. In view of the weak economic situation and the general uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Iraq, consumers are not confident of an economic upswing. These are the key findings of the GfK consumer climate survey carried out on behalf of the European Commission in January 2003. More
Recent research conducted by Martin Hamblin GfK in the UK shows that pharmacists exert considerable influence over the purchase of over-the-counter remedies for common ailments. More
Overall, the Consumer Confidence Index figure as reported by Martin Hamblin GfK in the UK on behalf of the European Commission has risen by 1 point in January and currently stands at -3. More
The IPA s new report, 'Beyond the Red Button', which is published this week is a snapshot of the commercial market for interactive TV in the UK and highlights how this exciting medium is currently being used by both advertisers and broadcasters. More
Recent results of an on-going study from ORC, which examines trends in the UK's gaming industry, have highlighted that the proportion of the population participating in the Lotto game has been declining for some time - falling to around 61% of adults in 2002, compared with 75% in 1998. More
Ernst & Young's 2003 National Lodging Forecast released this week indicates that US hotels spent last year recovering from the toughest year in recent memory. More
Europe will continue to expand and in future will be able to measure up to the USA, at least in terms of the economy. According to the results of a representative 'Future of Europe' survey carried out by GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide on behalf of The Wall Street Journal Europe in the European Union countries, the USA and Russia, this is the opinion held by one in two people in these countries. More
In light of the government announcements in the UK this week on higher education, the UNITE Student Living Report 2003 carried out by MORI reveals interesting insights into what students make of it all. More
The latest September/October wave of the Baby and Young Child Track survey carried out by Carrick James Market Research in the UK, shows that the BBC's Tweenies are still the favourite cartoon characters with kiddies and have remained so since December 1999. More
The Q4 2002 Bellwether Report, the quarterly survey of marketing budgets in the UK, published this week by NTC Research on behalf of the IPA, shows marketing budgets were revised down in Q4 2002 for the second consecutive quarter. However the extent of the downward revision was less than seen in the same period a year ago. More
While between a fifth and a third of Americans with health insurance are unhappy with their own health plans (depending on which plans, and which measures of unhappiness are used) most people continue to be satisfied with their health insurance according to Harris Interactive. This is true with employer-provided plans, health insurance which is bought by individuals and families, Medicare and Medicaid. More
In both the US and Europe encouraging signs of real growth in the beleaguered IT sector are revealed by the latest issue of the RoperNOP Technology Confidence Barometer published this week. More
Ad spending in the US is expected to rise 3.3 percent in 2003, up to $117.5 billion, according to the full-year forecast released this week by CMR/TNS Media Intelligence. More
The recent launch of Nectar has once more put the spotlight upon the loyalty card market. Backed by high profile brand names, the scheme's aim - to sign up half of the UK's 40 million households within one year - is certainly ambitious. Research carried out by NOP Financial shows that the programme has made a promising start, but has considerable ground to gain to threaten the domination of the market currently enjoyed by the Tesco Clubcard. More
Following a low in October and November, the mood among German consumers did not worsen any further in the last month of 2002. However, talk of a change in trend would be premature according to the consumer climate survey which GfK regularly conducts on behalf of the European Commission. More
Latest research from Mintel on retail store design questioning 1,058 adults, finds over half of consumers having walked out of a store when they were going to make a purchase because of long queues. More
Nearly a third of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have reported problems in finding suitable accommodation for their business - a significant increase over the past 12 months. The findings come in the Spacia Small Business Property Monitor 2003. More
Overall, the Consumer Confidence Index figure as compiled by Martin-Hamblin GfK in the UK fell by 6 points in December to stand at -4. This is the lowest index figure recorded since October 2001. More
In the present climate, private investors are opting for lower-risk investments. Around 50% of Europeans have short-term savings deposits and almost every other person has invested in life insurance or pension funds. In the USA, shares and share-based investments continue to be the most popular form of investment, although this trend is clearly on the decline. These are the findings of the recent Investment Barometer, carried out by GfK on behalf of The Wall Street Journal Europe. More
According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, 2002 has proven to be the most successful year for new product introductions since 1995, with the number of introductions exceeding 22,000. This figure is an increase of 15% over 2001. More
The recently published World Drink Trends 2003 survey reveals this year that more than ever Europeans continue to out-drink the rest of the world. More
As consumers embark on the final rush to purchase holiday gifts, no single blockbuster gift item has emerged to capture their imagination or disposable income, according to an Accenture survey of more than 2,000 people in the United States and United Kingdom. More
With a share of 31 per cent of sales, German discounters have succeeded in expanding their share of the retail food market in 2002 more than almost any other type of store. According to the 2002 discount store survey recently published by GfK Panel Services Consumer Research, more than half of this growth is accounted for by Aldi. More
Consumers in Hong Kong are becoming less loyal to individual brands and will increasingly take advantage of special offers and promotions in their grocery buying according to the combined results of a telephone survey and consumer panel data recently released by TNS. More
According to a new report by advertising agency Havas and the London Business School, growth in marketing expenditure in the UK is to exceed that of five major countries, including the US and Germany, during 2003. The UK, which has witnessed a 4.2% increase in advertising spend over 2002, will see this figure grow to 5.3% during the next year. More
Latest research from Mintel finds Britain topping Europe in terms of DIY activity. In the last year some 62% of British consumers carried out DIY or decorating tasks compared with just 30% of the Spanish. On mainland Europe, France is the most active DIY country with 57% of French adults having taken part in DIY or decorating. Meanwhile, just 36% of Germans participate in DIY. More
Ipsos-RSL has just announced the latest new sponsors for the Europe 2000 series: in signing up for Europe 2003, Time and Fortune are marking their support for the survey for the first time, joining an already impressive group of international print, TV and agency sponsors. More
BT has achieved a significant reduction in the number of customers who express dissatisfaction with its service, following the implementation of ViewsCast's Customer Satisfaction Measurement (CSM) technology in its Marketing Operations, Sales teams and three primary UK call centres. More
People who suffer discrimination at work are more likely to be a victim because of their age than any other factor, including race or gender - according to new research from the MORI Social Research Institute in the UK. More
Asia Market Intelligence (AMI), rebranding as Synovate in January 2003, has this week revealed the affluent of Hong Kong are more likely to be making decisions in shopping malls than in the office or boardrooms. More
More small and medium-sized enterprises plan to invest in VPN (Virtual Private Network) solutions in the next 12 months than in the past year. These findings are the latest results from the TNS ICT Panel that interviewed 185 senior business and IT decision makers in Hong Kong in November 2002. More
The '2003 Latin American Marketing Report,' published this week by Strategy Research Corporation (SRC), now part of Synovate, presents buying power estimates for 18 countries, plus Puerto Rico, and 70 metropolitan markets across Latin America. More
People would generally be opposed to being charged for producing non-recyclable rubbish, according to a new report from the MORI Social Research Institute. Many are worried about 'stealth' taxes, but they are more likely to accept the idea if certain conditions are met. More
Seventy-six percent of all meals in the US are prepared at home, according to NPDFoodworld, a division of The NPD Group, but Americans are spending less time in the kitchen preparing those meals than ever. More
Asia Market Intelligence (AMI) has today issued results from the Pan Asia-Pacific Cross Media Survey (PAX) for 2002/03. The survey tracks media, prosperity and influence across Asia with a sample taken from affluent sections of society - people who are in high income brackets, make business decisions and the all-important group which can be identified as top management. More
Advertising spending through the third quarter of 2002 rose 3.8% over the same period last year, fuelled by gains across most major media, according to preliminary figures recently released by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, a service of Nielsen Media Research. More
Research carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission shows that the overall picture for consumer confidence in the UK has changed little this month. More
Corporate responsibility continues to be an important influence on the opinions and behaviour of stakeholders - including consumers - towards companies, according to new research in the UK by MORI. The results are from MORI's annual Corporate Social Responsibility survey. More
Latest research from Mintel finds consumer confidence in the UK running high for Christmas 2002. Research questioning 1,024 adults finds some 35% of consumers expecting to spend more this Christmas compared to last, with 7% anticipating spending substantially more. More
Research consultancy, ORC International, has recently eveloped a mathematical analysis ool for Nationwide Building Society in the UK that reveals the link between employee commitment, customer satisfaction and business performance. More
Some 34 per cent of employees in Britain admit to having low levels of commitment to the both the job they do and the company they work for, according to the results of the Global Employee Commitment Report 2002, released by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). This is in keeping with the global average figure of 35 per cent and suggests that a significant proportion of the companies in Britain may be failing to get the most out of their employees. More
Today's global consumers want to protect their favourite brands and will preserve their allegiances to the extent of turning a blind eye to political and ethical malpractice of parent companies according to the findings of a major global research study, RIO (Research International Observer), released this week. More
Latest Consumer Watch research from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) in the UK shows that Chinese food is the most popular ethnic food among British consumers. More
Asia Market Intelligence (AMI) - rebranding as Synovate in January 2003 - has just released the latest figures from the 'Label Love' study on luxury brands in Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore. More
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising in the UK has just published its Q3 2002 TV Trends Report which shows overall recorded viewing levels are much in line with the previous year despite the switch to the new BARB panel. More
The United States is the most competitive economy in the world according to The Global Competitiveness Report 2002-2003 released by the World Economic Forum this week. This year the United States swaps positions with Finland, last year's top-ranked country. More
The key findings of a recent consumer survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK into attitudes to advertising aimed at children shows that the number of adults who think that advertising should be restricted has dropped by just over eleven per cent, compared to survey results of two years ago. The number of adult consumers who think it should be banned completely remains the same. More
Latest research from Mintel analysing books, music and video retailing across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK highlights the British as the biggest European spenders. More
Wundermann, a member of the WPP Group, has recently announced the results of a groundbreaking research initiative, the Wundermann Brand Experience Scorecard, which demonstrates the key role that consumer-brand experience plays in the brand building process. More
The latest research released this week from Ipsos-RSL' s digital survey, DART, reveals the enormity of the task facing the Freeview syndicate (BBC, SKY and Crown Castle). The survey revealed that only 5% of households indicated that they will switch to digital TV in the next 12 months. More
The debate concerning increased rates of tax and contributions after the parliamentary election a month ago is having a negative effect on German consumers. This is one of the results of the survey on the consumer climate commissioned by the EU Commission and carried out in October by GfK Marktforschung. More
Next, HSBC and Tesco are among the most admired companies in Britain, according to a new survey compiled by Management Today. More
The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) receives a considerable number of complaints from members of the public about the content of soap operas. The BSC recently asked MORI's Qualitative HotHouse to explore the role of soap operas within the family and in a social context, and to shed light on the standards that are expected of programmes generally broadcast before the 9 o'clock watershed. More
The first data from the HealthFocus Trend Survey, collected from more than 2000 'primary grocery shoppers' (mostly women) in Western Europe - the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands - shows that the European consumer is lagging far behind the US, Australia and Chinese consumer in terms of health shopping. More
Senior executives in Europe are downbeat about the outlook of the global economy over the next 12 months, according to research published this week by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) in consultation with Deloitte Consulting. More
Teenagers in the UK believe young people commit crimes because they have nothing to do and nowhere to go, according to recently released research by MORI. The survey, commissioned by Nestlé and the Kids Clubs Network, found that among 11-16 year olds, seven in 10 believe a lack of facilities and things to do leads young people to commit crimes. More
Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK shows that the growing influence of children, or 'pester power' has led to some firms spending more than £500,000 investigating trends in the child marketplace. More
According to new research published by Orange Business Solutions and Deloitte Consulting's Research group, mobile data is already delivering productivity gains, cost savings and is boosting revenues. More
The results of the fifth wave of research commissioned by GIMRA (General Insurance Market Research Association) in the UK shows that policyholders are becoming more satisfied with the way in which household insurance claims are handled. More
More than nine out of ten people in Britain (93 per cent) 'completely support' or 'tend to support' Government proposals to make the use of mobile telephones illegal whilst driving, according to research findings published recently by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Marketing is the biggest driver of business results, reveals PA Consulting Group in new research underpinning the October 2002 Marketing Effectiveness campaign run by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). More
Latest research from Mintel finds call centres in the UK are dramatically failing in terms of meeting customer service expectations. Exclusive research questioning 2,020 adults finds just 5% of consumers having never experienced a problem with a call centre. A further 5% of adults do not use call centres. More
Ipsos-RSL has this week announced that funding for the new British Business Survey (BBS) has been secured, and work has begun on the new study. BBS measures the reading habits, media consumption and business behaviour of middle and senior managers in Britain. More
Latest research from Harris shows that corporate scandals-from Enron and WorldCom to Global Crossing and Adelphia-have had a big impact on American public attitudes toward top business managers, in general, not just those in the companies under investigation. More
Next month Research International will publish the latest of its high profile 'RIO' (Research International Observer) qualitative studies. RIO 2002 will explore issues surrounding global branding and the findings will be based on consumer research conducted across 41 countries. More
One in four adults have either direct experience of adoption or have experienced adoption through a member of their family or a close friend, according to new research by the MORI Social Research Institute. More
The Q3 2002 Bellwether Report, the quarterly survey of marketing budgets in the UK, published this week by NTC Research on behalf of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), shows that clients have revised their marketing expenditure downwards, although not as severely as in the third quarter of 2001. More
The first GfK Brand Check survey carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK shows that Heinz is the most popular unprompted recalled brand in the UK. More
Latest research from Mintel finds store cards losing out to credit cards in today's market. Over the past four years, store card sales have suffered from increasing competition from credit and debit cards and a more financially aware British public. More
A new survey, unveiled this week, has revealed that some of the UK's business leaders now feel that the pressures of their role outweigh the benefits because of fears over personal legal liability, financial liability and increasing red tape. It raises the prospect of UK plc losing its best talent as they cut short their time at the top. More
On balance, a recently released Harris Poll in the States finds that a 49% to 27% plurality thinks Americans should take military action to change Iraqi government. More
A new Golin/Harris Trust in Asian Business survey reveals 72 percent of Asians cite a 'crisis of trust in the way we do business,' compared to 69 percent in the USA- but the most and least trusted businesses differ dramatically. More
Research published by Taylor Nelson Sofres to coincide with British Cheese Week shows that more than eight out of ten people in Britain eat cheese at least once a fortnight. More
A major survey commissioned by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc as part of the BUSINESS: The Ultmate Resource database reveals shocking evidence about ethics and morality in business today in the UK. More
In-house public relations officers are a more useful source of information to business and financial journalists than PR agencies, according to MORI's latest 'Key Audience Research' survey. This contrasts markedly with last year's findings, when business journalists found PR agencies most useful overall. More
A new report on petcare and petfood retailing from Mintel highlights the increasing incidence of humanising Britain's pets. The report points towards 'child substitution' and sees the trend of single person households and affluent empty nesters lavishing treasured pets with premium pet foods. More
Three quarters of CAD/CAM managers operating within the mechanical engineering sector in the UK use the Internet to research CAD/CAM hardware or software product information, according to recent research conducted by The Business Advantage Group Plc. More
Just 44 per cent of adults in Britain feel that the use of military force is the most effective way to reduce international terrorism, according to research findings released this week by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) and Gallup International Association (GIA). This compares to a global average (across 45 countries) of 55 per cent. More
Four times as many women in France have used anti-ageing skin care products in the last 12 months compared with women in Britain, according to new research from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). Just four per cent of women in Britain use an anti-ageing skincare product in an average week compared to 17 per cent of women in France. More
New research from Marketing Sciences Ltd in the UK suggests that consumers are increasingly looking towards other ways of saving for retirement than pensions. More
Almost six out of ten British people wear prescription glasses on a regular basis, according to new research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). The results are published to coincide with National Eye Week, which began in Britain on 23rd September. More
Consumers in Singapore have been shedding stocks since 2001. A recent survey conducted by AMI Commerce, Banking and Investments (AMI CBI), a specialist business and financial research division of Asia Market Intelligence, shows that currently 21 per cent of the Singapore population invest in stocks, a fall of 10 per cent from September 2001. More
The latest in the 19 year series, European Business Readership Survey (EBRS) 2002, provides planners with fresh data on Europe's senior executives. These 423,000 executives at Europe's largest companies comprise an elite 0.2% of the adult population. In addition, the second CEBRS extends coverage to 37,000 Central European executives. More
The Royal Liver Assurance in the UK recently commissioned MORI Telephone Surveys (MTS) to carry out research for its Great Britain Financial Awareness Report. This report is designed to help understand attitudes to saving and why some people aren't taking steps towards providing for their financial future. More
According to the latest research from BMRB Interactive, in general, the public's perception of SMS texting is very negative. 7 out of 10 mobile users agree with the statement 'text messages from companies are too intrusive'. Around a fifth say that commercial SMS is not intrusive, indicating that there is a large sub-group of around 6 million adults who are open to receiving messages by phone. More
According to a new report from Mintel Retail Intelligence, Marks & Spencer remains Europe's number one choice for clothing while Tesco consolidates its runner-up position as the second largest grocer in Europe. More
The hint of optimism about economic expectations evident among German consumers in July has been somewhat dampened in August according to the results of a survey on the domestic consumer climate recently carried out by GfK Marktforschung on behalf of the EU Commission. More
Latest research from Mintel highlights growing concern over food safety among British consumers. In 1997, 41% of adults were concerned about the safety of our food, this has risen to 44% of consumers in 2002. More
Despite the recent majority vote to move to the next stage of developing a new GP contract, 3 in 4 GPs (75%) in the UK, according to recent research by Martin Hamblin GfK, do not expect it to have a positive effect on work-related stress. More
When it comes to major sponsorship events like the World Cup, non-sponsoring companies can choose to take a back seat, or they can apply clever marketing strategies to offset the heavy exposure and endorsement of a competitive brand sponsorship, according to findings from a recent ACNielsen Online study. More
More than half of Britain's small businesses (56 per cent) are against the Government's plans to improve public services by raising National Insurance contributions, according to the findings of a survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). Businesses with between 10 and 49 employees were the least supportive of an increase. More
A recent poll by Lightspeed Research has revealed a positive view towards the introduction of ID cards, across Great Britain. 91% of people interviewed were not apposed to the introduction of ID cards. However, there was a clear message of what was acceptable in terms of information stored on the card. More
New research recently released by ACNielsen U.S. shows that organic food buyers are extremely loyal to the category, and intend to keep buying, while non-buyers have virtually no interest in organic products. More
Latest research from Mintel studying cosmetic usage across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy highlights the British as the highest European users of makeup. More
The Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK is challenging the traditional strategy of reducing costs, especially marketing spend, and cutting investment to ride the storm of a downturn in consumer spending. More
The average Briton eats 155 sandwiches a year, according to new findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Despite the launch of lower cost digital adaptor boxes available from the High Street, the digital market has not grown. The latest research from Ipsos-RSL' s digital survey, DART shows that 35% of UK households receive digital TV services - no change from last October. More
Lack of job security, a deteriorating global economy, health and the threat of terrorism are all factors keeping consumers in the Asia Pacific region up at night, according to a recent ACNielsen Consumer Confidence Poll conducted in July this year. More
Hundreds of personal and commercial brokers will shortly be asked for their views on the quality of service delivered to them by major UK general insurance companies. Established in 2001, the BEST (Broker Evaluated Syndicated Tracker) survey provides a tracking study for a syndicate of the UK's leading insurance companies. More
Latest research from Mintel finds a total of £285 billion was spent on credit or debit cards last year in the UK, amounting to £540,000 a minute. More
IT buyers in the US and the UK are predicting growth rates of around 4% in IT spending in 2002 and increased growth rates for 2003, according to the latest results from the Technology Confidence barometer, the joint study conducted by United Business Media's RoperNOP and CMP Media business divisions. More
Consumer confidence in Britain's economy slipped in July among both consumers and small businesses, according to the latest State of the Nation survey published last week by NOP Financial, the specialist financial research division of NOP World. More
According to the Advertising Age Megabrand report, advertising media placements by the nation's Top 200 megabrands throughout 2001 declined 0.8% from 2000 levels. Meanwhile, overall advertising media buys dropped 9%, making the year one of the most dismal on record. More
According to latest research from the AMI Group, a shake-out of the Chinese domestic beer market is under way and at this point it is unclear who will come out the strongest. One thing that is for sure is that many foreign players have been having a hard time of it. More
According to a new report by media analysts Screen Digest and investment bank ABN Amro, British consumers are spending more time and money on media than ever before. Indeed, the total media market could be worth a staggering £56bn by the end of the decade. However, whilst the winners are electronic and online media, the losers are printed media. More
A slight majority of senior company executives in the UK are confident that worldwide economic conditions 'will improve' in the coming year, but they are less optimistic than they were in the first quarter of 2002, and UK executives showed the biggest fall in optimism out of all the countries surveyed. The results come from new global research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), working in association with Deloitte Consulting. More
Latest research from Mintel studying alcoholic drinking trends across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy finds 89% of British drinking alcoholic drinks either in-home or elsewhere. Drinking in the UK is closely followed by France, with 88% of the French consuming alcohol. More
The number of U.S. households with three cell phones increased by 95% from the Spring of 2001 to the Spring of 2002, according to the latest consumer data from Mediamark Research Inc. More
The Harris Poll latest annual survey results on 'best brands' shows Sony listed in the number one position, picked by more people than any other brand. Sony tops the list for the third year in a row, and for the fifth time in seven years. In the eight years since Harris Interactive began asking this question, Sony has never been lower than third and no other brand comes close to matching this record. More
Almost eight out of ten people (78 per cent) in Israel 'support' or 'strongly support' the peace process between Israel and the Arab world, according to a recent survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Teleseker, the Israeli arm of marketing information group Taylor Nelson Sofres. More
The 2002 World Cup proved to be a powerful driving force behind sales of TVs, both in Europe and Asia. Sales in Europe increased by five per cent compared with the previous year while sales in Asia rose by an average of sixteen per cent. These are the findings of the regular retail surveys carried out by GfK in the Non-Food Tracking division in April and May 2002. More
The latest poll from MORI Financial Services in the UK suggests that public opinion remains clearly against EMU entry. The balance of opinion against EMU entry has increased slightly since May and is similar to the average of Labour's first term in government (1997-01). More
A new report from Mintel's Retail Intelligence reveals that food retailing remains one of the most dynamic and innovative retail sectors with sales forecast to grow by 17% between 2001 and 2006. The rationalisation started by Wal-Mart and the Carrefour-Promodès deal still has far to go and there will be more merger deals in the next few years. More
Approximately five per cent of adults in Britain claim to be vegetarian, but research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Family Food Panel has revealed that half of these people actually eat fish, one third eat chicken and one quarter eat red meat. This leaves an average of less than three per cent of the population who are true vegetarians, the significant minority of which are women aged 17-34 years old. More
Almost half of all adults in Britain think that mobile phones should be banned in public places, such as cinemas, concert halls, restaurants and hospitals, according to new research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
A further recovery in marketing expenditure is predicted for the rest of 2002. This is according to the latest Bellwether Report, the NTC/IPA quarterly survey of marketing budgets published earlier this week. More
The US home video sector enjoyed record-breaking rental and sales revenues in 2001. This is according to the latest annual report on the home entertainment industry from the Video Software Dealers' Association (VSDA). More
Despite the relatively low returns, life insurance policies remain the favourite type of investment in Germany. The findings of the Investment Barometer, a bi-annual representative survey carried out by GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide on behalf of The Wall Street Journal Europe, show that 45% of Germans have a life insurance policy. More
Levels of heart disease - the biggest killer in the western world - are unlikely to fall over the next ten years in Europe or the US, according to research findings published by Taylor Nelson Sofres Healthcare (TNSH). More
Latest research from Mintel estimates that there are in the region of 6 million consumers with packaged current accounts. Packaged current accounts (PCAs) allow banks to charge a monthly fee of between £6 and £12 for a current account, in return for which the customer gains access to a range of additional benefits and services. Revenues generated by providers of PCAs are estimated to be in the region of £480 million. More
The average British mobile phone owner has had the same phone for 20 months, compared to just 16 months a year ago, according to new findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). This is bad news for handset manufacturers and retailers who have been relying on regular mobile handset upgrades as mobile phone penetration levels reach saturation point in Great Britain. More
Ipsos-RSL's recently published Europe 2002 study updates the results in this survey series, which covers the top 4% of Europe's decision makers and leading consumers, representing 10.6 million high status individuals in 16 countries. The results confirm the strength of international media and reveal the growing technology focus of Europe's elite. More
Over two-thirds (69%) of analysts in the City and Wall Street think the outsourcing of business critical processes can improve a company's share price. Meanwhile 64% think such outsourcing can have a significant impact on a company's profitability. More
According to new studies from Publicis, shoppers in the UK are becoming more demanding and critical. More
Responsible business practice enhances creativity, according to 76% of senior European business leaders surveyed in research published recently by Business in the Community and carried out by NOP Research. More
According to a recently released report by Zenith Optimedia no significant improvement for the advertising industry is expected until 2004. More
England versus Argentina proved to be the most popular match with FIFA World Cup viewers during the week of June 3-9. It succeeded in capturing the largest overall audience so far, placing it within the top five worldwide, according to new Nielsen Media Research data. More
Marks & Spencer appears to be clinging on to market leadership in the European clothing sector, despite the retailer's recent retreat from the continent. At the same time, Sweden's H&M's combination of affordability and fashionability are proving a real threat. These are the key findings of Mintel's new 'Clothing Retail in Europe' report. More
More than 31 million people tuned in to see Senegal's first-round victory over France in the 2002 FIFA World Cup - making it the most-watched match of the opening weekend (May 31) - according to preliminary audience estimates for 17 countries released this week by Nielsen Media Research. More
The World Cup is now well and truly upon us. It has bought a multitude of ads with it, many of which are also officially sponsoring the tournament. But does this major investment in sports sponsorship actually benefit the brand owners themselves? More
New facts are emerging about the greatest threat to our green urban spaces. The finger of blame appears to point not towards local planners, politicians or pollution - but to the general public itself! This is according to a new MORI Social Research Institute survey commissioned by the New Opportunities Fund. More
The majority of Europeans believe that top managers are paid too much, are often not honest, and put their own interests first. Two-thirds also think that top managers' earnings should be legally regulated. These are the main findings of a new GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide survey conducted recently for The Wall Street Journal Europe. More
With the atmosphere hotting up in the fight to achieve top place in the world of football, latest topline findings on the World Cup from Skopos SnapShots show that 54% of UK respondents agree with Roy Keane's being sent home. More
Results of this year's annual ORC 'SnackTrack' study show that the UK impulse market for soft drinks is back in growth - up 4.4 percent in value terms, and 2.4 percent for purchases. Impulse sales are still dominated by colas (Coca Cola), but planned sales are now led by fruit carbonates. More
In 2001 three of the five fastest growing food and beverage categories in the global marketplace were drinks, led by prepared alcoholic beverages, according to a recent study released from ACNielsen. Water and drinkable yogurts also made the top five. Out of more than 90 categories reviewed, only nine grew by 10% or more in 2001. More
New research on the UK snacks market from Mintel, 'Snacking on the go', has been released this week. The new study finds that the value of the sector will reach over £9 billion by the end of 2002, representing an increase of £67 million over 2001. More
More than half (52 per cent) of SMEs (small-to-medium-sized enterprises) with under 50 employees in Great Britain have not informed their employees of the opportunity to invest in a stakeholder pension, according to the findings of a recent study from Taylor Nelson Sofres' (TNS') Business Line. More
Three-quarters (76 percent) of Argentinians believed that they could still win the World Cup, even after their uncertain start to the football championship. This is according to worldwide research from Ipsos, conducted after the recent 1st/2nd round World Cup group matches. More
The British government will investigate alternatives to the UK Census following a new official report criticising the costs of running it. The report indicates that the government had been unable to justify the cost of the 2001 Census, which has exceeded £250m. More
Nielsen Media Research (International) has predicted an overall global ad spend recovery for the second half of 2002. In a study released recently, Nielsen has detailed how spend in the world's 14 key ad markets fell by 5 percent during 2001, with a modest total upturn now due by the end of 2002. More
Elite business students around Europe rank McKinsey & Company and BMW among their list of ideal employers. This is according to this year's findings in the annual Universum European Graduate Survey. More
With the rise of new breed video electronics, are old-fashioned technologies disappearing? Are DVDs killing off VCRs? New TGI data from Spring 2002 helps find the answers. Only one in ten (14 percent) of UK homes owns a DVD player at present, compared to nearly all (90 percent) households owning a VCR. More
Nearly a third of Scots (30 percent) claim to be supporting England, while a similar amount said they would support 'anyone but England'. One in ten (11.8 percent) say they will put their support behind the Republic of Ireland. These are the surprising findings from a new survey conducted by Lightspeed Research (LSR). More
The vast majority of Kashmiris oppose India and Pakistan going to war to find a permanent solution to the situation in Kashmir. This is the main finding of a new MORI poll on the recent escalation of conflict in the region. More
Motorists are beginning to wise up to rising motoring insurance costs, according to new research published this week by Mintel. The latest report on the subject details how consumers are now seeking at least three quotations before renewing their policies. More
Meal times across Europe are becoming more fragmented, with many people dropping their main meals in favour of snacking at work or eating out in restaurants. This is according to analysis in Datamonitor's new report, 'Changing Mealtimes'. More
The battle for the coveted position of Asia's favourite World Cup football player is apparently being fought between GB's Beckham (21 percent) and Brazil's Ronaldo (19 percent). This is according to findings from a new pre-World Cup study of Asia by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
The winds of change sweeping through the world of the Big Five accountants are proving to be beneficial. This is according to new research in the recently released 'Global Tax Monitor' from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
New research from Information Resources (IR) this week shows that most UK biscuit manufacturers enjoyed a slight value growth over the course of 2001. According to Marketing Week, this upturn in value reflects how consumers are increasingly eating premium products. More
Central Europeans attach less importance to the brands of the products they purchase, compared with consumers in Britain, according to the Brand Loyalty Study from Taylor Nelson Sofres published this week. The results coincide with the launch of Omnimas, a TNS omnibus service, in Central Europe. More
The latest CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) Marketing Trends Survey in the UK shows a major upward revision to planned sales growth. At the same time, however, confidence that these plans can be achieved has dropped back close to its lowest ever level. More
A new report on Home Shopping from Mintel's Retail Intelligence argues that retailers are missing out on a big opportunity in home shopping. However, the study finds the European home shopping sector continuing to lose retail share, with the few areas of sector growth failing to offset the slow declining big book mail order sector. More
Latest research from ACNielsen's US Consumer Pre*View service, released during the annual Food Marketing Institute Convention, shows that consumers are planning to cut back on restaurant dining, sentiment towards American made grocery products is declining and ethnic shoppers in the States are embracing healthy eating. More
A new report from Mintel on car retailing highlights widespread consumer scepticism over the UK car retailing market. The latest research finds that although sales of cars are set to outpace population growth, nevertheless the majority of British consumers remain convinced they are being ripped off by high car prices. More
According to new research from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, the global consumer now represents a shopper who demands honesty and respect from retailers and brand manufacturers more than the highest-quality merchandise or the lowest prices. More
The recent decline of the monkey is not the only bad news for Britain's digital TV industry. Overall uptake is believed to have stalled at a third (36%) of all homes receiving digital TV. This is the same percentage as six months ago, according to the latest research from Ipsos-RSL's Digital Audience Research Tracker (DART). More
Part of the problem surrounding the whole issue of consumer loyalty, according to new analysis from Through the Loop, is that all too often marketers are focusing on attracting new customers rather on satisfying their existing customer base. More
Packaged grocery inflation in Australia settled at a fairly benign 3.5 percent in March 2002, down from 5 percent at the end of 2001.This is according to the latest findings from a new ACNielsen study into grocery prices down under. More
Alan Titchmarsh is apparently influencing our gardening purchase decisions in the same way that Delia Smith's take on cooking is steering our food shopping. This is according to new research by Ipsos UK conducted over the key gardening period of Easter. More
While cautious about short-term prospects, key IT decision-makers within the US and UK believe that IT spend will increase in 2002 and for the next few years. More
As if the recent accounting scandal with Andersen/Enron was not damaging enough, this week brings more bad news for the profession. The latest NFO WorldGroup survey of US businesses with outside accounting has found greatly eroded levels of customer satisfaction. More
UK households fall into one of six main types when it comes to retailers' promotions, with many termed 'Low Price Fixture Ferrets', 'Promotion Junkies' or 'Stock Pilers'. This is according to the findings of new retail consulting data released this week by ACNielsen. More
Less than a quarter of NHS employees in the UK feel it is safe for them to challenge the way things are done within their organisation, according to the findings from ORC International's latest benchmarking study. More
Some 50% of women in Britain aged 16 years and above will not go out of their homes without wearing some form of cosmetics, according to recent findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Recent research from InterQuest, the Scandinavian mobile and digital research company, reveals that seven out of ten respondents in the UK, Italy and Germany would recommend others to receive mobile marketing services. More
The fact that consumers feel that retail and service companies have used the introduction of Euro cash currency as a pretext for putting up their prices evidently placed a considerable damper on willingness to buy in the first two months of 2002. This is one of the significant results of a survey on the consumer climate in six EU countries, recently carried out on behalf of the European Commission by GfK. More
New statistics released by NetProfit show an ongoing slowdown in US connectivity, accompanied by a significant rise in the levels for Germany. The latter is leaping rapidly up the worldwide ranks, as can be clearly seen in the researcher's latest quarterly 'Reconnaissance Advantage Index'. More
Sports and sponsorship researcher Sponsorship Information Services (SiS) has announced it is to rebrand as TNSSPORT. This move heralds the company's shift to sports analysis through 'complete' research solutions. More
In response to the Government's recently announced changes to the UK's gambling regulations, ORC International has released findings from its latest GamblerTrack 2001 study. This research shows a significant and ongoing decline in the number of Brits now visiting casinos. More
More than eight out of ten people in France are in favour of blocking mobile phone signals in public places, such as concert halls, according to new research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Arbitron is to begin using its radio diary database to increase the sample size for RADAR network radio audience estimates in the USA. This begins with the release of the RADAR 73 network radio ratings report in June 2002. More
Travelling is set to become more expensive in the near future if new research from Mintel is to be believed. The latest study on the UK's travel insurance market indicates that premiums will rise by about a third by the year 2006. More
RoperASW recently launched the 2002 FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index, a tool for measuring industry and public opinion about more than 450 Fortune 500 companies. More
The GfK Group, in collaboration with the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) in the Netherlands, has put in place plans to undertake an analysis of the present pharmaceutical environment in countries throughout Europe. More
When asked to rank their brands' attributes, marketers gave 'value for money' the highest average ranking in the Chartered Institute of Marketing's (CIM) recent Marketing Trends survey in the UK. More
Over half the UK's viewing public (52%) believe that TV programmes have at least remained as good as in previous years. Half also believe that there is the right amount of regulation on air at present. These are two of the findings from recent Independent Television Commission (ITC) research. More
Employee research specialist, ORC International, has just calculated that its 'Perspectives' benchmarking database - launched back in 1996 - now contains the opinions of nearly 1.1 million UK employees. More
New figures on the Irish high tech economy have been posted from Internet agency Net Profit this week. The analysis shows that 2001 proved a lean period for what once was formerly the high growth sector of ICT (information and communications technology). More
Most predictions of the future for DTV in Europe underestimate the potential size of the market. Or so new Jupiter research indicates. New intelligence from the company suggests that more European households will be watching digital TV than will be using the Internet within 5 years. More
About six in ten adult Canadian Internet users now own a mobile phone, with more than half of them using them as secondary personal phones. This is according to the latest NFO Cfgroup's annual Wireless Telephony study released earlier this week. More
Women may have come a long way in the male-dominated world of football, but watching it remains strictly the province of men. According to new AMI research, this summer's televised FIFA World Cup matches are likely to be enjoyed by an a predominantly male audience, at least across Asian countries. More
Sweden has once again been rated as the world's leading information economy, according to the 2002 IDC/World Times Information Society Index (ISI). More
Britain's wealthiest people are apparently quietly confident about their finances for the year ahead. At the same time, the country's increasing concentration of wealth is unlikely to alter over the coming 12 months. These are among the main findings of a new Mintel report entitled 'Private Banking & Wealth Management'. More
Australia's overall 2001 advertising economy has been depressed by a decline in major category advertising post September 11. This is according to the latest annual advertising expenditure figures released by ACNielsen Media International. More
Consumer confidence in Germany has not improved since the beginning of 2002, with the mood amongst consumers remaining hesitant. These are the essential findings of the latest survey on consumer confidence carried out by GfK on behalf of the EU Commission in January 2002. More
ACNielsen U.S. has released findings from its new Consumer Pre*View service that provide positive news for the domestic consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. More
27% of financial decision-makers in businesses trading for less than a year think the economic condition of the UK will improve over the next twelve months, according to a recent survey by NOP Financial. More
The latest Trends in Television Report covering the fourth quarter of 2001 released this week by the IPA shows that television is on the way out. More
Over 90% of senior executives in the Australian direct mail industry believe that the country's new Privacy Act will impact on their businesses to some extent. This is according to the detailed findings of the first ACNielsen MailTrack survey of Australian direct mail online released this week. More
Over one in four British adults claim to be strongly against participating in the single currency of the Euro. A further one in four are generally opposed but might be persuaded otherwise by good economic reasons. Such are the main conclusions of a new MORI survey conducted earlier this month and published this week. More
American technology professionals are almost evenly split on whether their business will revive itself or not during 2002. Millward Brown's recent IntelliQuest survey of senior purchasers also found, irrespective of their fortunes, that nearly half plan to increase their IT spend this year. More
Almost two thirds of Australians think the world economy is heading for recession. This is the headline finding from a new Asia Pacific online survey on consumer confidence from ACNielsen. More
It will be no surprise that J K Rowling's 'Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone' made No.1 Best Selling Title and Children's Title in Australia in 2001, and that positions 2, 3 and 4 were also dominated by the other three Potter titles, according to BookTrack's Australia's inaugural annual Top 5000 bestseller chart. More
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising in the UK has just released its 2001 Agency Census, perceived as the only definitive survey of marketing and communications companies in the country. More
A new report, 'Buy to Let', from Mintel finds an increasing number of British consumers turning to the buy to let market as an alternative to traditional pensions. More
The IPA report by Howard Unna, published this week in the UK, provides a fascinating insight into DiTV through Unna's experience as one of the first DiTV retailers, responsible for the launch of the first retail shop to start trading on 'Open' almost three years ago. More
Latest figures from Taylor Nelson Sofres Hospitality and Leisure (TNS H&L) show a significant drop in customer service performance across the UK hotel industry in the three months following the September terrorist attacks in America. More
The 4Q 2001 Bellwether Report, the quarterly survey of client spending intentions recently published by NTC Research on behalf of the IPA, shows a further easing in the rate of economic growth. There were further downward revisions to fourth quarter 2001 budgets and the weakest rise in budget setting in the survey's two-year history. (for US ad spending figures, see yesterday's DRNO). More
Organisations that depend on telephone for their business are alienating thousands of customers every day, according to a recent survey from NOP World. More
According to a new full year forecast released by CMR, ad spending in the USA is expected to rise 1.5% in 2002, up to $96.1 billion from an estimated $94.6 billion in 2001. More
ACNielsen U.S has found the University of Michigan's respected Consumer Sentiment Index to be a good predictor of future changes in consumer purchasing of food, health and beauty aids, and non-food consumer packaged goods (CPG). More
According to latest research from Strategy Analytics, the UK has stormed ahead in Europe's transition to digital television. Over a third (37%) of UK households had digital TV at the end of last year, compared to a European average of 16.3%. By contrast, only 8.2% of German households could watch digital TV, leaving question marks over the future of the technology in Europe's largest market. More
According to the latest MORI annual Captains of Industry survey, belief in the value of the Euro to Britain has risen again following a decline over the previous three years. By around 3:2, Britain's business leaders support rather than oppose Britain joining. More
According to recent research conducted by The Business Advantage Group, three out of ten UK CAD/CAM sites are currently outsourcing some part of the product design and development process. More
Around two hundred post offices UK wide will have been visited, anonymously, by a researcher from MORI this Christmas as part of the Postwatch nationwide research survey. This is to gauge the level of service customers received when posting their presents via Royal Mail and Parcelforce. More
According to a recent Yankee Group report, 'TV Portals: Opening the Door to Interactive Television', interactive TV interface offering local content will reduce digital churn and facilitate the launch of future ITV applications. More
European private investors appreciate continuity with regard to their investment strategy. However, this contradicts to a certain extent what they do or plan to do. These are the major findings from a survey carried out by GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide in cooperation with the Wall Street Journal Europe. More
Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) players have become the UK's fastest growing consumer entertainment product ever. The player has sold almost three million in its first three years, according to a Warner Home Video report published earlier this week. More
Book sales down under have rocketed in the lead up to Christmas. The buying rush has meant that the value of book sales has risen by 23% compared to the corresponding week in 2000. These are the latest figures to be revealed from ACNielsen BookTrack this week. More
Surgeons fear they are letting patients down, with two thirds of consultants now saying that new money has not reached their hospital unit. These are the key findings of a British Medical Association (BMA) survey on the current state of the NHS reported by the BBC. More
New retail research from Mintel shows that almost a third of British consumers are willing to spend more on all their Christmas needs this year than last. British men are the most optimistic for Christmas 2001, with some 35% planning to spend more this season. By contrast, women are proving thriftier, with only 29% planning to spend more. More
Nearly all (96%) of global enterprises suffer from information frustration. This is the headline finding of a new Kalido Ltd survey entitled 'Information Disconnect - The Weakest Link'. In addition, nearly 70% think that their current information systems deliver inconsistent reporting, and that it takes too long to collate information. More
A key survey of business confidence in Japan has found that companies remain extremely pessimistic about their future prospects. The latest Bank of Japan quarterly 'Tankan' survey, as reported by the BBC, shows that business confidence has dropped to a 3-year low over the last three months. More
Pro Active International has recently launched its new consultancy branch - Pro Active Consultancy - and appointed Jeroen Rietberg as Director. More
One in five UK CAD/CAM users who have not yet used web-based training would consider doing so in future, according to recent research conducted by The Business Advantage Group Plc. Meanwhile, a quarter might consider web-based training in future and nearly three fifths said that they would not be interested in future. More
Just over half of today's 7 to 16 year olds in the UK are proud owners of the ultimate 'must have' accessory, the mobile phone. In consequence, handset upgrades are becoming ever more common. This is the main finding of a new survey from NOP World. More
WPP has recently acquired full control of Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc., (PS&B), a US strategic research and polling consultancy headquartered in Washington DC. More
At this week's Online Information 2001 conference in London, Outsell, Inc announced the release of a landmark multi-client study summarising the information needs, habits, and preferences of 500 European sales and marketing professionals across 10 industries in the UK, France, and Germany. More
Britain's industrial sector has recorded its worst annual output in October since the country's last economic recession a decade ago. This is according to the latest official industrial production data from the National Statistics office. More
Only 8% of CAD/CAM users in the UK currently have access to broadband, and only 8% of the rest definitely plan to switch to a broadband connection in the future. These are the key findings from new IT research conducted by The Business Advantage Group Plc. More
Over a third of the GB population believe that medical developments have had the greatest impact of all on people's lives over the last 50 years. At the same time, only 7% want to see the greatest future advances within the field of pregnancy and birth. Such are the main results of a new MORI poll conducted on behalf of Action Research. More
The IPA has commissioned Howard Unna, e-business advisor and former Head of e-Commerce for Woolworths, to write a report on the status and future development of digital television (DiTV) in the UK. More
Asians rank air conditioners as the number one household white goods product they intend to buy in the next twelve months. This is according to the latest household products research from AMI's regional omnibus survey AsiaBUS conducted across 14 key markets in the Asia Pacific region. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) has announced the appointment of two new managing directors this week. Sam van der Feltz has been nominated as the company's MD of Northern and Central Europe operations. At the same time, Nigel Foote has been confirmed as MD for TNS Tellex, the broadcast monitoring section of TNS. More
Corporate sponsorship in mass-market entertainment has always been a controversial subject. However, Americans do not seem to mind the link, as in the case of the current Harry Potter film tie-in with Coca-Cola. Such is the conclusion of the latest Harris Interactive Sportainment poll in the US. More
A new survey from the German retailers' association HDE predicts that online turnover in Germany will have doubled this year from the levels achieved in 2000. However, the year 2001 will be the last year to witness a treble digit growth rate according to the report. More
Susan D. Whiting has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Nielsen Media Research, the US television ratings company, effective from the beginning of next year. She had been President and Chief Operating Officer since May of this year and first joined the company in the late 1970s. More
Recent analysis of 1,200 brands on Millward Brown's BrandDynamics(TM) and BRANDZ database, as reported in the recent e-Perspectives newsletter, refutes the commonly held belief that brands follow an inevitable life cycle. More
The fastest-growing, top 10 UK grocery brands today are Muller and Flora, both enjoying year-on-year sales growth of a fifth. Checkout magazine's new ranking also reveals a grocery market of intensifying competition, with 61 brands all gaining annual sales. More
More than a third (38%) of SMEs (small to medium enterprises) in Britain believe that the UK economy is currently experiencing a "slow down" rather than a recession, according to the findings of a recent survey from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
An estimated 3.4 million people in Britain change their mobile phone ring tone at least once every month. Some 1.2 million also have ring tones that they have composed themselves. This is according to a recent survey researched by e-MORI on behalf of Lycos.co.uk, the new mobile channel. More
Brits overwhelmingly believe that UK companies should show a high degree of responsibility to the public in difficult economic times. This is the headline finding from MORI's latest survey on Corporate Social Responsibility. More
The total number of US work minutes spent using the top three brands of instant-messaging applications has increased 110% over the last year. New Jupiter Media Metrix research released last week shows that the level of use rose from 2.3 billion minutes in September 2000 to 4.9 billion a year on. More
ACNielsen Media has recently been awarded a new two year contract to supply Discovery Networks Asia with cable and satellite ratings data across five of the network's Asia Pacific markets. More
In-store traffic research for October has just been released by Solution Products Systems (SPS), presented in the form of Retail Traffic Index data. The latest figures, based on activity in over 1,000 UK stores, indicate that the slower first half of the month might have been no more than a blip in consumer confidence overall. More
Thomson Intermedia has revealed the findings of its detailed investigation into the marketing and advertising strategies of the key players currently targeting the "Affluent Grey" market in the UK. More
The latest Trends in Television Report covering the third quarter of 2001 shows that non-terrestrial channels in the UK now hold over 20% share of television viewing for the first time. More
In a major survey of the prospects for retailing in Europe, Mintel's Retail Intelligence argues that Europe is on the brink of a cyclical downturn, but that, even in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks, most countries will escape a full blown recession. More
E-learning is taking root in organisations of all sizes, and so far, the people responsible for its implementation are pleased with the results. These are the two main findings from a new joint study of the e-learning industry conducted by Online Learning Magazine and technology researcher the International Data Corporation (IDC). More
NFO World Group has announced the North American launch of its relationship management software TRI*M. The recently updated system processes stakeholder relationship data to create simple customer information, useful in preventing customer "leakage" and securing good returns from company customer satisfaction programmes. More
ACNielsen U.S. and ACNielsen Canada have decided to combine their separate retail tracking services. SCANTRACK North America will now represent the combined system of ACNielsen's SCANTRACK in the United States and MarketTrack in Canada. More
The CBI has renewed pressure for a half-point cut in interest rates after publishing a survey showing the US terrorist attacks further eroding UK business confidence. The survey of almost 250 top executives, carried out by MORI, paints the most comprehensive picture yet of the impact that September 11 had on British firms and will have in future. More
Latest BookTrack figures show that Australian sales of Peter Carey's "True History of the Kelly Gang" have gone through the roof since the book won the world-renowned Booker Prize, reporting five times as many sales as before the prize was announced. More
According to a new study from ACNielsen, only 43 consumer product brands ring up annual sales of more than US$1 billion each and so can be considered truly global. More
Research carried out this month by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission indicates that consumer confidence is still falling. The October Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB), which measures the public's confidence in the UK's economic climate, shows confidence dropping by 4 points to register a score of -5, the lowest score since the fuel crisis last autumn. More
A new report "Sub Prime Lending" from Mintel finds just one in nine adults experiencing problems obtaining credit. More
New media research from ACNielsen has revealed the extent of ad revenue decline amongst Britain's national newspapers. The latest figures show that spend has probably fallen by 10% (some £21 million) year on year. Worst hit has been The Financial Times, with an alleged slip of around 40% in ad income. More
The number of women in senior management in Britain's ad industry has dropped considerably in recent years, according to the 2000 agency census from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). More
The recent American Magazine Conference has painted a largely gloomy picture of the short-term outlook for US media advertising. Covering the range of printed titles, the speakers were particularly concerned for the health of American magazine publishers. More
A new Accenture/Cranfield report entitled "Value through Strategic Planning and Budgets" has just been released, showing that corporations are moving away from the tradition of setting themselves annual budgets. This is in order to reduce their overall costs, improve forecasting and to better manage investor expectations. More
A new Accenture/Cranfield report entitled "Value through Strategic Planning and Budgets" has just been released, showing that corporations are moving away from the tradition of setting themselves annual budgets. This is in order to reduce their overall costs, improve forecasting and to better manage investor expectations. More
Asia Market Intelligence (AMI) has recently unveiled results from its regional Asian omnibus study AsiaBUS. The latest findings have highlighted that a large majority of Asians are distinctly in favour of the city of Beijing acting as host to the forthcoming 2008 Olympic Games. More
Only a small minority (5%) of the UK's mechanical engineering CAD/CAM users view data exchange as problematic. At the same time, half of them view it as no problem at all whilst the balance view exchange as only a relatively minor problem. This is according to recent Business Advantage Group research. More
Sales of packaged groceries in Australia increased over the last month, in the wake of the September terrorist attacks on the US and the collapse of Ansett, according to ACNielsen's latest Scantrack retail measurement information. More
The worldwide cruise industry is already battening down the hatches in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the USA. Ships are being redeployed and itineraries changed as many Americans react by cancelling their travel plans. As a new report on the World Cruise Market from Mintel's Travel & Tourism Intelligence underlines, the industry has never been more vulnerable to a downturn in business. More
Just over four fifths of the share-owning population believe investing in the stock market represents a good long-term investment. This is the headline finding from the recently released 2001 British Share Ownership Survey, conducted for the London Stock Exchange and ProShare by MORI and the World Investor Link. More
The Advertising Association has recently released its 2000 edition of the Long Term Advertising Expenditure Forecast. The research predicts that overall advertising expenditure could grow by more than 40% over the next 12 years. More
A new report on Food Retailing in the UK from Mintel finds just 15% of shoppers loyal to their main grocery shop. More
The most recent wave of BMRB's Digital Viewers Survey shows that almost half of all digital viewers have interacted with a programme via digital TV. Interactive programming has most appeal for viewers under 35. There is, not surprisingly, quite a steep decline in usage and interest amongst older respondents. More
The UK online ad industry has become the fastest growing advertising medium ever, according to new research from the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC). The UK sector has also been found to be accelerating at a faster rate than its European counterparts. More
Customer dissatisfaction with ITV Digital is thought to have reached new proportions. This is according to a recent BMRB survey of Britain's 8.5 million digital TV homes. The findings reveal that nearly one fifth of respondents are actually disappointed with their service. More
Key Account Data (the release of data by individual retailers) has brought about a recent and major transformation within the world of retail market research. However, a recent paper from ACNielsen in the UK shows that researchers are only now really beginning to tap into this data's true potential. More
The European manufacturing sector is now thought to be firmly in economic recession. This is according to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September as measured by Reuters, September 2001, and reported by NTC Research. More
In a bid to revolutionise the delivery of data, ActiveGroup, a leader in delivering streaming media solutions for marketing research, is partnering with AcuPOLL(r) Research, Inc. More
Motor insurance customers in Germany are becoming increasingly sensitive to prices and other services offered by the insurance companies according to a new survey from GfK. More
Latest research from Mintel forecasts poor take-up for stakeholder pensions which were launched by the Government to ensure lower-paid employees have the opportunity to build up a low-cost pension plan for themselves. "Marketing to the Unpensionables" finds that just 5% of UK adults are considering a stakeholder pension. More
Source Interlink, the leading provider of magazine information and sales data in North America, has entered into an exclusive five year marketing agreement with ACNielsen. Under the terms of the agreement, ACNielsen will provide Source Interlink with weekly, scan-based magazine sales data from more than 200 of the nation's major retail chains representing over 25,000 stores. More
Lack of time is the most commonly identified major factor hampering improvements to the design process. This is the principal finding of recent research conducted by The Business Advantage Group Plc, with a third of mechanical engineering sites considering it a major problem. More
Now accounting for one in eight Americans, Hispanics will make up an increasingly large proportion of the American population as the 21st century progresses. According to The U.S. Hispanic Market, a new market research report published by Packaged Facts, the Hispanic population grew more than four times as fast as the US population as a whole between 1990 and 2000. More
CC&C Marketing Research Ltd has formed a partnership with food business publishers Alfa-Mega to originate and publish a series of consumer trends surveys on issues of importance to the foodservice, ready meals and convenience meals industries. More
Almost three quarters (74%) of SMEs in England and Wales feel that their economic contribution is undervalued by the government, according to the findings of a new survey from Taylor Nelson Sofres. More
The latest edition of MORI's Corporate Image survey suggests public hostility towards profitability is waning and that two decades of animosity towards business success may be coming to an end. More
According to a new report from benchmarking consultancy Best Practices, leading pharmaceutical marketing executives monitor customer data and constantly refine a product's marketing strategy to effectively market to consumers. Companies that fail to track customers' input are missing a crucial opportunity to adjust their marketing initiatives. More
The UK - allegedly a nation of dog lovers - is needlessly killing nearly 15,000 healthy dogs a year, a survey by NCDL / MORI can reveal. The shocking figures show that 13% of the nation's 113,500 stray dogs are being killed just because their owners cannot be traced or a new owner found. The NCDL, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, believes that no healthy dog should be put to sleep and is urging all dog owners to help them stop this senseless destruction. More
Many large firms will develop a private hub to consolidate cross-company procurement and optimise their relationships with preferred suppliers. This is according to a new report entitled 'Save Big With A Private Hub' recently released from Forrester Research. More
Woodcrest Capital has released a new research report on U.S. based Spanish language television. This report is believed to be one of the first of its kind and is designed to direct attention to this rapidly growing broadcast space, representing the first in a series that will be distributed quarterly. More
The European network operators' view of MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) is apparently shortsighted and reactive, according to the 'Turning MVNO Pain Into Gain' report by Forrester Research. More
Americans view their money in highly distinct ways according to the findings of a new US Gallup telephone survey. Nearly half (45%) say they enjoy spending money, with 48% also claiming they prefer saving. Surprisingly 44% of men stated they enjoyed shopping, matching the 45% of women of happy spenders. More
MORI and the British House Trust completed a survey into attitudes towards housing this summer. When asked about which material would give the quietest type of house, 73% stated that concrete block would do the trick. Similarly, when asked which structure has the longest life, 71% were in favour of concrete, and for best resell price, 69% also opted for concrete. More
According to the recently released Summer 2001 Marketing Trends Survey (MTS) from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the marketing profession is facing a great deal of uncertainty. As a consequence, marketers have little confidence and have generally set very cautious company sales targets. More
While the UK advertising industry is facing probably the worst market conditions for years, the Irish market is thought to have remained buoyant. Marketing Week has recently published a review of advertising and print media in the Republic, making for interesting reading. More
Coca-Cola is still the UK's biggest consumer brand, but Britons are developing a taste for health foods and Australian wine. This is the headline conclusion of the annual survey of the UK's top fifty brands conducted by ACNielsen and Marketing magazine. More
New research has found that 37% of UK ISP users believe connection speed/access is the most important factor influencing their levels of satisfaction. This is according to the findings of the "2001 U.K. Residential Internet Service Provider (ISP) Customer Satisfaction Study." More
Half the Irish public believe that their Government should help fund contraceptive and family planning advice. The same level also agree with the provision of sex education in schools. More
Gambling, advertising and the wide range of programming available are thought to be the most popular aspects of the UK's interactive TV system (iTV) at present. This is according to Netpoll's new Hands On TV study into users' attitudes towards the new medium. More
More than 7.7 million instant messaging (IM) users are currently believed to be active across Asia, according to new research released from NetValue. Within this total, the IM level is thought to be the highest in Hong Kong. More
A recent survey conducted by MORI and Vox Pops International has found that reality TV is playing a major part in young people's lives. Indeed, three in five (61%) 15 to 24 year olds in the UK agree that these programmes help to teach them about the ways in which people interact with each other. More
Direct mail in the UK continues to rise despite recent signs of a general advertising slowdown. This is according to new research recently released from the Direct Mail Information Service (DMIS). More
The manufacturing economy within Europe is believed to be contracting at its fastest rate since December 1998, when the sector was hit by the global financial crisis. This is according to the newly-released Reuter's Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of July. More
Despite recent praise from tourism minister Kim Howells, Berlin is still at the bottom of the popularity stakes for British tourists. A survey of over 7,000 people by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), via its national Postal Panel, shows that only 1.6% had visited Berlin in the last five years. More
Mintel has just released new research on the bubbling energy and stimulant drinks market. According to the latest analysis, UK sales have more than trebled (366%) in the four years up to 2000. So significant is the growth in fact, that the £615 million market is now outpacing that of the dominant cola category. More
Miami-based SIL Group USA has launched a new division called "Grupo Hispano", headed up by veteran Hispanic researcher Donna Russell Arguedas as Director. More
New research from UK research company Dynamic Logic and interactive agency eBrands shows that Internet advertising builds brands without the support of offline advertising. More
planning,demographics,pensions,Retirement Planning Monitor,60017 More
Register (free) for Daily Research News
REGISTER FOR NEWS EMAILS
To receive (free) news headlines by email, please register online
