In the post recesssion era, where financial services providers are doing their best to retain current clients while seeking lucrative potential clients, Healthy 50+ Consumers have become a top priortiy.

New Research Study: Healthy 50+ Americans: Trends and Opportunities in the Emerging Wellness Market In the post recesssion era, where financial services providers are doing their best to retain current clients while seeking lucrative potential clients, Healthy 50+ Consumers have become a top priortiy. As a result of their level of educational achievement and higher professional and managerial employment rate, Healthy 50+ Consumers have higher incomes. And when compared to their peers in the same age group, Healthy 50+ Consumers are more likely to have a household income of $100,000 or more. Financial providers will benefit from the analysis and insight inside this brand-new research study. In addition to taking advantage of the latest trends and opportunities in the Healthy 50+ cohort, you will: Uncover the financial management habits and attitudes of Healthy 50+ Americans, including their perceptions on financial security, economic outlook and their preferences for credit cards, life insurance, stock trading and tax preparation. Craft business plans with our aggregate household income forecast through 2015. Understand the attitudes of Healthy 50+ Americans regarding education, eating habits, core values and leisure and entertainment choices. Gain insight into the economic profile of Healthy 50+ Americans and why this cohort will be your best bet for expansion in the five years ahead. More information: Price/Info   |   Table of Contents   |   Place an Order

As boomers turn 50 and enter their 60s, they are carrying with them a firm belief that getting older means getting better and they are making health and wellness a top priority.

New Research Study: Healthy 50+ Americans: Trends and Opportunities in the Emerging Wellness Market As boomers turn 50 and enter their 60s, they are carrying with them a firm belief that getting older means getting better and they are making health and wellness a top priority. Today, large food companies are exercising strategic focus on boomers by introducing foods that enhance their health and vitality. Beverage companies are following suit with new juice and dairy- and yogurt-type drinks that enhance immune function. Why such focus on this cohort? Besides the growing population size and large bank accounts, Packaged Facts' exclusive survey data reveals that healthy consumers 50+ are far more likely to reach into their wallets to pay extra for "better-for you" grocery products when compared to their peers in the same age group. Food and beverage marketers will benefit from the analyzes and insight inside this brand-new research study. In addition to taking advantage of the latest trends and opportunities in the emerging wellness market you will: Uncover the eating habits and attitudes of healthy 50+ Americans toward calorie counts, food and beverage choices, and managing nutrition. Learn what this cohort is doing to stay healthy, hint: they prefer alternative and homeopathic medicine. Craft business plans with our buying power forecast through 2015. Understand the healthy 50+ American with our detailed analysis including education, finances, core values and leisure and entertainment choices. Discover how this demographic will have the biggest impact on your bottom line in the five years ahead. More information: Price/Info   |   Table of Contents   |   Place an Order

60 Is The New 50! Health and Wellness #1 Priority for Americans 50+

60 Is The New 50! Health and Wellness #1  Priority for Americans 50+

The saying 'age is nothing but a number' is more true today than ever, especially among the Baby Boomer generation.  As boomers turn 50 and enter their 60s, they are carrying with them a firm belief that getting older means getting better. Many look at aging simply as another life stage filled with opportunities for reinventing themselves and experiencing new possibilities for personal growth, rather than as a signal to wind down their lives.

Changes in thinking about what it means to get old have occurred alongside a rising commitment by consumers of all ages to improve their health and pursue wellness . A February 2011 Online Consumer Survey compiled by market research firm Packaged Facts confirms the ongoing shifts in perceptions of aging on the part of 50+ consumers. Nearly 68% of 50+ consumers who are concerned with wellness have stretched their definitions of aging stating “60 is the new 50 and 70 is the new 60,”, compared to 58% of the 50+ age group as a whole.

Those pursuing wellness after 50 place a high monetary value on their personal health. They are much more likely than others their age to be willing to pay anything when it concerns their health. For marketers, this is a key element to future business initiative. According to Packaged Facts' study, Healthy 50+ Americans, healthy baby boomers are part of a major demographic trend. Between 2010 and 2015 the population of the 50+ age group as a whole is expected to grow by 11.3%, while the number of Americans younger than 50 will increase by only 2%. Translation: The 50+ age segment will account for the vast majority (73%) of population growth in the next five years.

Wellness concerns have the greatest impact on food choices of 50+ Consumers. According to Packaged Facts' survey data , more than 77% of consumers 50 and over  who claim that their daily routine is significantly affected by wellness goals  also agree that the foods they eat are determined in part by these same goals. Compared to other consumers, healthy 50+ consumers are far more likely to try to eat healthier foods (80% vs. 66%) and to limit their snacking to healthy foods. For 64% of 50+consumers living in the wellness zone the nutritional value of the food they eat is most important, compared to only 49% of other 50+ consumers.

Download White Paper: 2011 Consumer Insights and Trends: Packaged Facts Forecasts the Product and Social Trends That Will Make Their Mark in 2011

The ball dropping in Times Square, resolutions, diets . . . all these are familiar signifiers of a new year. So, too, are prediction lists: what’s going to be hot, what’s not.

We at Packaged Facts have some experience gazing into a crystal ball and divining trends for the consumer marketplace (publishing market research studies on consumer goods and services for more than 50 years can come in handy . . .).

This month we gathered our market experts and asked them for their predictions regarding the product and social trends that will make their mark in 2011. Download our free whitepaper to hear Packaged Facts' analysts insights and predictions on:

    * Retailing Trends
    * Pet Market
    * Apparel Industry
    * Consumer Hobbies
    * Personal Care Products
    * The Use of Social Media
    * Food and Beverage Market
    * Baby Boomer Attitude and Behavior Shifts


Download:
http://www.packagedfacts.com/catalog/search.asp?query=white+paper

Economically Potent and Increasingly Acculturated Latino Consumers Spend More, Display Strong Financial Optimism

New York, December 21, 2010 — The United States population of Hispanic consumers wields a formidable combination of fiscal optimism and buying power in excess of $1 trillion, making progressively more acculturated Latinos a demographic capable of shaping the nation’s future economic and marketing trajectory, according to Latino Shoppers: Demographic Patterns and Spending Trends among Hispanic Americans, 8th Edition by market research publisher Packaged Facts. Hispanic buying power is projected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2015, a cumulative increase of around 25%.

"Although suffering their full share of job losses and foreclosures, Hispanic consumers are more optimistic than non–Hispanic white consumers about their own personal financial situation and about the future of the American economy," says Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. "Between 2008 and 2009 above–average growth in the Hispanic population caused aggregate spending by Latino households to increase slightly even as spending declined in non–Hispanic households. Considering that one in six Americans are now of Hispanic heritage, Latino consumers will remain influential over the ensuing years, especially because there are a significant number of high–income Latino households."

Marketers must be aware of how increasing acculturation will affect the decisions of Latino shopping behaviors. Compared to their low–acculturation counterparts, high–acculturation Latinos are much more likely to own credit cards, take out loans and have health and life insurance, according to the report.  They are also less influenced by advertising and product placements but are much more alert to in–store promotions. Additionally, they are far more likely to shop and buy online and from catalogs. Packaged Facts further reveals that more education leads to better paying jobs and increasing influence among high–acculturation Latinos, who are more likely than their low–acculturation counterparts to work as managers and professionals, are more likely to own their own homes, and are twice as likely to have a household income of $75,000 or more.

Although advertising campaigns have increasingly featured Hispanics and Hispanic themes, marketers targeting Hispanic consumers must recognize substantial regional differences in the composition of the Hispanic population. For instance, Latinos living in  western and southwestern states tend to be of Mexican heritage, while Latinos in the Northeast have a much more varied country–of–origin background. With an estimated buying power of $616 billion, Latinos of Mexican heritage represent the single most influential segment of the Hispanic market. Mexicans in the U.S. account for 59% of all Hispanic buying power. On a per capita basis, however, Cubans are the most affluent of the major Hispanic population segments.

Latino Shoppers: Demographic Patterns and Spending Trends among Hispanic Americans, 8th Edition provides an in–depth look at the shopping habits and spending patterns of Hispanic consumers today. It also provides a glimpse into Latino shoppers of the future. As more acculturated Latinos become an ever–larger share of the population, marketers may need to address the potential for a significant change in the profile of the Latino consumer. This Packaged Facts report provides important insights into the way acculturation may affect the shopping behavior and buying decisions of Latinos in the years to come. For further information, please visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Latino-Shoppers-Demographic-2848314/.

About Packaged Facts—Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics, pet products and services, and financial products. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit: www.packagedfacts.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Energy Drinks and the New Food-Supplement Continuum

Written by David Sprinkle for Natural Product Insider

Energy drinks and energy shots have been one of most remarkable success stories in the mass-market for foods and beverages. According to SymphonyIRI data presented by Packaged Facts at the 2010 SupplySide West conference in Las Vegas, Red Bull posted $45 million in dollar sales gains through supermarkets, drugstores and mass-merchandisers for the 52-week period ending October 2010, even with the exclusion of Wal-Mart, as well as convenience stores. Although sales growth has leveled off from an average 31-percent annual rate throughout the middle of the decade, Red Bull dollar sales were up 12 percent for the most recent period. Even that relative tapering off in growth is partly attributable to thunder-stealing by Living Essential’s 5-Hour energy shots, which are posting 58-percent annual growth through these outlets.

Table 1: Selected Leading Dollar Sales Gainers by SymphonyIRI Tracking in Food, Drug and Mass Outlets (52 Weeks Ending Oct. 3, 2010)
Brand Line	$ Sales	% Chg	$ Gains
Chobani Yogurt(Greek-style)	$196M	246%	$140M
Red Bull Energy Drink	410	12	45
Fage Total Yogurt (Greek-style)	123	57	45
5-Hour Energy Shot	118	57	43
Dannon Activia Yogurt	251	20	41
Nature’s Bounty Mineral Supplements	233	20	38

Energy drinks and energy shots serve as a wake-up call to the rest of the beverage market. Major marketers and megabrand managers certainly took notice of the sales success, as evidenced by new product introductions, such as AriZona Energy drink, Crystal Light Energy drink mix (“caffeine and energy releasing B vitamins to help you feel energized”), Minute Maid Natural Energy Strawberry Kiwi with Yerba Maté (“a delicious juice drink providing a natural energy lift”), and Snapple’s Elements Energy Drinks or AriZona's new Fast Shots (A.M. Awake, Rx Energy). Food manufacturers also learned the energy lesson, as evidenced by new products, such as General Mills’ Fuel Wheaties, which aims to boost an athlete’s energy, endurance and performance.

Part of the marketer enthusiasm for energy drinks and energy shots stems from the fact that these new products, like formerly newfangled sports/activity drinks, invert the usual age pattern for dietary and nutritional supplementation. Use of nutritional supplements overall, as indicated by the Experian Simmons Spring 2010 national consumer survey, rises from 36 percent of Gen Y-ers to 76 percent of senior citizens. Consumption of Red Bull energy drinks, in contrast, falls from 19 percent among Gen Y adults to 3 percent among Boomers and virtually nil among seniors. Use of 5-Hour energy shots, similarly, takes a plunge after a usage peak of 7 percent (twice the average) among Gen Y adults.

Table 2: Use of Red Bull Energy Drink by Adult Generational Cohort
Age Cohort	Percent
Adults Overall	7.3%
Gen Y (18-29)	18.9
Gen X (30-44)	9.5
Boomers (45-64)	3.2
Seniors (65+)	n/a
Source: Compiled by Packaged Facts based on Experian Simmons Spring 2010 National Consumer Survey.

Energy drinks and energy shots are also important for underscoring that consumer priorities in dietary and nutritional supplementation are not necessarily, and for younger consumers, not even primarily, about health concerns. A Packaged Facts online consumer survey in 2009 asked U.S. adults whether they had purchased food or beverage products within the prior 12 months specifically because of nutritional benefits in relation to health conditions or concerns. This survey showed 71 percent of adults purchased food or beverage products for this reason, with energy levels (24 percent) and appearance/beauty (23 percent) edging out such medical concerns, such as digestive health (22 percent), cholesterol, obesity/weight management and immunity as the top triggers for such purchases (Packaged Facts, Functional Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 2009). A follow-up survey in 2010 showed 10 percent of U.S. adults strongly agree they “frequently” choose foods and beverages because they are naturally rich in specific nutrients, and 32 percent somewhat agree.

That almost three-fourths of adults make at least trial purchase of food or beverage products for functional reasons testifies to the blurring of the food and supplement markets. Historically, food was natural. Whether from farm or sea, food was associated with nature’s bounty—or, too often, the lack thereof. Even turning agricultural crops into bread, cheese or wine relied on basic natural and physical processes, such that these traditional foodstuffs did not seem, conceptually speaking, to fall very far from the tree.

In the modern era of American supermarkets, that paradigm faded. Nationally branded packaged food “products” claimed the spotlight, and the reliability, abundance, variety and heavily marketed innovation of branded products tended to relegate farm foods to second-class status. Moreover, both the focus on branded food products and the distinctively modern luxury of choosing from among too many foods along supermarket aisles helped pave the way for consumer adoption of nutritional supplements. If food manufacturers tossed extra vitamins and minerals into their processed foods, why not toss multivitamins into your shopping cart? If food product choices hinged in part on the presence of desirable nutrients, why not cut to the chase and buy those nutrients in isolated form?

Most recently, nature’s bounty has made a comeback in the form of whole foods and consumer demand for natural/organic, seasonal, fresh, local and sustainable food options. At the same time, nutritional supplements have kept their place at the table, such that Packaged Facts projects retail sales of supplements to average 7-percent annual growth from $9.4 billion in 2009 to $13.2 billion in 2014.

What is notable here is the mildness of our awareness of contradiction (reservations within the medical community notwithstanding). Without stirring up much sense of incongruity, ultra-traditional Greek yogurts and high-tech Activia fly off the shelves together. Without much tripping of consumer wires, Whole Foods Market is a leading retailer of nutritional supplements, Nature’s Bounty is a leading supplement brand, and supplement manufacturers are busily adopting food marketing product claims, such as gluten-free, vegetarian and even single-serve.

Table 3: High Growth Nutritional Supplement Package Tags/Claims, 2005 vs. 2009
Package Tag/Claims	Increase
No Gluten	56%
Vegan	41
Vegetarian	34
Natural	32
No Dairy	26
No Sugar	24
Single Serving	23

A continuum has emerged in the food and beverage market from whole foods and superfoods to fortified/functional foods and supplements. In response to myriad dietary and nutritional concerns, American consumers have characteristically chosen an “all of the above” approach. This new continuum has brought superfoods, along with fortified/functional foods and beverages, to the sweet spot of new product development, such that these center-of-continuum products will continue to account for disproportionate share of the best-selling, most profitable entries in the market.

Because of amped-up competition and the proliferation of hybrid products along this food-to-supplement continuum, marketers of nutritionally positioned foods and beverages face multiple challenges. One is to create products that combine key nutrients and benefits/functions in ways that make instant, intuitive sense to busy consumers. Another is to create products that are tasty and wholesome enough to compete with nature’s bounty. Superfood products have an advantage here, as evidenced by the success of Greek-style yogurt. Another challenge is creating products that are convenient and portable enough to compete with pills. Functional/fortified foods and beverages have an advantage here, as evidenced by the success of 5-Hour energy shots. Navigating this continuum effectively will help turn consumer trial of your product into wake-up-and-smell-the-energy retail success.

David Sprinkle is research director for Packaged Facts (PackagedFacts.com), Rockville, MD, and co-publisher of Culinary Trend Mapping Reports, a joint publication with the Center for Culinary Development (CCDSF.com), San Francisco.

The U.S. Moms Market 2010, 3rd Edition

A new market research study takes a look at the changing demographics in the mom's market and details who is and will become a Mom in the near and distant future.

The report is divided into two parts: The Market Fundamentals and The Market Opportunities.

The Fundamentals

Within the fundamentals you will understand the facts about Moms and children. You will also get to know Mom better by looking at the different ‘stages’ she goes through as a mother of children at varying ages. Additionally, you will step inside her mind to understand not how she is using her cell phone or how much time she spends on the internet, but what she worries about and/or what motivates her.

The Opportunities

The second part of the report takes macro trends and applies them to the Mom Market and explores the resulting micro trends. Highlighting the most influential shifts in the U.S.: Finances, Ethnicity, Eco-Awareness and Technology, the report is filled with specific insights, implications and examples of opportunities for brands.

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Each chapter includes insights and implications so that once you put the report down you will have ideas, plans and actions in mind. Highlights include a look at brand attribute importance by Moms vs. females overall and by Moms across different ethnic groups.
Additionally, commentary on new products in the market coming directly from Moms is included for understanding and distillation.

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Millennials in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities Surrounding Gen-Y Adults

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Millenials in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities Surrounding Gen-Y Adults

The 51 million adult members of the Millennial Generation (also known as Gen-Y) have been hit harder than any other age group by the recession. Millennials have the highest unemployment rate of all age groups, while those with jobs are most likely to have been asked at some point during the recession to work fewer hours, switch to part-time employment or agree to have their pay cut.

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Yet, paradoxically, survey data show that Millennials are less likely than any other age segment to have cut spending during the recession, and they are more optimistic than other American consumers about the future of the American economy.

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Rewards Cards in the U.S., 3rd Edition

2010 brings a perfect storm to the credit card industry, driven by recession-induced changes that are reshaping its core. At the same time, card rewards have become ubiquitous. In the face of some of the most significant changes the credit card industry has ever faced, some argue that rewards programs are simply no longer feasible in an era of constrained revenue and profits. However, as detailed in Packaged Facts’ Rewards Cards in the U.S., it is not a matter of eliminating reward programs, but rather about adapting them to some of the most significant changes the credit card industry has ever faced.
In its most consultative report in the series, this 3rd edition of Rewards Cards in the U.S. helps position industry participants to navigate this reengineering in card rewards by assessing the following industry trends and challenges:

• How does continued migration to electronic payments shape the future of rewards?
• Which regulatory changes are most relevant to rewards?
• Understanding the macroeconomic and credit factors that shape the pool of current and future credit card customers.
• How large is this pool of customers? 
• Does the current credit environment effect migration from credit to debit? Why? How?
• Which fee structures are being implemented—or could be implemented—to counteract regulatory change?
• How are card issuers’ credit card portfolios adapting to change? How can they share in tapping a smaller pool of cardholders while growing profits?
• What will happen to affluent, credit worthy cardholders? Less credit worthy cardholders? How do rewards play a role?
• Can rewards help grow transactions and help extend card reach beyond a shrinking consumer base?
• How does closed-loop versus open-loop competition and significant industry consolidation affect competition?
• What is the fate of co-brand rewards?
• Which reward types best fit the needs of specific consumers?
• Over the course of the recession, which consumers are active card users? Multiple card users? Transactors? Revolvers? How has this changed over time?

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Gay money talks - PrideSource.com

New study highlights LGBT buying power, attitudes toward economyby Lucy Hough - Originally printed 9/16/2010 (Issue 1837 - Between The Lines News)

A recent report states that LGBT people are typically more optimistic about the general direction of the country, specifically in terms of economic growth, the job market and personal finances. And, as a result, LGBT buying power is high.

"The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in the LGBT Community, 6th Edition" was released by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, in early August and relies on various data including that collected by Witeck and Combs Communications, which released a report in March 2010 about LGBT households' opinion of the economy.

"What we found out in March was that they were clearly more confident," Bob Witeck said.
Witeck and Combs work with Harris Interactive to do various research initiatives, typically dealing with LGBT people throughout the United States. Their sample includes individuals who are 18 years and older and self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

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Millennials Remain Ever Hopeful during Great Recession

Adult Millennials (those in the 18- to 29-year-old age group also often referred to as members of Gen-Y) have been hit harder than any other age group by the recession.  In 2009 the 16.6% unemployment rate experienced by 18- to 24-year-olds was higher than that of any other age group.  The unemployment rate for 25- to 29-year-olds (10.6%) was more severe than the unemployment rate among workers in older age groups.

Besides facing a higher risk of unemployment, Gen-Y workers are more likely than older workers to have faced on-the-job hardship as the recession unfolded.  According to data published by Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center in February 2010, 18- to 29-year-old workers are more likely to have been asked by their employers at some point during the recession to work fewer hours, switch from full-time to part-time employment or take a pay cut.

Yet, as seen in a new Packaged Facts report (“Millennials in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities Surrounding Gen-Y Adults,” October 2010) 18- to 29-year-olds have remained resolutely upbeat about the economy even in the face of their especially adverse circumstances.

To find out how Millennials compare to other consumers, this Packaged Facts report uses the Consumer Confidence Index of the Experian Simmons National Consumer Study, which ranks the confidence of consumers on a scale from 1 to 8.  “Anxious Consumers” are defined as consumers who rank between 1 and 3 on the scale.  “Confident Consumers” are those between 6 and 8 on the scale.

The analysis shows that only 12% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 29-year-olds are classified as Anxious Consumers, compared to 24% of Boomers (those in the 45- to 64-year-old age group) and 26% of consumers in the 65+ age segment.  While 26% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 29% of 25- to 29-year-olds fall into the Confident Consumer category, only 20% of 45- to 64-year-olds are categorized as Confident Consumers.

Conventional wisdom views Millennials as the product of “helicopter parents” who hovered over their kids during their childhood years and into their teens and even after they entered college.  The Boomer parents of Millennials are often criticized for being more concerned about beefing up their children’s self-esteem than subjecting them to rigorous academic competition.  The data in this Packaged Facts report suggest, though, that the parents of Millennials did something right and somehow prepared their kids to face the worst economy in 70 years with a spirit of hope and confidence.

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Shifts in Consumer Demographics during the Great Recession

Attitudes and habits among American consumers are undergoing a change in the aftermath of the recession. Recent survey data from Nielsen group reveals that while the intensity of the economic panic had subsided since 2008, concerns persist and new habits in spending and saving are solidifying.

Consumer Confidence a Dynamic Phenomenon

One of the most striking findings of this Packaged Facts analysis is that “consumer confidence” is a highly fluid concept. From 2005 through 2009 there were tens millions of Americans who migrated in and out of the ranks of Confident and Anxious Consumers. At the end of this period, the demographic profile of Confident and Anxious Consumers had been dramatically transformed.

Multicultural Consumers More Confident

As noted in the February 2010 edition of Packaged Facts The African-American Market in the

U.S., African Americans were especially hard hit by the Great Recession. Yet, in the face of declining incomes and daunting unemployment rates, survey research from a variety of sources suggests that the sense of empowerment created by the election of Barack Obama has led blacks to adopt a more optimistic vision of the future than that held by other Americans. For example, data released in January 2010 by Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center survey found that the number of blacks who rate their personal finances as excellent or good was up from 2007 (32% vs. 27%). In sharp contrast, the ratings among whites dropped substantially, from 52% to 35%.

While non-Hispanic whites account for 69% of the population, they represent 80% of Anxious Consumers. In sharp contrast, 29% of blacks are counted as Confident Consumers, compared to only 19% of non-Hispanic whites. Non-Hispanic whites are three times as likely as blacks to be categorized as Anxious Consumers (23% vs. 8%). Latinos and Asians also are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to be Confident Consumers and are less likely to be Anxious Consumers.

The Confident Consumer represents the most attractive target for marketers eager to participate in a post-recession rebound. The average household income of Confident Consumers is significantly higher than that of Anxious Consumers ($82,928 vs. $64,279). The aggregate income of Confident Consumers totals $1.9 trillion, 27% higher than that of Anxious Consumers.

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Gay and Lesbian Consumers Gateway to Post-recession Business Success

The expanding gay and lesbian population is providing marketers the opportunity to pick up some post-recession business, a new market research study from Packaged Facts says. The study, titled The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S., shows that today's 15.7 million gay and lesbian consumers are more optimistic than other consumers about the overall direction of the country, future economic growth, the job market and their own personal financial condition. This basic sense of optimism prevailing among gay and lesbian consumers suggests that they are more willing than other consumers to spend on products and services in the wake of the most severe economic downturn in 70 years.

The report currently estimates the purchasing power of gay and lesbian consumers at $743 billion but is expecting this market to grow 23% to $900 billion as the population grows to 16.4 million in 2014.Retailers in major metropolitan areas, such as New York, will see much of this good fortune due to higher number of gays and lesbians living in the area. For example, New York currently ranks first among the top fifteen gay and lesbian metro areas and claims $52 billion of this cohort's disposable income.

Metropolitan or otherwise, marketers will be interested to know that when deciding whether to stick or switch from a product or service, gay and lesbian consumers are highly alert to the perceived gay-friendliness of companies. Survey data from the report shows 32% gay men and 25% of lesbians have switched products or service providers because they found a competing company that supports causes that benefit the LGBT community. Furthermore, nearly 60% in this cohort report being 'more likely' to purchase everyday household products and services from companies that market directly to gays and lesbians.

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As the economy slowly recovers from the recession depths of 2008 and 2009, marketers and market researchers differed sharply over whether the price-conscious consumer who dominated the marketplace during the Great Recession would prove to be a temporary aberration or a permanent fixture in the American economy. New Research:The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in the LGBT Community, 6th Edition The expansion of same-sex marriage and other forms of civil unions over the past decade is triggering an increase in the visible numbers of gay and lesbian family households and consequently an expanding market space for consumer goods and services of all kinds. Survey research shows that gay and lesbian consumers are more optimistic than other consumers about the economy and personal finances, indicating that gay and lesbian consumers are more likely to amp up discretionary spending on products and services in the wake of the recession. This completely new 6th edition of Packaged Facts Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S. provides marketers with the analysis and insights they need to help them succeed in a consumer segment whose buying power is fast approaching $800 billion. More Information: Info   |   Table of Contents  The Post-Recession Consumer in the U.S. This Packaged Facts report sifts through five years of data to follow the twists and turns in consumer confidence before, during and in the immediate aftermath of the most severe economic downturn in 70 years. The report contrasts the attitudes and behavior of consumers on the highest end of the Consumer Confidence Index of the Experian Simmons NCS (“Confident Consumers”) with those on the lowest end (“Anxious Consumers”). By doing so, it sheds light on the conflicted mindset of consumers as the recession loses its grip and suggests how marketers might respond to their customers in an uncertain post-recession economic environment. The Post-Recession Consumer in the U.S. provides in-depth insights into trends affecting the post-recession environment in key areas such as price sensitivity and use of premium brands and highlights key opportunities in the post-recession consumer market. Subsequent chapters offer an in-depth view of how Confident and Anxious Consumers shop in supermarkets and drugstores and how they behave when shopping for the home also included is data on how they spend leisure time and their behavior in the fashion and automotive sectors. More information: Info   |   Table of Contents The African-American Market in the U.S., 8th Edition With a population of 40 million and buying power approaching $1 trillion in 2010, African Americans are a key segment in an American economy that increasingly depends upon the needs and preferences of multicultural consumers. Packaged Facts' new market study, The African-American Market in the U.S., 8th Edition, analyzes the forces shaping the purchase decisions of African-American shoppers and sheds light on key areas such as how black consumers decide where to shop and what influences them while they are shopping. Special Features Include: Assessment of the trends shaping the African-American market with an emphasis on opportunities available to marketers. Financial forecast of buying power held by African Americans through 2014 and detailed demographic profiles of the African-American population. In-depth examination of attitudes and behavior of African-American shoppers as it applies to food, clothes, drug-store items and home electronics and furnishings. Unique perspective on the shopping behavior of affluent African Americans consumers. More information: Info   |   Table of Contents

Babycare Supplies in the U.S.: Diapers, Bottles, Wipes and Feeding Accessories

Babycare supplies marketers must come up with new products and strategies on a regular basis -- to raise brands above the commodity herd. The fact that the pool of babies tends to hover near 4.0 million, year in, year out, further pressures competition. Yet this market is worth the scramble for share: Valued at $7.0 billion at retail, the market’s six categories (disposable diapers, wipes, bodycare preparations, feeding accessories, play & discovery toys, and pacifiers/teethers) hold rich potential for players with innovative wares and competitive savvy.

This latest edition of a popular Packaged Facts report contains all the information that executives need to form aggressive gameplans for either entering the fray or enhancing their existing positions. Market drivers such as green or natural/organic products, and higher birth rates among ethnic minorities, are examined against the background of the troubled U.S. economy. Sales figures -- both historical and forecasted -- are covered, too, as are IRI brand share data, and Experian Simmons demographic data.

Execs can also compare their battle profiles with those of California Baby, Hain-Celestial, Kimberly-Clark, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Seventh Generation, and others; each of these companies’ stances is discussed in detail. Throughout the report, Packaged Facts’ unique in-depth analysis is featured.

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An Excerpt from The Hispanic (Latino) Market in the U.S.A.: Generational View

Household and Family Income Profile More Favorable


Although lagging in per capita income, the larger-than-average size of Hispanic households and families results in a more favorable profile of household and family income. While the per capita income of Hispanics is lower than that of African Americans, Latinos enjoy higher median household and family incomes than blacks. Although non-Hispanic whites have a per capita income that is twice that of Hispanics, their median household income is only 35% higher. [Table 5-10]

There also are fewer disparities in household and family incomes across national segments. For example, the per capita income of Mexicans is 87% of that of the average Hispanic, but the median income of Mexican households is 95% of the average. [Table 5-11]


Marriage Patterns and Family Structure

Mexican families are larger than the average Hispanic family (4.05 vs. 3.85 people). Mexicans are more likely to be married (50% vs. 48%) and are less likely to be divorced or separated (8% vs. 12%).


Education and Employment

The educational attainment of Mexicans is lower than the average for Hispanics. Only 8% have a bachelor’s degree or more, compared to 12% of Hispanics as a whole. Only 14% are employed in management and professional jobs, compared to 17% of Latinos as a whole.


Economic Profile

Per capita income of Mexicans is lower than average ($13,529 vs. $15,190). Mean earnings of full-time, year-round workers also are lower than average. However, Mexicans account for 57% of all Hispanic buying power. [Table 7-2]

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