Article placement: Top News

Global consumer confidence increased in the first quarter of 2013, rising two index points to 93 from 91 in Q4 2012, according to findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. Improved consumer attitudes about job prospects, personal finances and the ability to spend in the U.S., across key Asian export markets and throughout northern and central Europe helped drive the quarterly uptick. On a year-over-year basis, however, the Q1 2013 index score of 93 is a point lower than it was in Q1 2012.

Procter & Gamble Co.’s Gain brand of laundry detergents and dish soaps-a dominant brand among Hispanic consumers-has launched its first online novela in a bid to further grow its share of Latinos.

Marketers in the $1.3 trillion global telecommunications industry are being both challenged and enabled by free over-the-top (OTT) communications service providers, such as Google, Skype and Facebook. A new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council study, conducted in partnership with HP, shows that while these companies are supplying customers with sophisticated web-based features that are competing … Read more

U.S. consumers with fat wallets sure know how to have a good time. In fact, they seem to take an “if you got it, spend it” mentality when it comes to entertainment escapism.

As of 2011, 62 percent of women age 20 to 24 who gave birth in the previous 12 months were unmarried, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. This compares with 17 percent among women age 35 to 39.