Research

A new nationwide survey issued today by Citi revealed that consumers across all socioeconomic levels and ethnic groups have made permanent spending and savings adjustments to adapt to the current economic situation. According to the data, 63 percent of Americans surveyed said the way they spend and save has been forever changed as a result of the economic downturn. Only 29 percent said spending and saving would go back to the way it was before the recession.

Six-in-ten Hispanic adults in the U.S. who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents lack health insurance. That is more than twice as high as the rate among Hispanic adults who are citizens or legal permanent residents and more than three times the rate for the adult U.S. population. Download study here.

Representatives from the Center for American Progress Action Fund and leading organizations advocating on behalf of communities of color testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the experiences and unique challenges communities of color continue to face in this difficult economy.

Facing a variety of national problems — crime, drugs, corruption, a troubled economy — Mexicans overwhelmingly are dissatisfied with the direction of their country. With drug-related violence affecting much of Mexico, large majorities describe crime (81%) and illegal drugs (73%) as very big problems, and Mexicans overwhelmingly endorse President Felipe Calderón’s tough stance against drug traffickers.

The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest American Community Survey (ACS) data, providing a statistical portrait of the characteristics of the nation’s population in 2008.

More than eight-in-ten Hispanics self-identify themselves as being either of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran or Dominican origin. Mexican-Americans are by far the largest group, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the Hispanic population in the U.S. There are a range of differences between these five population groups—for example, in the share of each group that is foreign born, citizen (by birth or naturalization), and proficient in English. They are of varying age and tend to live in different areas within the U.S. Likewise, the groups display varying levels of education, homeownership rates, and poverty rates. These and other characteristics are explored in five fact sheets, one for each country-of-origin group. Each population is also compared to all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. DOWNLOAD report here.

The evolution of the three screens that distribute video – TV, Internet and mobile phones – has created challenges and opportunities for consumers, programmers and marketers alike. Consumers are exposed to more viewing options than ever before, while programmers and marketers have to find new ways to break through the clutter and deliver their message.

In an effort to promote innovation and explore new, high quality ways to measure audiences across traditional and new media, a group of leading US television content providers, media agencies and advertisers are joining together in an historic initiative to create the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM).

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that real median household income in the United States fell 3.6 percent between 2007 and 2008, from $52,163 to $50,303. This breaks a string of three years of annual income increases and coincides with the recession that started in December 2007.

The nation’s official poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2007. There were 39.8 million people in poverty in 2008, up from 37.3 million in 2007.

Meanwhile, the number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008, while the percentage remained unchanged at 15.4 percent.

A few years ago the Hispanic population passed the African-American population as the largest ethnic group in the U.S. A new survey by The Barna Group indicates that Hispanics are assimilating the faith of the Caucasian population faster than anyone would have predicted, essentially mirroring the faith of the nation’s white population.

Arbitron Inc. announced that the world’s largest combined panel for television and radio audience measurement is now live in Canada using Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) technology. In April 2008, following a competitive process, BBM Canada chose the Arbitron and TNS Media Research joint solution to support this multi-media measurement initiative.

The representatives of the principal media buying operations and advertising agencies of Puerto Rico gather at MediaNet facilities in Puerto Rico last Friday to discuss the arrival and business offerings of the television audiences measurement services of Nielsen and Ibope Mediafax.

For the 2009-2010 broadcast season Nielsen estimates that the total number of television households within the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) will be 114.9 million. This is an increase of 400,000 homes from last year and the smallest increase in the last 10 years. Nielsen also estimates that the number of Persons age 2 and above (P2+) in U.S. television households will increase slightly to 292 million.

The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an integral part of South Carolina’s economy and tax base and are a growing share of voters in the state.

As the economy has suffered over the past year, one area where consumers have been impacted is in their spending. Four in five Americans (79%) say they have made cuts over the past year in their personal spending due to the economy. One-third (32%) have made a lot of cuts while almost half (47%) have made some cuts. Just one in five Americans (21%) have not made any cuts in their personal spending due to the economy.

All commercial organizations exist to make a return on their investment (ROI). Organizations that are not commercial, such as government departments and charities, still have to justify their investments in most cases.

According to Radio Ink Magazine, a report by Dr. Barry Blesser, director of engineering for 25-Seven Systems, says that “hidden assumptions” made by the designers of Arbitron’s Portable People Meter system may be affecting ratings results. Download Report here.