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Asia/Pacific

Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index: Developing Markets More Optimistic

One in two consumers will try to save on gas and electricity, and spend less on new clothes; 47% will cut back on out-of-home entertainment; and one in three will switch to cheaper groceries.

While the world remains ensconced in credit crunch mode, consumers in the world’s fastest developing countries tend to believe that the global recession will be over within a year, according to the Nielsen...
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China: Retail Sales Up 22% in October

Growth in the US retail sector came to a grinding halt in October, but China leapt forward as retail sales rose a whopping 22% from a year earlier - nearing an 11-year high - according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (via MarketWatch).

The high growth rate is not surprising. China retail sales increased 23.2% in September and were up 22% from Jan.-Oct. of this year compared to the...
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McDonald’s Global Sales Comps Up 8.2%

McDonald’s posted healthy growth in all of its global markets, with same-store sales - defined as sales at locations open at least 13 months - up 8.2% in October.

Europe and APMEA (Asia, Africa and the Middle East) performed well, with sales growing 9.8% and 11.5%, respectively. Demand in the UK, France, and Russia was particularly strong, but results were positive in nearly all European...
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US Healthcare Consumers More Likely to Consider Price, Value in OTC Purchases

Compared with the global average, US consumers place more importance on price and value in over-the-counter (OTC) medication purchases, according to a global online survey by Nielsen and the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry (AESGP):

• 30% of US consumers consider price important when choosing OTC products, while on average only 17% of global consumers do. Only Japanese...
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Global Companies to Up Commercial Card Usage

More than seven in ten (74%) financial, treasury and cash management executives from 11 countries polled are satisfied with their commercial payment card programs, according to Visa Inc.‘s Visa Global Cash Management Survey.

Half (50%) of respondents currently use commercial payment cards to make payments as part of their overall cash management strategies. Moreover, in the next 12-18 months,...
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US Economy Finally Catches up to Beauty Companies

Earlier in the year, beauty manufacturers Avon, Estee Lauder, and France’s L’Oreal were still faring well despite economic woes in the US, posting strong sales and profits in Q2 - but those times have come to an end, Reuters reports.

In the quarter ended Sept. 27, L’Oreal’s comparable North American sales fell steeply and overall sales were $5.57 billion, up 2.7% from last year but missing...
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Amazon Q3 Sales & Profits Skyrocket, Stock Falls

Amazon’s profits were up 48% in the fiscal third quarter - beating Wall Street expectations - but a cooler Q4 outlook disappointed investors and sent its stock plummeting, writes MarketWatch.

Net income was $118 million (27 cents per diluted share), vs. $80 million (19 cents per share) in 3Q07.

Revenue in Q3 was $4.26 billion, a 31% increase over the same period last year but still slightly...
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McDonald’s Still Growing, Sales Up 7% Globally

McDonald’s had strong sales growth in the third-quarter (ended Sept. 30), reporting a 7.1% increase in global comparable sales* and 20% growth in consolidated operating income (15% in constant currencies).

Total revenue, including sales from company-owned and franchised/affiliated restaurants, was up 6% from the same period last year, to nearly $6.3 billion.

Europe was a particularly strong...
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Wal-Mart Imposes Stricter Standards on Suppliers

Hoping to squelch criticism about its global business practices, Wal-Mart is imposing stricter ethical and environmental standards on its suppliers, reports The New York Times.

Wal-Mart has more than 60,000 suppliers worldwide and procures about $9 billion worth of goods directly from China.

In the past year, a slew of Chinese-made goods have been recalled, including tires, toothpaste, pet...
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Coca-Cola and Adidas the Beijing 2008 Sponsorship Winners

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have been heralded as a resounding success for China, the organizers and athletes - but what of the 12 brands that were the official Global Partners of the Beijing 2008, spending a total of $866 million on their sponsorship?

Overall, the 12 official “Global Partners” increased awareness of their brands among Chinese consumers an average 7%, according to research...
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