Consumers look set to continue their fixation with online shopping, with figures for the first three weeks in January indicating that non-travel spend is up by one-third, compared to the same time last year. According to new figures from comScore Networks, online non-travel spending from January 1st to 20th 2006 reached $5.5 billion, representing a… Continue reading Online Shopping Pushes Forward In 2006

Gaming is increasing in popularity within the older generation, with a new study from Peter D.Hart Research Associates showing that 35% of US parents play computer or video games. Although one-fifth of parents surveyed were found to play games on consoles, computer gaming was found to be more prevalent, with 34% of the 35% gaming… Continue reading Gaming Increases In Older Generation

The UK economy looks set to stage a modest recovery in 2006, with the latest forecasts from the National Institute Economic and Social Research (NIESR) projecting gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 2.3% in 2006, rising to 2.7% in 2007. The NIESR attributes the economic pick-up to domestic demand as investment, government consumption and… Continue reading Modest Recovery For 2006 UK Economy

Across the world economy, inflation is picking up, with the latest forecasts from the National Institute Economic Review (NIESR) projecting that private-consumption inflation will rise from 2.1% in 2005 to 2.5% this year. In the US consumer inflation looks set to increase by 3.3% in 2006, up from 2.9% in 2005, while Japan will see… Continue reading World Inflation Looks Set To Rise

The average Londoner spends 40 hours a month consuming advertising, according to new research from Viacom Outdoor, which matches the number of advertising messages delivered by TV, radio, print and outdoor media with the amount of time consumers were likely to be exposed to the ads. The results show consumers in London spending a staggering… Continue reading Viacom Reveals Ad Effectiveness In London

The average Londoner spends 40 hours a month consuming advertising, according to new research from Viacom Outdoor, which matches the number of advertising messages delivered by TV, radio, print and outdoor media with the amount of time consumers were likely to be exposed to the ads.The results show consumers in London spending a staggering 292… Continue reading Viacom Lifts Lid On London Ad Exposures

Channel 4 has poached ITV’s general manager for digital channels, Sarah Rose, to spearhead the development of its video on-demand (VOD) products.Rose will take up the newly created role of head of channel and VOD development, reporting to Rod Henwood, new business director at Channel 4, with responsibility for developing the broadcaster’s multi-channel portfolio and… Continue reading Channel 4 Signs ITV Boss To Drive VOD Plans

BBC One’s Hotel Babylon saw off competition from terrestrial rivals last night, with an average adult audience of 5.3 million beating Celebrity Big Brother into second place.Channel 4’s celebrity show notched up an average adult audience of 4.6 million in the same period, but was streets ahead in the 18-34 audience, with viewers numbering 1.9… Continue reading BBC Sees Off Big Brother With Hotel Babylon

The Mobile Data Association (MDA) has unveiled the highest ever monthly text messaging total for Britain, with data transmitted in December 2005 reaching a new record.A total of 3.1 billion messages were sent across the UK’s mobile networks during December, averaging 100 million per day.The record activity follows the MDA’s announcement of a record New… Continue reading December Continues 2005’s Record Breaking Text Trend

December saw the largest number of cinema admissions in 2005, with new figures from the Cinema Advertising Association showing a flurry of festive film interest towards the end of the year.The release of several blockbuster films and the start of the holiday season colluded to bring an average of 3.98 million cinemagoers to the box… Continue reading Cinema Ends 2005 On Box Office High