Research

Panasonic Hisence and Virgin Mobile are among the most trusted brands in Australia whilst the "grumpiest" CE consumers live in WA according to a new consumer survey.

Continued strength of the portable PC sector will see worldwide PC shipment growth leap almost 20 percent in 2010, according to a new IDC report. This compares with overall growth of just 3 percent in 2009, the market research firm says.

23% of all retailers have sacked staff or closed stores a new research study conducted by the Australian Retailers Association has revealed, yet despite this retailers are optimistic about an economic recovery .

The penetration of flat panel TVs in Australian households is increasing at a rapid rate claims GFK, with analysts claiming that the industry could get a big boost running into Xmas from the release of billions of dollars in funding by the Federal Government.

Vendors, retailers and distributors of consumer technology are turning to online marketing due to the sheer volume of consumers who search for goods and services online say Price Waterhouse Coopers.

As the going gets tough vendors and retailers are looking to the bottom line as opposed to getting a sale for the sake of a sale says David Ackery the General Manager orf Electrical at Harvey Norman and if the latest research from GfK is anythig to go by some vendors are making big returns with the product tracking Company reporting record growth in several key categories.

Australians in particular those with families are better off now than they were before the economic downturn claims Citigroup one of the world's leading investment banks. Mortgages have fallen by 2% Petrol prices are at an average of $1.04 Vs $1.41 twelve months ago and share market dividend yields have risen substantially. This they say has added $75 to the average weekly income.

Spending in Australia has risen 1% which is twice as much as economists estimated according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.