Nielsen: Hispanics Represent a Vital and Growing U.S. Market

New Report Underscores the Hispanic Consumer Consortium and Highlights Trends across Culture & Population Shifts, Purchasing Behaviors and Media Consumption

NEW YORK--()--More than 52 million strong and representing the majority of population growth over the next five years, Latinos have become a prominent actor in all aspects of American life, according to The State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Market Imperative, released today by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy. Latinos are a fundamental component to future business success, with a projected buying power of $1 trillion in 2010 expected to grow 50 percent to $1.5 trillion in 2015.

“The Hispanic community in the United States is large and growing, and businesses must make strides to understand and engage these consumers,” said Susan Whiting, vice chair, Nielsen. “Due to the general youth of this segment, family focus, strong culture and prevalent Spanish-language use, Hispanic consumers are impacting all areas of work and play and helping to redefine American culture in the 21st century.”

Looking closely at Hispanics’ media habits and purchasing behaviors, The Hispanic Market Imperative reveals that:

  • Rapid Latino population growth will persist; the median age of this segment is 28 years old, nearly ten years younger than the total market median age of 37.
  • Hispanics are the largest immigrant group to exhibit significant culture sustainability, with nine out of ten Hispanic parents and parents-to-be wanting their children to speak Spanish, but also be fluent in English.
  • Technology and media use do not mirror the general market, but have distinct patterns due to language, culture, and ownership dynamics. For example, Hispanics spend 68 percent more time watching video on the Internet and 20 percent more time watching video on their mobile phones than non-Hispanic Whites.
  • Latinos exhibit product consumption patterns distinct from the broader market. Hispanics make fewer shopping trips per household than non-Hispanics, for instance, and spend more per trip.

The information in this report confirms what many marketers have known for some time, and yet, for some this is a new opportunity to engage with a demographic change and a consumer that is here to stay. The report is available at www.nielsen.com and www.nielsen.com/latinos – Nielsen’s microsite dedicated to the Hispanic community.

About Nielsen

Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and related properties. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.

Contacts

Nielsen
Rebecca Roussell, 312-385-6507
rebecca.roussell@nielsen.com
or
Julia Monti, 646-654-4412
julia.monti@nielsen.com

Release Summary

The State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Marketing Imperative to aid marketers as they strive to reach this audience through their media habits and purchasing behavior.

Contacts

Nielsen
Rebecca Roussell, 312-385-6507
rebecca.roussell@nielsen.com
or
Julia Monti, 646-654-4412
julia.monti@nielsen.com