The Canadian mobile payments market has been relatively slow to develop compared to other developed countries. To date, mobile payments, broadly defined, have been mainly centered around contactless credit and debit cards using near-field communications (NFC), although the technology is slowly migrating to mobile phones. This migration is likely to be facilitated by the fact that, unlike the country’s banking business which is controlled by five large banks, the mobile payments business is open to payments network operators, payment processors, technology companies, mobile network operators (MNOs) and even retailers. More competitors means more competition and therefore, more innovation. So far, NFC technology is seen by many to be a “bridge” technology, not the ultimate solution, and no standard system has yet to win market acceptance. As for the Canadian consumer, they are likely to embrace new financial services technologies over the longer term, as they have online banking and bill payment, but they must be shown that mobile payments are superior to existing credit and debit cards.

The incidence of suffering from a cough or sore throat becomes elevated during more severe cold and flu seasons. As a result, fluctuations in market sales correspond to the severity of flu seasons. The cough and throat remedies market is also driven by other factors, including key demographics such as children, seniors and women. A stuttering economy marked by high unemployment and underemployment rates, along with suppressed disposable personal incomes contribute to a greater incidence of self-diagnosis and self-medicating, which is positive for the market.

This report builds on the analysis presented in Mintel’s Home Improvement—U.S., February 2011 and DIY Home Improvement—U.S., May 2010. The focus of this report is retail Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and decorating products purchased directly by consumers and installed by them. DIY activities include repairs or additions to the home/garden, including projects such as renovating a kitchen, installing a new bathroom, installing central heating, fixing a fence, or building a patio. Decorating includes activities such as internal and external painting, wood staining, or wallpapering.

“The convenience operations from the major grocery multiples are not traditional c-stores: instead, they are pared-down versions of their superstore offers. For independents, this means there are pressures to compete but there are also gaps in the offer to exploit. The independents must restate the convenience in c-store shopping, providing services and flexibility that cannot be found from the major chains.”

In this report we answer the key questions:

• Who the key consumer groups for snacks are and how their differing lifestyles shape their demand for snacks?
• How the industry needs to face imminent and inevitable consolidation with creative branding and marketing to engage better with the key consumer groups.
• What the threat from snack food retail chains and modern grocery chain private label is doing to the competitive landscape in the snacks market.

“China’s RTD tea market experienced strong double-digit annual growth from 2006-11 with a noticeable slowdown in 2011 due to a combination of factors including unfavourable weather, food safety issues such as the plasticiser incident and high input costs. However, compared to Japan and Taiwan, the two leading RTD tea markets with a per capita consumption of over 40 litres per person, China’s per capita consumption of RTD tea is still low at 11.5 litres per person, which shows further growth in the market.

In 2011 the market for camping equipment was nearly $1.75 billion, yet retail sales have been flat as consumers continue to spend cautiously on non-necessities, such as new or upgraded camping gear. Following an anticipated surge in 2012—driven largely by pent-up demand from the recession—Mintel expects sales to grow at a slow pace due to shifting demographics and waning interest. The total number of campers at national parks (which serves as an industry barometer) has declined in the last five years, and this has likely had an effect on retail sales. Factors that have impacted and will continue to impact the industry include: the aging Baby Boomer population, a reduction in the number of households with children, the growth of the Hispanic population, and the economy. This report closely examines these themes as well as a variety of other factors driving the camping equipment market.

The U.S. student loan industry is heading toward a potential crisis. About a quarter of outstanding student loan borrowers are behind on their payments, according to both a recent research report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as well as Mintel’s consumer survey for this report. At the same time, the amount of student loan debt is growing faster than any other consumer loan category. Longer term, the demographics of the U.S. population bode poorly for growth, as the population of 18- to 24-year-olds is expected to shrink, although the prevailing demographic trends may be positive from a credit quality perspective.

This report examines the trends in consumer technology and digital media in the UK. This is the first report in the updated series of Digital Trends, which Mintel has created in response to the changes in technology ownership and usage, as well as to the changing requirements of our readers. These reports will highlight important and significant changes in the technology market using a more visual approach.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Black population is expected to reach 42.6 million by 2016, an 11.3% increase from 2006. Currently at $957 billion, Black spending power is expected to climb to $1.3 trillion by 2015. Higher education levels, and the resulting higher paying jobs, are the primary drivers behind this increasing purchasing power. Blacks are becoming an increasingly influential consumer group, and with their higher-than-average consumption of a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, marketers of these products should understand the methods in which to engage Black consumers.

Milk processors face an uphill battle, including the dominance of private labels; consumer concerns over the presence of growth hormones in non-organic milk; fluctuations in commodity prices; supply shortages for organic milk; and growing consumer concern about the safety of animal products in general. With that long list of challenges, plus the commodity image branded milk has with many consumers, the market has few growth opportunities even though consumers continue to prize milk for its nutritional benefits

“Banks currently have the edge when it comes to the payment-related elements of the mobile wallet, but history shows that this is likely to be a pretty fragile advantage.”

“Online travel-based resources or booking facilities need to offer a dedicated mobile experience in order to ensure that they maintain market share over 2012 and 2013, as browsing from mobile devices becomes more frequent both at home and abroad. Creating an online presence that consumers can return to with reviews and comments post-holiday will ensure long-term patronage and help with a strong, persistent brand identity.”