The U.S. market for facial skincare products is driven overwhelmingly by women, who report using facial skincare much more than men, who themselves are much more likely to maintain a daily regimen of merely soap and water as opposed to facial cleansers, toners, and assorted other specialized products. The slow economic recovery has decelerated sales growth and caused many users to switch down to private label, which has far outpaced sales growth by leading national brands. This report focuses on these factors, and provides close examination of the following:

Sales of gastrointestinal (GI) remedies grew considerably in 2009, in part because of strong demand for over-the-counter (OTC) versions of prescription remedies such as Prilosec OTC. This growth, however, decelerated in 2010 and 2011. While significant opportunities exist in the category, it is evident that at this point in history brands must work harder than ever to garner customer loyalty and differentiate if they want to succeed in this challenging marketplace. This is especially true for national brands, as they have been losing share to private label in recent years.

In order to provide facts and insights that can help companies succeed in this challenging marketplace, Mintel has published this report which addresses the following questions:

The U.S. market for soap, bath, and shower products was significantly impacted by the slow economic recovery, which caused declines in 2010 and allowed for only modest growth in 2011 as users traded down to less expensive products or made their existing products last longer. Still, growth is moderately driven by demand for products that provide extra moisturization, as well as fragranced products and antibacterial offerings. Growing demand among men for male-specific personal care brands, which the market continues to meet, has also helped drive sales. Additionally, as Hispanics are significant users of soap and shower products, growth in Hispanic population and spending power should also help drive sales in the coming years. This report features in-depth examination of these factors, as well as close analysis of the following:

For today’s moms the pressure to “do it all” is as strong as ever. Not only are they more likely to be primary earners in their households, they continue to hold primary responsibility for most parenting duties and household upkeep. As they try to balance the many priorities in their lives, they have an increasingly varied array of resources to call on, from trusted personal contacts like their partners, friends, and parents, to authority figures like doctors and teachers, to brands, and a broad selection of online resources.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of what’s important to moms as they navigate the increasingly complex world of parenting, including:

In 2012, America is a country facing steep challenges. The economy still tops the list of personal concerns, but a range of other difficulties directly affect businesses across a spectrum of categories. Continuing high unemployment, declining median household incomes, decreasing disposable income, and listless consumer confidence are all factors contributing to deep concerns about many issues. These concerns include, but are not limited to, healthcare costs, standards of living, tax increases, and U.S. politics.

This report analyzes how these issues dictate American consumer behaviors and attitudesand offers in-depth examination of these and other factors in five distinct but overlapping sections: