According to a recent report from Nielsen//NetRatings, US households making annual salaries of between $100,000 and $150,000 represent the fastest growing income group online, rising by 20% between September 2001 and September 2002. Following close behind, reports Nielsen, is the income group of those making between $150,000 and $999,999, increasing by 14% over the same period of time.

Consumers looking for great bargains this holiday season will not be disappointed, according to the findings of a new National Retail Federation (NRF) survey. The NRF 2002 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch for NRF, also indicates consumers plan to spend an average of $649, an increase of 2.6 percent from 2001 projected spending.

Nielsen//NetRatings reports that more than 32 million surfers, or 27 percent of the active online population visited a music site during the month of August 2002. Despite a host of legal challenges that continue to affect the sector, traffic remains strong as music fans look to the Web for access to free and paid music content.

Every year at this time, The Harris Poll asks Americans which state they would choose to live in, not including where they live now. For the last five years, Florida has received the most votes, usually followed by California or Colorado. This year, for the first time since asking this question in 1997, California moves into top place, pushing Florida into the number two position. Hawaii retains its place in third, followed by Colorado and North Carolina.

Among the latest findings in comScore Media Metrix' Week on the Web, weather information sites have become important destinations for tens of millions of Internet users each month. Interestingly, geography matters: Internet users in the U.S. Pacific Census region - which has a steadier climate - are 24 percent less likely to visit the Weather category versus the total U.S. population. Conversely, users in the Eastern regions of New England, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic - with more dramatic changes in climate - collectively are 14 percent more likely to visit these services.

MeasureCast, Inc. announced that Internet-only station RADIOIO, simulcaster Virgin Radio, and Internet radio network Clear Channel Worldwide led the MeasureCast charts for the week of September 29. Of the top 25 stations measured by MeasureCast, 13 streamed more hours during the week of September 29 than they did a week earlier. Seventeen stations attracted larger audiences.

The Nielsen//NetRatings audience measurement data for the week ending October 13th shows activity for Government, Non-Profit, Home and Fashion Sites. Not surprisingly, a few more males frequent the Government sites, whole the women dominate the Home and Fashion category.

Jupiter Research reports that online bill viewing and payment will be among the fastest growing consumer applications over the next three years in a recent release. By 2006, more than 50 million households will view bills online and 52 million households will pay at least one bill online. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 23% over 2001's figure of 18 million U.S. households who viewed at least one bill online.

"America's multicultural consumers are fast becoming the general market for broadband services. Ultimately, the interaction of the established media brands with new urban-oriented programming and entertainment concepts will define the new media landscape." says Alisse Waterston, Ph.D., President of Surveys Unlimited. A study entitled The 3rd wave of State of Broadband Urban Markets, released by Horowitz Associates shows that urban consumers have emerged as a key broadband segment, in particular for the delivery of digital content to the TV.

According to the Harris Poll in August, 2002, the number of people who assign high prestige to military officers and police officers has increased from the August 2001 survey, fielded just before 9/11. At the same time, this year’s survey finds significant drops in prestige for doctors, teachers, and the clergy.