Personal finance takes precedence over health and defense in early October data from Nielsen//NetRatings. And, Windows outdid Disney for entertainment.

Nielsen//NetRatings released a report that shows that in September, more than 27 million Internet kids between the ages of 2-17 logged online from home in September 2003... one out of five Web surfers. LIke the offline world, the 2-17 and 12-17 age demographics have markedly different online tastes.

A recent Yankee Group press release identifies a subject worth looking into if skipping commercials is a future concern. Their report, "Death of the 30-Second Commercial," notes that Penetration of PVRs (personal video recorder) remains low, with less than 2 percent of U.S. homes owning one, but the growth rate is rising. The report evaluates the threat of PVRs, analyzes the prospects for television advertising, and appraises potential solutions for programmers and advertisers.

The Simultaneous Media Usage Survey (SIMM), recently released by BIGresearch, showed that, of those who say they go online while watching television, 94 percent regularly or occasionally tune out mentally when a commercial comes on. Similarly, 95 percent of those who read the newspaper while watching television mentally tune out commercials. The solution for those trying to reach consumers, says BIG, is to plan for that disruption.

The Selig Center's estimates and projections of buying power for 1990-2008 show that minorities-African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Hispanics-together wield formidable economic clout. in 2008, the combined buying power of African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans will be more than triple its 1990 level of $456 billion, and will exceed $1.5 trillion, a gain of $1.1 trillion or 231 percent. In 2008, African Americans will account for 61 percent of combined spending, or $921 billion. Over this eighteen-year period, the percentage gains in minority buying power vary considerably by race, from a gain of 345 percent for Asians to …

A recent summary report by eMarketer shows that sweepstakes are a primary motivating factor in getting consumers to sign up for email marketing campaigns. The Quris survey of 1,691 US e-mail users from a panel of 2.4 million who have agreed to respond to occasional e-mail surveys, found that too much is not qood and existing customers are prime prospects.

According to a report on 49 metro markets by The Media Audit, more than 20 percent of all those who go online regularly or occasionally during an average weekday visit automotive web sites. "The audience numbers are surprisingly strong," says Bob Jordan, President of International Demographics, Inc.

comScore Media Metrix announced that in September, the total number of U.S. Internet users passed the 150 million mark for the first time ever. Further, the total amount of time spent by Americans on the Internet grew by 3 percent in September, although the month of September is one day, or 3 percent, shorter than August.

BIGresearch's monthly Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, featuring detailed information on how consumers spend and intend to spend money, reports that 39.8% of consumers polled are "confident or very confident" about a strong economy during the next six months. This is an attitude up from September and 14 points higher than October last year.

Nokia Executive Vice President Anssi Vanjoki speaking to a World Association of Newspapers conference in Helsinki, Finland, reported that adults use mobile telephones to make their lives easier. Kids just want to have fun. "Older people use mobile phones for efficiency. Have you ever heard a young person talk about efficiency? It's not their concept," said Mr Vanjoki. "For young people, it is more about excitement and fun. They develop incredible uses for these devices. They play with them." And he says that has very serious implications for media businesses.