According to one government estimate, says a new nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends, 93% of the growth in the U.S. labor force from 2006 to 2016 will be among workers ages 55 and older. The Pew study notes that older adults are staying in the labor force longer, and younger adults are staying out of it longer. Both trends took shape about two decades ago, both have intensified during the current recession, and both are expected to continue after the economy recovers.

According to recent data from Ipsos MediaCT's MOTION study, online digital video has become mainstream in the U.S., as 67% of online Americans have now streamed or downloaded digital video content ("digital video users"). YouTube dominates the short video clip market, while the streaming of longer running content, such as TV shows and movies, has become more popular due to sites such as Hulu and Netflix.

According to a new survey from Experian CheetahMail, "Free Shipping report: Benchmark data and analysis for email marketers," reported by Internet Retailer, 70% of respondents from online companies offering business and consumer products and services, catalogers, and multichannel retailers had higher conversion rates on e-mails offering free shipping than on other types of marketing e-mails. Of the 70% with higher conversions, 78% saw increased transaction-to-click-rates, and 47% had higher average order values in free shipping e-mails compared to other marketing e-mails.

Americans are increasing their overall media consumption, and media multi-tasking is part of the equation, according to new data from The Nielsen Company's most recent Three Screen Report. During 2nd Quarter 2009, the number of people watching mobile video increased 70% from last year and people who watch video online increased their viewing by 46% compared to a year ago.

According to the Cost per Lead Advertising Data Report from Pontiflex, marketers are turning to pay for performance pricing models, wherein media is purchased based on a defined success metric or specific action - instead of impressions. As a result, Cost-per-Lead (CPL) advertising has gained significant traction across verticals.

According to a comScore study of U.S. online display advertising on social networking sites in June 2009, social networking sites accounted for more than 20% of all display ads viewed online, with MySpace and Facebook combining to deliver more than 80% of ads among sites in the social networking category.

According new research from Information Resources, Inc. consumers will take a more strategic approach to holiday shopping this year and are heading into stores with shopping lists and a budget in mind. They are not expected to give up their focus on conservative spending by creating tremendous credit card balances. Consumer attitudes and concerns surrounding gas prices, cost of utilities, job stability, the rise in food prices, and the recession are all seeing a decline in how these factors will affect this year's holiday shopping rituals. Consumers' holiday shopping will be less affected by economic factors than last year, …

Results of the latest Harris Poll of 2,498 U.S. adults surveyed online show that there is a slight sense of optimism regarding the economy. 46% of Americans believe the economy will improve in the coming year, while 32% say it will stay the same and 22% believe it will get worse. In May, just under two in five believed the economy would improve in the coming year while over one-quarter said they thought it would get worse.

According to a new study on Teen Health Perceptions from the Scarborough Kids Internet Panel, 63% of teens go to their parents/guardians for information about health and nutrition. 50% turn to the Internet. Steve Seraita, executive vice president, Scarborough Research, says "... the study shows that despite the digital age we live in, teens still turn to their parents for advice. Healthcare social marketing efforts can have greater impact if parents are targeted along with teens... "

Much of Radio's weakness in Q2 and for the first six months of 2009 is linked to marketers associated with the auto industry (formerly Radio's top ad category, now #3) and major retailers feeling the impact of shaky consumer confidence and spending. As Q2 unfolded, Jeff Haley, President and CEO of the RAB says that increasing signs of an improving economy emerged, indicating that "we are most likely past the Q1 low point for Radio revenues and are now on the rebound."