NIELSEN RESEARCH: CONSUMERS WILL CONTINUE TO FEEL RESTRAINED

While we are predicting a flat to +1% increase in 2010 for beer volumes, Neilsen says the consumer will continue to feel restrained in their spending. Nielsen's Nick Lake tells BBD that "our research suggests consumers' fundamental spending adjustments are likely to last in the next year. For some consumer it will be a choice and for others it will be a necessity." Also, almost one third of consumers say that they will use credit less even when conditions improve