Consumer Internet Barometer

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Needs The Consumer Internet Barometer?
We’ve designed the Consumer Internet Barometer to meet the information needs of business executives, marketers, product managers, researchers, strategists, economists, and media planners/buyers. A summary of the results will be released quarterly to the news media.

How Does It Work?
The Consumer Internet Barometer is based on a quarterly survey of 5,000 male and 5,000 female heads of household conducted by TNS. A unique sample is surveyed each quarter. Return rates average 68% to 70%. Data is weighted to reflect the latest US household demographic information.

TNS has conducted The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence survey for close to 40 years using a similar sampling approach.

What Is Available?
Consumer Internet Barometer data is provided in a variety of packages to meet your information needs.

Standard Package
Subscribe to four quarterly reports (with corresponding data) in PDF format.
Single Copies and Archived Data
Purchase current single and past reports and corresponding data sets.

Do I need a user name and password, and if so, who provides this?
The process of registering to purchase the Consumer Internet Barometer report includes the opportunity for you to obtain a user name and select a password of your choosing. Your user name will be your email address, and you will be prompted to create your own site password.

How do I learn to use the system? Is it Windows-based and intuitive? Will I get user documentation? Is there support that I can contact if I run into technical difficulties?
The Consumer Internet Barometer PDF report is easily downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Data included as part of the Standard and Premium packages is provided in Microsoft Excel format and is extremely easy to use. The data report includes user documentation. Further information and technical support are available by contacting info@consumerinternetbarometer.us.

What is the database backbone? Will it hold onto all data over time, or will it give me only rolling year data?
The database backbone is Microsoft Excel. It will hold all data accumulated over time from day one to present.

Can I download data into files so I can use this data in my own SPSS or SAS systems? Can I download it to Microsoft Word or Excel?
No, you cannot download the data to use in SPSS or SAS because the raw data is not publicly available. The accompanying data files are in Excel and are downloadable. While the files may be downloaded to other Microsoft Office products, formatting may be required.

Can I run this data by other data that I get from TNS, perhaps as a demographic?
No, you cannot run this data by other TNS data. This is a standalone product.

Can I see the actual survey?
The actual survey document is considered proprietary and not available for review.

Does the subscription cover multiple users at the same location or corporation?
The user name and password are for individual subscribers and are unique and non-transferable.

© 2008. All rights reserved. Consumer Internet Barometer is a joint trademark of TNS and The Conference Board. TNS and the TNS logo are trademarks of Taylor Nelson Sofres plc. The Conference Board and The Conference Board logo are registered trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.