Marketing research and insights news and information. This issue's keywords: Generation Z, mobile banking, American impatience, value of physical mail, Millennial spending

Younger consumers are more interested in healthy food products than older consumers and are willing to pay more for them, The Global Health and Wellness Survey of New York researcher Nelson reports. Generation Z, composed of consumers under age 20, voiced concerns with food ingredients and genetically modified food and 41 percent of the group said they would pay a premium for healthier products. This compares with only 32 percent of Millennials (ages 21 to 34) and 21 percent of Baby Boomers (ages 50 to mid-60s).

A majority of Americans say that mobile banking is a standard part of their lifestyle and are equally apt to use their laptop, tablet or smartphone to conduct transactions. Researchers from Charlotte, N.C.-based Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, which specializes in the financial services industry, found in a September 2014 survey of 1,005 U.S. consumers that over 80 percent of respondents had checked balances, transferred funds and paid bills with mobile devices. One in six of the consumers cited mobile banking as a reason to buy a large screen smartphone.

A national survey on the seemingly universal impatience of Americans found that 80 percent of respondents rated themselves as “patient.” The survey, commissioned by Fifth Third Bancorb, Cincinati, is part of the company’s new mobile app development. However, the survey also revealed that 96 percent admitted to knowingly consuming extremely hot food or drink that burns their mouth (and 63 percent confessed to doing so “frequently”), more than half hang up the phone after being on hold for a minute or less, 72 percent have pushed an already lit elevator button and respondents admitted to binge-watching an average of seven TV episodes in one sitting.

Adults read their mail for an average of 22 minutes per day and keep advertisements for an average of 17 days and bills for 45 days, according to a study issued by Royal Mail MarketReach, a London marketing firm. The Private Life of Mail, an 18-month look into the current value of physical mail, summarizes the ethnographic study, which included 800 hours of video from CCTV cameras inside homes, focus groups, in-depth interviews and telephone and online surveys. When asked to compare physical mail and e-mail, 55 percent of respondents said they viewed physical mail seriously while only 18 percent viewed e-mail messages seriously and 55 percent said physical mail gave them a positive impression of the company, compared to 25 percent of companies sending e-mail.

The improving economy will make 2015 a year for major purchases and life experiences for an estimated 80 million U.S. Millennials, defined as adults age 18 to 34, according to recent data from the American Express Spending and Saving Tracker. Despite reports that the recession was holding Millennials back from major life milestones, the survey completed by American Express, New York, found that 33 percent of them plan to buy a car, 25 percent will buy a house and 22 percent will purchase a major appliance. 

These reports were compiled from recent issues of the Daily News Queue, a free e-newsletter digest of marketing research and insights news and information delivered each business morning. Not already in the Queue? Sign up here!