Susan, stimulus and swine flu: the fastest rising searches of 2009 so far

A year ago we were searching for Heath Ledger, Barack Obama and iPhones - but so far this year it’s all about flu and a certain YouTube phenomenon.
The fastest rising searches conducted on google.com.au during 2009 to date are for ‘swine flu’ (1) and ‘susan boyle’ (2), and home-grown TV show ‘masterchef’ made number three, after awakening the foodie within all of us.

Aussies also headed online to understand their eligibility for the Government’s ‘stimulus package’ (4); follow Roger Federer’s effort to match Pete Sampras’s grand slam record at ‘wimbledon’ (5); and better understand technology phenomenon ‘twitter’ (6).

Because people use Google to search for what's new and interesting, trends in search terms are a good reflection of what's been on everybody's minds so far this year.

Search volume trends can also be a glimpse of people’s response to a changing world around them, especially in light of the unprecedented global economic events. (According to research conducted by Monash's Australian Centre for Retail Studies, 50% of people research their purchases and decisions online before purchasing). We've used our Insights for Search tool to reveal some interesting trends in what Aussies are searching for - draw your own conclusions from the graphs below.

Economics

• Solar the preferred alternative source of energy?
• Recession ... we're so over that word.

Food

• Turning to comfort foods in tough times?
• Chicken casserole and chocolate steal the show.

Lifestyle trends

• Personal grooming important despite tighter economic times.
• Some people are still finding the cash for cosmetic surgery?
• Celebrity divorces fascinate us ... but some of us seem to be looking for divorce lawyers of our own. Check out the spike around the financial meltdown of October last year.

Pop culture

• Twilight-mania is calming down … but New Moon is ramping up.
• Recipes are trending up ... perhaps alongside the popularity of Masterchef?

Celebs

• Miranda Kerr is the queen of our off-shore Aussies.
• Bradley Cooper missed his opportunity to become number one Brad.

Fastest rising searches of 2009:
swine flu
susan boyle
masterchef
stimulus package
wimbledon
twitter
bing
one hd
afl fixture 2009
bruno

Fastest rising ‘people’ searches of 2009:
susan boyle
bruno
jade goody
michael jackson
taylor swift
lily allen
robert pattinson
lady gaga
megan fox
stephenie meyer

Fastest rising TV shows, movies and games of 2009:
masterchef
new moon
watchmen
sims 3
transformers 2
midnight sun
crazy taxi
jizz in my pants
biggest loser
twilight

Fastest rising current events of 2009:
swine flu
susan boyle
stimulus package
wimbledon
jade goody
french open
afl fixture 2009
cfa
australian open
sydney festival

Fastest rising retail searches of 2009:
kmart catalogue
target catalogue
ikea australia
coles online
bunnings
fantastic furniture
sportsgirl
good guys
rebel sports
crazy johns

Fastest rising searches for products/services of 2009:
twitter
bing
one hd
windows 7
facebook
skype download
picnik
avg free download
google chrome
itunes download

Fastest rising website searches of 2009
ato.gov.au
webjet.com.au
jetstar.com.au
centrelink online services
ticketek.com.au
oasis active
rsvp.com.au
realestate.com.au rentals
nrl.com
afl.com.au

Posted by Annie Baxter, Google Communications