Following is a selection of interesting and informative news articles that referenced information from The NPD Group or NPD expert commentary last month.

NPD Funworld – Video Games

'Edutainment': Learning Made Fun
By Matt Slagle, The Associated Press (May 11, 2004)
Does "The Sims" video game accurately depict human psychology? Does a train simulator like "Railroad Tycoon" broach some basic engineering ideas?

NPD Foodworld

Ice Cream Fans Face 'Licker Shock'
By J.M. Hirsch, The Associated Press (May 11, 2004)
Already staggering from sticker shock at the gas pump, consumers may suffer "licker shock" at the ice cream stand this summer when they see some of the industry's biggest price hikes ever.

NPD Techworld – Consumer Electronics

Sony to Nintendo: Two Can Play the Hand-Held Game
By David Colker, Los Angeles Times (May 11, 2004)
Video game titans Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp. are in for some hand-to-hand combat. Nintendo dominates the market for hand-held video game machines with its Game Boy franchise, which it introduced in Japan in 1989. Nearly 190 million Game Boys have been sold worldwide over the last 15 years. And Nintendo reaps nearly all of the $750 million that U.S. consumers spend on hand-held game players each year, plus a good chunk of the $1.04 billion they fork over for games and accessories, according to market researcher NPD Group.

NPD Fashionworld

Dressing Down Loses Appeal As Men Suit Up At the Office
By Tenisha Mercer, The Detriot News (May 11, 2004)
Ditch the polo shirts and Dockers. Say hello to suits and ties. More men these days are moving away from the dress-down look to more traditional work attire at the office, analysts and retailers say.

NPD Music

More companies offering legal music downloading
By Mike Wendland, Detroit Free Press (May 4, 2004)
Nothing proves success more than imitation. And in the world of personal technology, the current illustration of that is the crop of competitors that has risen up to try and challenge the dominance of Apple's iTunes Music Store.