Nielsen posts 8% growth in 2011 – revenue hits $5.5bn

Buy, which covers consumer purchase information and insights, was up 10% to $3.4bn while the Watch arm – which includes TV, online, mobile and other media measurement activities – grew 5% to $1.9bn. Expositions was up 7% to $179m.

Fourth-quarter performance was “solid”, said chief executive David Calhoun (pictured), with Buy up 4%, Watch 3% and Expositions 17%. Total revenue came in at $1.4bn, up 4%.

“We feel great about our first year as a public company and look forward to achieving continued progress in 2012,” said Calhoun.