2009 Year-End Google Zeitgeist

Another year has come and gone, and Google has taken a moment to look back at the happenings of 2009—the people, events and memories that made this year unique.

Each year they examine the billions of queries that people around the world have typed into Google search to discover the zeitgeist—the spirit of the times.

As we welcome the new year, we hope you enjoy this glimpse at the past.

The results for the UK show that there were mixed feelings as we headed online this year to search for our favourite online tools, to learn about celebrities new and old, and to find a good bargain.

Facebook, eBay and Spotify all featured in the year’s fastest rising searches. People searched to learn about new sensations like Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle, but they also turned to the web to learn about the deaths of Stephen Gately, Jade Goody, and Michael Jackson.

Meanwhile, the recession ensured that bargain hunting was alive and well with people searching for cheap holiday options in particular.

See the full results here: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/regional.html#united-kingdom