The BrandFinance® Global 500 report is a comprehensive table of the world's most valuable brands, released annually since 2007. The study incorporates data from all listed companies globally and assigns each brand a brand rating and value. The top 500 brands saw a 14% increase in value to US$3,306 billion, with the banking sector experiencing the largest brand value increase of any sector. However, brands in the consumer goods sector, such as Coca-Cola, have not fared as well, with the brand value of Coca-Cola falling by US$9 billion. Wal-mart, which has topped the BrandFinance® Global 500 for two years, has fallen to third place, highlighting the declining power of retail.
