The 2009 version of Mosaic reflects a number of changes in British society since 2003, including the growth in ethnic diversity and the impact of the internet.
The classification now consists of 15 lifestyle groups, 67 lifestyle types and 141 person types and draws on 440 separate pieces of compliant public and proprietary sourced information for each of the UK's 48m adults.
The new version of Mosaic improves understanding of older people by making a distinction between the increasingly active nature of early retirement years (with the commercial opportunities this presents) and the latter years requiring more health and social care.
It identifies a move away from the traditional south coast retirement towns with many more affluent retirees (dubbed County Loving Elders) moving inland to historical and cultural towns and others (Beachcombers) seeking exclusive seaside villages and expensive holiday destinations.
Mosaic also reflects the increasingly multicultural nature of contemporary Britain.
It identifies communities where we have seen the growth of mono-cultural enclaves (such as Asian Identities) and, by contrast, neighbourhoods which have embraced multi-culture through assimilation and integration (Terraced Melting Pot and Global Fusion).
It recognises areas where more affluent Asians live (Asian Attainment) and neighbourhoods populated by newcomers to the country (Re-housed Migrants).