According to the search engine trends-related data released on Tuesday, the respective Yahoo, Google and Bing lists of the top searches for the year 2009 featured the searches for the late pop star ‘Michael Jackson’ in the leading slot.

Though Jackson’s sudden death in June spelled record-breaking traffic for search engines, especially Yahoo, the searches for the star continued throughout the year.

While ‘Michael Jackson’ is the only term that features on the lists of the three search engines, that too right on the top, the term ‘Twitter’ featured on the top 10 list of two search engines – it held the fourth place on the Google list, and the second on the Bing list.

The remaining terms on the top 10 list varied notably for the three search engines. While the top three positions on Yahoo were held by Michael Jackson, Twilight, and the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE); the top three on Google included Michael Jackson, Facebook, and Tuenti; and Bing toppers included Michael Jackson, Twitter, and Swine Flu.

Some terms that were widely searched included unemployment, the stimulus plan, student loans, coupons, and Cash for Clunkers.

Commenting on the 2009 search trends, Yahoo search trend analyst Vera Chan said that “with economic uncertainty looming, people looked for ways to find stability by searching the Web for new jobs, unemployment benefits, and ways to save through old-fashioned coupon hunting.”