  Recent progress in the studies of pulsating variable stars is summarized from
an observational point of view. A number of unexpected phenomena have been
revealed in the case of pulsators in the classical instability strip. These
discoveries -- lacking theoretical explanation yet -- make pulsating stars more
valuable objects for astrophysics than before. The emphasis is laid on Cepheids
of all kind and RR Lyrae type variables, as well as binarity among pulsating
variable stars.
