美圣诞消费调查:超值最重要

Two-thirds of U.S. consumers have yet to finish their holiday shopping, and 41 percent expect to finish at least a week prior to Christmas, according to a new survey.

One-fourth of consumers will be shopping the week leading into Christmas, including Christmas Eve, according to the first annual American Express Spending and Saving Tracker research report.

"Actually, we found in this holiday season there is this game of watching and waiting ... that deals will get sweeter as the clock winds down," said Mona Hamouly, a spokeswoman for the report.

Some 62 percent of consumers are waiting until the last minute to shop for the holiday.

Thirty-one percent are waiting for the best deals before finishing their shopping, while about 20 percent plan to do so at the last minute because they are still saving or are busy, and one in 10 say they are waiting for that last pay check before the holidays.

Hamouly said consumers seem to be "managing their cash flow and seeking out those great deals" this year.

Over the next 30 days, 65 percent of people expect to spend the same or more than they spent in the past 30 days and one-third intend to spend less, according to the survey prepared for American Express.

Hamouly said the weak economy was a large factor in consumers' attitude toward shopping, with many feeling cash-strapped.

In addition to a general sample of consumers, the survey targeted two sub-groups -- those designated as "affluents" and "young professionals."

Affluents were defined as having a minimum annual household income of $100,000, while young professionals were those who were less than 30 years old, had a college degree and a minimum annual household income of $50,000.

During the next 30 days, among consumers who expect to spend more, 56 percent say they will be spending the most on holiday gifts.

More than 40 percent expect to spend less in the next month because they are trying to save money, the prices of goods have increased, or they want to maintain a budget. One-third cite the need to reduce their debt.

"Even for the affluent population, they want to get the best deals too," Hamouly said.

The two top items consumers will be buying over the next 30 days are groceries and holiday gifts.

一项最新调查显示，美国三分之二的消费者尚未完成圣诞采购，41%的消费者打算至少在节前一周去购物。

据美国运通消费与储蓄追踪首个年度报告称，四分之一的消费者将在圣诞节当周进行大采购，包括圣诞前夕这一天。

该调查报告的女发言人莫娜．汉姆莉说：“实际上，我们发现这个圣诞季人们有点观望等待的意思，期待随着圣诞的临近能买到超值的东西。”

约62%的消费者准备等到最后一刻再去购物。

31%的消费者还在等待超值优惠，约20%的消费者由于仍在存钱或很忙，打算等到最后一刻再去采购，10%的消费者称他们等节前领到薪水再去购物。

汉姆莉说，今年消费者似乎“更注意管理他们的资金流，希望买到超值的东西”。

根据这项为美国运通开展的调查，在未来30天内，65%的人的消费支出将等同或超过过去30天，三分之一的人则打算少花点钱。

汉姆莉说，疲软的经济状况是造成这种消费心态的一个重要因素，很多人觉得缺钱。

除对消费者进行总体抽样调查外，该调查还特别关注了两个群体：“富裕人群”和“年轻职场人士”。

“富裕人群”被定义为年家庭收入至少为10万美元的人，“年轻职场人士”指的则是那些30岁以下、有大学学历和年家庭收入至少为5万美元的人群。

在未来30天内打算增加消费的人群中，56%的人说购买节日礼物将占节日支出的大头。

超过40%的消费者打算在下个月缩减开支，有的是因为想省钱，有的是因为物品涨价，而有的则是想保持预算平衡。三分之一的人表示要减轻自己的负债。

汉姆莉说：“即使是富裕人群，他们也想买到最实惠的东西。”

杂货和节日礼物将成为未来30天内最畅销的两样东西。

Vocabulary:

wind down: (of a clock spring) to become slack （钟、表等）越走越慢而终于停下

cash-strapped: short of cash 缺乏现金的

affluent: a person who is well-off financially 富裕的人