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What crisis? Women happy to spend

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-06 11:35

 

While the world is saving, Chinese women are spending.

Spurred on by rebates and the trickle down of the country's stimulus package, Chinese housewives are buying the latest fashions, investing in stocks and traveling.

"Chinese women often dominate spending in their family," said Han Xiangjing, vice-council director of Huakun Woman Consumption Center, a branch of Women of China magazine.

"They serve as a major indicator of the consumption level in the country," Han said.

The magazine conducted a survey of 1,200 women aged 20 to 60 from 10 cities between August and October.

According to the survey, 46 percent of Chinese women feel they have benefited from the continuous growth of the Chinese economy, burgeoned by the country's 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package.

Of those who considered their lives better as a result of the stimulus, 15 percent purchased new household electronic appliances because of policies encouraging the replacement of old appliances with new ones.

Others benefited from policies lowering interest rates for housing, an increase in medical welfare payments and vehicle subsidies.

In 2008, when the financial crisis was spreading to the rest of the world, female consumers worried about the impact the crisis would have on their lives, the survey said.

But this year, just less than half said there is little to no negative impact on their quality of life.

Clothes rank first in personal consumption among women, followed by digital products, travel and cosmetics.

Women are also becoming more economically savvy, with 56 percent having invested this year: 22 percent on stocks, 21 percent on funds and 15 percent on the property market.

Nearly one-third interviewed did not feel their lives were affected by the economic crisis and they spent as they pleased.

"Chinese love to save," Han said. "So it comes as a big surprise to see more people now are willing to spend."

Savings as a percentage of income dropped to 24 percent this year from 54 percent in 2007.

About the broadcaster:

Nancy Matos is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Nancy is a graduate of the Broadcast Journalism and Media program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her journalism career in broadcast and print has taken her around the world from New York to Portugal and now Beijing. Nancy is happy to make the move to China and join the China Daily team.