英語資源頻道為大家整理的chinadaily雙語新聞：美國人不愛衣裝愛iPad，供大家閱讀參考。
Americans are spending more on electronics like iPads and flat-screen televisions and less on durable goods like furniture, washing machines and lawn mowers, according to government data released Tuesday.
The shift reflects a change in priorities for American consumers. After pouring money into all aspects of their homes during the previous decade, consumers are redirecting their purchases to eye-grabbing technology and socking away more of what's left over into savings. Apparel company executives are worried the lure of electronics will eat into their sales as the back-to-school season gets under way.
Outlays for televisions, computers, video and telephone equipment grew 1.8% in the first six months of this year, compared to the first half of pre-recession 2007, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. By comparison, spending on appliances decreased 3.6% during the same period, and spending on furniture decreased 11% during that time.
Overall, consumer spending stayed flat in June from the previous month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the U.S. savings rate ticked up to 6.4% in June from the previous month, its highest point in a year and far above its pre-recession level.
The electronics boom isn't enough to improve the economy, says Chris Christopher, senior principal economist at IHS Global Insight. Consumer spending on technology accounts for about 1.2% of nominal gross domestic product, a marginal portion of economic growth.
'People have to be able to feel they can spend on big durable good items and housing, and these are not doing well,' Mr. Christopher said. 'Even if technology is growing well in retail sales, it helps, but it's nothing that's going to pull us out of this low level of GDP growth.'
Still, the trend toward buying electronics, often at the expense of other goods, is leaving its mark across the economy. The manufacturing sector, which has led the economic recovery, has been especially strong in technology-related businesses. Corning Inc., for instance, last month reported its second-quarter profit rose 49% as sales increased 23%. Corning makes specialty glass used in computers and smartphones. Sony Corp, maker of the PlayStation 3 game console, recently reported a better-than-expected 3.8% increase in revenue for its fiscal first quarter.
Apparel retailers say the shift is eating into their sales, too. 'Electronics has taken a huge chunk out of the average household spending budget,' said Eric Wiseman, CEO of apparel maker VF Corp., maker of JanSport backpacks and Wrangler jeans.
Apparel executives say the iPhone in particular has become an ornament in its own right. 'It's a new fashion accessory, there's no doubt about it,' said Richard Dickson, CEO of branded businesses at Jones Apparel Group Inc., which includes Jones New York, Nine West and Anne Klein.
Apparel retailers are using electronics to lure shoppers during the important back-to-school season, which is the second-biggest spending time period behind the holiday period. Teen retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc. gave shoppers who tried on a pair of jeans their choice of free 'smart' phone. Macy's Inc. partnered with Microsoft to feature exclusively the new Xbox 360 Kinect system.
美國政府周二公布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，美國人用在iPad、平板電視等電子產(chǎn)品上的花費(fèi)增加，而用于購買家具、洗衣機(jī)、割草機(jī)這類耐用品的支出則減少。
這一轉(zhuǎn)變反映出美國消費(fèi)者在優(yōu)先性問題上的變化。在上個十年間毫不吝嗇地把錢用于自己房屋的方方面面后，消費(fèi)者的購買對象發(fā)生了改變，開始購買吸引眼球的科技產(chǎn)品，并且把結(jié)余下來的錢更多的存了起來。服裝公司的管理人士擔(dān)心，隨著學(xué)校即將開學(xué)，電子產(chǎn)品的吸引力將對他們的銷售產(chǎn)生負(fù)面影響。
美國商務(wù)部周二說，今年前六個月用于購買電視、電腦、錄像機(jī)和電話的支出較衰退到來前的2007年上半年增長了1.8%。相比之下，同期家電和家具支出則分別減少3.6%和11%。
商務(wù)部還說，總體來看，6月份消費(fèi)者支出較上月持平。此外，當(dāng)月儲蓄率從前月升至6.4%，達(dá)到一年來的水平，并且大大超過衰退前的水平。
IHS Global Insight高級首席經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家克里斯托弗(Chris Christopher)說，電子產(chǎn)品熱潮不足以使經(jīng)濟(jì)獲得改善。消費(fèi)者在科技方面的支出僅占名義國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值(GDP)的約1.2%，對經(jīng)濟(jì)增長的貢獻(xiàn)微乎其微。
他說，人們得要覺得他們能購買大件耐用品和買房才行，但情況并不樂觀。即使科技行業(yè)有著出色的零售業(yè)績，這雖然是件好事，但卻無助于讓我們擺脫GDP的低增長局面。
然而，這種以犧牲其他商品來購買電子產(chǎn)品的趨勢卻在經(jīng)濟(jì)的各個領(lǐng)域產(chǎn)生了影響。在引導(dǎo)經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇的制造業(yè)中，那些與科技相關(guān)的企業(yè)的表現(xiàn)就尤為強(qiáng)勁。以為電腦和智能手機(jī)生產(chǎn)專用玻璃的康寧公司(Corning Inc)為例，其第二季度銷售額增加23%，利潤也上升49%。而游戲機(jī)PlayStation 3的制造商索尼公司(Sony Corp.)最近公布的第一財季收入增幅也好于預(yù)期，達(dá)3.8%。
服裝零售企業(yè)說，這一變化也損害了他們的銷售。服裝生產(chǎn)商VF Corp.的首席執(zhí)行長懷斯曼(Eric Wiseman)說，電子產(chǎn)品占據(jù)了普通家庭開支預(yù)算的大頭。VF Corp.是JanSport背包和Wrangler牛仔褲的生產(chǎn)商。
服裝企業(yè)的高管們說，尤其是iPhone憑借自己的魅力已經(jīng)成為一種裝飾品。Jones Apparel Group Inc.負(fù)責(zé)品牌業(yè)務(wù)的首席執(zhí)行長狄根森(Richard Dickson)說，iPhone是一種新的潮流配飾，這點(diǎn)勿庸置疑。這家服裝公司旗下品牌包括Jones New York、Nine West和Anne Klein。
在重要的返校季節(jié)期間，服裝零售商正利用電子產(chǎn)品來吸引購物者，這是繼假日購物季后的購物時期。青少年服裝零售商American Eagle Outfitters Inc.為每位試穿牛仔褲的顧客提供免費(fèi)贏取“智能”手機(jī)的機(jī)會，梅西百貨(Macy's Inc.)也與微軟(Microsoft)合作，獨(dú)辟蹊徑地用新版Xbox 360 Kinect來促銷。
Americans are spending more on electronics like iPads and flat-screen televisions and less on durable goods like furniture, washing machines and lawn mowers, according to government data released Tuesday.
The shift reflects a change in priorities for American consumers. After pouring money into all aspects of their homes during the previous decade, consumers are redirecting their purchases to eye-grabbing technology and socking away more of what's left over into savings. Apparel company executives are worried the lure of electronics will eat into their sales as the back-to-school season gets under way.
Outlays for televisions, computers, video and telephone equipment grew 1.8% in the first six months of this year, compared to the first half of pre-recession 2007, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. By comparison, spending on appliances decreased 3.6% during the same period, and spending on furniture decreased 11% during that time.
Overall, consumer spending stayed flat in June from the previous month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the U.S. savings rate ticked up to 6.4% in June from the previous month, its highest point in a year and far above its pre-recession level.
The electronics boom isn't enough to improve the economy, says Chris Christopher, senior principal economist at IHS Global Insight. Consumer spending on technology accounts for about 1.2% of nominal gross domestic product, a marginal portion of economic growth.
'People have to be able to feel they can spend on big durable good items and housing, and these are not doing well,' Mr. Christopher said. 'Even if technology is growing well in retail sales, it helps, but it's nothing that's going to pull us out of this low level of GDP growth.'
Still, the trend toward buying electronics, often at the expense of other goods, is leaving its mark across the economy. The manufacturing sector, which has led the economic recovery, has been especially strong in technology-related businesses. Corning Inc., for instance, last month reported its second-quarter profit rose 49% as sales increased 23%. Corning makes specialty glass used in computers and smartphones. Sony Corp, maker of the PlayStation 3 game console, recently reported a better-than-expected 3.8% increase in revenue for its fiscal first quarter.
Apparel retailers say the shift is eating into their sales, too. 'Electronics has taken a huge chunk out of the average household spending budget,' said Eric Wiseman, CEO of apparel maker VF Corp., maker of JanSport backpacks and Wrangler jeans.
Apparel executives say the iPhone in particular has become an ornament in its own right. 'It's a new fashion accessory, there's no doubt about it,' said Richard Dickson, CEO of branded businesses at Jones Apparel Group Inc., which includes Jones New York, Nine West and Anne Klein.
Apparel retailers are using electronics to lure shoppers during the important back-to-school season, which is the second-biggest spending time period behind the holiday period. Teen retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc. gave shoppers who tried on a pair of jeans their choice of free 'smart' phone. Macy's Inc. partnered with Microsoft to feature exclusively the new Xbox 360 Kinect system.
美國政府周二公布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，美國人用在iPad、平板電視等電子產(chǎn)品上的花費(fèi)增加，而用于購買家具、洗衣機(jī)、割草機(jī)這類耐用品的支出則減少。
這一轉(zhuǎn)變反映出美國消費(fèi)者在優(yōu)先性問題上的變化。在上個十年間毫不吝嗇地把錢用于自己房屋的方方面面后，消費(fèi)者的購買對象發(fā)生了改變，開始購買吸引眼球的科技產(chǎn)品，并且把結(jié)余下來的錢更多的存了起來。服裝公司的管理人士擔(dān)心，隨著學(xué)校即將開學(xué)，電子產(chǎn)品的吸引力將對他們的銷售產(chǎn)生負(fù)面影響。
美國商務(wù)部周二說，今年前六個月用于購買電視、電腦、錄像機(jī)和電話的支出較衰退到來前的2007年上半年增長了1.8%。相比之下，同期家電和家具支出則分別減少3.6%和11%。
商務(wù)部還說，總體來看，6月份消費(fèi)者支出較上月持平。此外，當(dāng)月儲蓄率從前月升至6.4%，達(dá)到一年來的水平，并且大大超過衰退前的水平。
IHS Global Insight高級首席經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家克里斯托弗(Chris Christopher)說，電子產(chǎn)品熱潮不足以使經(jīng)濟(jì)獲得改善。消費(fèi)者在科技方面的支出僅占名義國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值(GDP)的約1.2%，對經(jīng)濟(jì)增長的貢獻(xiàn)微乎其微。
他說，人們得要覺得他們能購買大件耐用品和買房才行，但情況并不樂觀。即使科技行業(yè)有著出色的零售業(yè)績，這雖然是件好事，但卻無助于讓我們擺脫GDP的低增長局面。
然而，這種以犧牲其他商品來購買電子產(chǎn)品的趨勢卻在經(jīng)濟(jì)的各個領(lǐng)域產(chǎn)生了影響。在引導(dǎo)經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇的制造業(yè)中，那些與科技相關(guān)的企業(yè)的表現(xiàn)就尤為強(qiáng)勁。以為電腦和智能手機(jī)生產(chǎn)專用玻璃的康寧公司(Corning Inc)為例，其第二季度銷售額增加23%，利潤也上升49%。而游戲機(jī)PlayStation 3的制造商索尼公司(Sony Corp.)最近公布的第一財季收入增幅也好于預(yù)期，達(dá)3.8%。
服裝零售企業(yè)說，這一變化也損害了他們的銷售。服裝生產(chǎn)商VF Corp.的首席執(zhí)行長懷斯曼(Eric Wiseman)說，電子產(chǎn)品占據(jù)了普通家庭開支預(yù)算的大頭。VF Corp.是JanSport背包和Wrangler牛仔褲的生產(chǎn)商。
服裝企業(yè)的高管們說，尤其是iPhone憑借自己的魅力已經(jīng)成為一種裝飾品。Jones Apparel Group Inc.負(fù)責(zé)品牌業(yè)務(wù)的首席執(zhí)行長狄根森(Richard Dickson)說，iPhone是一種新的潮流配飾，這點(diǎn)勿庸置疑。這家服裝公司旗下品牌包括Jones New York、Nine West和Anne Klein。
在重要的返校季節(jié)期間，服裝零售商正利用電子產(chǎn)品來吸引購物者，這是繼假日購物季后的購物時期。青少年服裝零售商American Eagle Outfitters Inc.為每位試穿牛仔褲的顧客提供免費(fèi)贏取“智能”手機(jī)的機(jī)會，梅西百貨(Macy's Inc.)也與微軟(Microsoft)合作，獨(dú)辟蹊徑地用新版Xbox 360 Kinect來促銷。