中国消费者今年或将捂紧荷包

More potential bad news for the global economic outlook: Chinese shoppers are likely to trim spending this year: dining out less often, delaying smartphone upgrades and cutting out impulse buys. China's economy grew at its slowest rate in a quarter of a century last year.

全球经济前景可能面临更多坏消息：中国消费者今年可能削减支出，比如减少外出就餐、推迟更换智能手机，以及停止冲动购物。中国经济在去年的增长速度是过去25以年来的最低值。

"Chinese consumers came to the rescue in 2015," wrote Tom Rafferty, analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit in Beijing. "Their spending helped offset weakness in industry and investment, the traditional drivers of the Chinese economy."

北京经济学人信息社分析师Tom Rafferty写道：“中国消费者在2015年赶来救援。他们的支出有助于抵消了工业及投资疲软的拖累，工业和投资是中国经济成长的传统驱动力。”

There's no guarantee they'll do the same again this year.

但是，现在没人能保证他们2016年还会这么做。

A survey by ANZ bank published yesterday showed Chinese consumer confidence at a record low this month, and data from US-based research group's China Beige Book showed fourth-quarter job growth and wage gains at four-year lows.

澳新银行昨日发布的一项调查显示，1月份中国消费者信心指数创下历史新低。来自美国研究机构的中国褐皮书调查报告数据显示，四季度中国就业增长及薪资增长都处于四年来的最低值。

Those surveys were echoed by shoppers canvassed by Reuters in Shanghai, who said they would keep their spending in check and more likely cut back.

路透社在上海的一项调查显示，消费者表示他们会控制消费，且很有可能削减支出。

A man surnamed Zhou said he and his girlfriend spent around 70,000 yuan (US$10,642) last year dining out and another 40,000 yuan on clothes and accessories. He said they plan to cut back by nearly a third this year given the economy. "We'll cook more at home. I may replace my electronic products like mobile phones less frequently," he said.

一位周姓男子表示，去年他和女朋友外出就餐费用约为7万元人民币（折合10642美元），购买服装及配饰费用为4万元。该男子表示，鉴于目前的经济情况，2016年他们计划削减费用开支近1/3。他说：“我们会更多地在家做饭。我可能会不那么频繁地更换手机等电子产品。”

"I think the growth of my income cannot catch up with surging prices," said a 30-year-old shopper surnamed Zheng as she browsed through a store's mugs and bedsheets. "These things aren't necessary. I might control myself a little bit try not to go shopping too often."

一位30岁、在商店看杯子和床单的郑姓女子说道：“我觉得我的收入增长的速度，无法跟上物价上涨的速度。这些不是必需品。我可能会对自己有所控制……尽量不去过于频繁地购物。”

"We expect consumer spending growth to ease this year as wage increases moderate," wrote Louis Kuijs, head of Asia Economics at Oxford Economics. Harder hit may be China's elderly, who are seeing health costs eating into disposable income. Caught in the squeeze, too, are China's many small retailers who are entirely dependent on domestic demand for their survival.

牛津经济研究院亚洲经济主管高路易写道："由于薪资增速放缓，我们预测今年消费者支出增速将放缓。"更受冲击的可能是中国老年人，其保健费用正在耗费其可支配收入。中国许多小零售商也受到挤压，其生存完全依赖国内需求。