瑞信调查：中国家庭收入提升但储蓄占比下降

       瑞信一项关于中国消费者的调查显示，过去五年内中国家庭平均收入大幅提升，而储蓄率却有所下降，《北京青年报》1月13日报道。

       中国家庭收入贫富差距日益加大的问题在本次调查中颇为突出。尽管所有的收入群体在过去的五年内收入都有所增长，但富人的增长率是穷人的五倍。

       受访者中处于最上层10%家庭的收入占所有受访者总收入的35.7%，而在2004年的调查中，该比例为24.3%。他们2009年的收入较2004年增长了255%，达平均每月人民币3.4万元（4980.2美元）。

       同时，中产阶级的收入自2004年以来增长了98%，而处于最下层20%的受访者家庭收入增长了50%，而这可能是因为农业利润的提高。

       家庭储蓄占比下降一半

       中国一直以来以高储蓄率著称，家庭储蓄率在全世界名列前茅，但调查显示这一指标正在下降，中国家庭的平均储蓄率从2004年的26%下降到了2009年的12%。

       瑞信预计，到2020年中国消费总额将从2009年的1.72万亿美元增长到15.94万亿美元, 届时，其在全球消费总额中的占比将从2009年的5.2%增长到23.1%，成为全球最大的消费市场。

       首次购房者将成房地产市场主要买家

       由于中国家庭收入和支出的增长，瑞信预计中国家庭对于奢侈品的需求会有所增加。首次购房者的购房需求在不久的将来有可能超过住房升级需求。更多人居住在租赁住房及商品住房中，继承性住房及职工分配住房比例下降。

       调查还显示中国城镇地区的汽车保有比可能在2015年超过50%。

       该调查在2009年10月和11月间进行，共访问了8个主要城市的2700个家庭。

Survey: Household income increasing while savings rate declines

A Credit Suisse survey of Chinese consumers shows that average household income has increased over the past five years, while the average saving rate has decreased, Beijing Youth Daily reported on January 13.

The survey results were a stark reminder of China's growing inequality gap between the rich and poor. While all income groups saw their incomes increase, wealthy families had an increase five times that of the poorest households.

The income of the top 10 percent of households accounted for 35.7 percent of the total income, up from 24.3 percent in 2004. Their income rose 255 percent to 34,000 yuan (US$4,980.2) a month since 2004.

In contrast, the middle class had a 98 percent increase in income since 2004, while the bottom 20 percent of households saw their income rise 50 percent – most likely because of the growth in agricultural profit.

Family saving rate declined half

China's high savings rate, among the highest in the world, is showing signs of decline, according to the survey. The average savings rate of the families surveyed fell to 12 percent of disposable income in 2009 from 26 percent in 2004.

Credit Suisse predicts China's total consumption will increase from US$1.72 trillion in 2009 to US$15.94 trillion in 2020. By then, China's rate in global total consumption will increase from 5.2 percent to 23.1 percent, becoming the largest consumer market in the world.

First-time apartment buyers will become main consumers in real estate market

As Chinese families become wealthier and spend more, Credit Suisse expects them to buy more luxury goods. The housing demand from first-time buyers will likely surpass those who are looking for better apartments in the near future. Chinese are increasingly renting commercial apartments, while the percentage of inherited or allocated apartments from companies and public institutions has declined.

The survey also showed that more than 50 percent of Chinese urban residents will have cars by 2015.

The survey was conducted between October and November 2009 on 2,700 families in eight cities.

(China.org.cn translated by Chen Chen January 14, 2010)