國際時事跟讀 Ep.K699: 美國人在經濟擔憂中轉進「末日消費」

Americans Turn to 'Doom Spending' Amid Economic Worries

Highlights 主題摘要：

• Rise of "Doom Spending": A significant 27% of Americans resort to "doom spending" amid economic worries, contributing to increased debt and declining savings rates.
• Youth Financial Concerns: Younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials, express heightened anxiety about future job prospects, wages, and overall economic stability.
• Pessimism and Financial Strain: The study reveals a pervasive financial anxiety, with 96% of Americans worried about the economy, leading to increased spending, rising debt, and declining optimism about the future.

In the face of mounting economic concern, a staggering 96% of Americans find themselves anxious about the current state of the economy. This collective worry has not only permeated their financial outlook but has also given rise to a coping mechanism known as "doom spending." According to a study conducted by Qualtrics on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma, more than a quarter (27%) of Americans resort to this form of spending to alleviate stress, while nearly one third (32%) have accumulated more debt in the past six months, exacerbating their financial strain.

面對不斷升溫的經濟問題，高達96%的美國人發現自己對當前的經濟狀態感到焦慮。這種共同的擔憂不僅滲透了他們的財務前景，還催生了一種被稱為「末日消費」的應對機制。根據Qualtrics體驗管理公司代表Intuit Credit Karma財務顧問公司進行的一項用戶研究，超過四分之一（27%）的美國人採取末日消費的形式來緩解壓力，而近三分之一（32%）在過去六個月中積累了更多債務，加劇了他們的財務壓力。

The study reveals that top economic concerns include inflation (56%), rising living costs (50%), and the challenge of unaffordable housing (23%). For 48% of respondents, the fear of not having enough money for necessities like food, clothing, and rent is the most worrisome aspect of a struggling economy. Furthermore, younger generations, particularly Gen Z, express concerns about future job prospects, with 23% fearing a lack of high-paying jobs and 21% worrying about decreasing wages.

該研究顯示，美國人最關心的經濟問題包括通貨膨漲（56%）、生活費用上升（50%）和無法負擔的住房難題（23%）。對於48%的受訪者來說，擔心沒有足夠的錢支付食物、衣物和房租等生活必需品是經濟困境最令人擔憂的方面。此外，年輕一代，特別是Z世代，對未來的就業前景表示擔憂，其中23%擔心缺乏高薪工作，21%擔心工資下降。

Financial anxiety is widespread, affecting two-thirds of Americans, with Gen Z and millennials being the most affected at 71%. In response to this stress, many Americans engage in "doom spending," defined as spending money despite economic concerns. This behavior is particularly prevalent among younger generations, with 35% of Gen Z and 43% of millennials admitting to it.

經濟焦慮在美國人中普遍存在，影響了三分之二的人，其中Z世代和千禧世代受影響最大，達到71%。作為應對這種壓力的手段，許多美國人參與了「末日消費」，意思是儘管存在經濟問題，仍然進行消費。這種行為在年輕一代中尤為普遍，有35%的Z世代和43%的千禧世代承認參與其中。

Despite deteriorating financial situations for half of Americans in the last six months, 27% report increased spending. This surge in spending is especially prominent among Gen Z (33%) and millennials (34%), contributing to a rise in overall debt levels, which increased for 32% of Americans in the same period.

儘管過去六個月中一半的美國人財務狀況惡化，但有27%的報告顯示支出反而增加。這種支出的激增在Z世代（33%）和千禧世代（34%）尤其明顯，促使整體債務水平上升，32%的美國人在此時期中增加了債務。

The impact of "doom spending" is evident in declining savings rates, as 47% of Americans state that the amount of money saved has decreased in the last six months. Currently, over half of Americans (52%) estimate having less than $2,000 in savings or none at all.

「末日消費」的影響在儲蓄率下降中顯而易見，有47%的美國人表示過去六個月儲蓄的金額已經減少。目前，超過一半的美國人（52%）估計他們的儲蓄不足2,000美金，或者根本沒有儲蓄。

The study also sheds light on the growing pessimism about the economy's future, with 24% of Americans expressing a lack of optimism for 2024. This sentiment is particularly prevalent among older generations, with 40% of respondents aged 57 or above sharing this view. On a more hopeful note, 24% of optimistic respondents believe inflation will stabilize, while 13% anticipate an increase in wages, and 12% expect improvements in the job market.

該研究還顯示了對未來經濟的悲觀情緒正在增長，有24%的美國人對2024年表達了缺乏樂觀。這種情緒在年長的一代中尤為普遍，57歲以上的受訪者中有40%分享了這個觀點。對於樂觀的受訪者來說，24%表示他們希望通脹會穩定，而其他人則希望工資增加（13%）和就業市場改善（12%）。

In light of these findings, financial experts recommend a proactive approach to managing stress and improving financial well-being. Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, suggests conducting a thorough financial assessment, tracking income and expenses, and devising a spending plan. Practical steps, such as using cash instead of cards and deleting stored online card information, are also recommended to curb unnecessary spending.

鑒於這些發現，金融專家建議採取積極的方法來應對壓力並改善財務狀況。Credit Karma的消費者金融權益保護員Courtney Alev建議進行全面的財務評估，追踪收入和支出，制定一個支出計劃。此外，還建議採取較實際的行為，例如使用現金而不是信用卡，刪除線上儲存的信用卡信息，以遏止不必要的消費。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字：

1. Alleviate (al-le-vi-ate): More than a quarter (27%) of Americans resort to this form of spending to alleviate stress.
2. Accumulate (ac-cu-mu-late): Nearly one third (32%) have accumulated more debt in the past six months, exacerbating their financial strain.
3. Exacerbating (ex-ac-er-bat-ing): Nearly one third (32%) have accumulated more debt in the past six months, exacerbating their financial strain.
4. Unaffordable (un-af-ford-a-ble): Top economic concerns include inflation (56%), rising living costs (50%), and the challenge of unaffordable housing (23%).
5. Pessimism (pes-si-mism): The study also sheds light on the growing PESSIMISM about the economy's future, with 24% of Americans expressing a lack of optimism for 2024.

Reference article:

1. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/29/americans-are-doom-spending-heres-why-thats-a-problem.html

2. https://www.creditkarma.com/about/commentary/forget-doom-scrolling-americans-now-doom-spend-to-cope-with-stress