Rise in nat'l income named as factor in shift in shoppers' taste
Purchases of expensive non-necessity items have soared from last year, as market observers see an increase in national income affecting consumer culture. According to data published on December 7 by E-Mart, a retail affiliate of the Shinsegae Group, out of 2,145 items that the nation's biggest discount chain store has sold until the end of November this year, sales of expensive goods such as liquid-crystal display (LCD) TVs and premium refrigerators increased greatly from last year. LCD TVs recorded the largest sales increase of 1011.5 percent, followed by premium two-door refrigerators at 103 percent, sushi at 96.6 percent, plasma display panel (PDP) TVs at 73.5 percent, and multi-function air conditioners at 28.4 percent. E-Mart said most of the top 10 goods in terms of sales increase were fashionably designed, high-quality products. In contrast, not only traditional air conditioners and TVs, but also desktop computers, digital cameras, and washing machines saw sales dramatically decrease from last year. An official of E-Mart said that traditional goods that used to win popularity thanks to their cheap price and practicality give way to expensive products with differentiated value."A consumption pattern in the era of US$20,000-per-capita income has begun to appear," the official said. Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
