http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_381438.html
S'poreans dine out less
The average Singapore home now spends more on fresh food, groceries, and household items as a result of dining out less. --PHOTO: REUTERS
MORE Singaporeans are eating in instead of dining out, as part of belt-tightening in this economic downturn. But they are not taking this to extremes and cutting out the little luxuries in life.
The average Singapore home now spends more on fresh food, groceries, and household items as a result, according to a ShopperTrends report released by The Nielsen Company, Singapore on Monday.
Comparing findings from last year's report to this year's, Ms Ooi Pin Pin, Associate Director of Retailer Services, said: 'The average monthly household expenditure has increased by 14 per cent, in part driven by higher food prices and an increased incidence of home cooking in a bid to cut down on out of home dining expenses.
'Fresh food spend, in particular, registered an average growth of 15 per cent across households in Singapore, with the biggest jump being reflected among the high income households.'
Other findings from the the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer survey show that seven in 10 Singaporeans have altered their spending patterns in order to save more.
A majority of those surveyed - 74 per cent - indicated that they now buy only the essentials, while 37 per cent are buying the same product but in smaller quantities.
Singaporeans are also being 'more cautious when it comes to impulse buys.'
According to The Nielsen report, purchases of essential food items such as staples and dairy products like rice and bread have gone up. Meanwhile, the top three food types shoppers are buying less of are chocolates, carbonated soft drinks, and salty snack food.
Singapore's economy, which grew by 1.1 per cent in 2008, is expected to contract by 6 to 9 per cent this year.
S'poreans dine out less
The average Singapore home now spends more on fresh food, groceries, and household items as a result of dining out less. --PHOTO: REUTERS
MORE Singaporeans are eating in instead of dining out, as part of belt-tightening in this economic downturn. But they are not taking this to extremes and cutting out the little luxuries in life.
The average Singapore home now spends more on fresh food, groceries, and household items as a result, according to a ShopperTrends report released by The Nielsen Company, Singapore on Monday.
Comparing findings from last year's report to this year's, Ms Ooi Pin Pin, Associate Director of Retailer Services, said: 'The average monthly household expenditure has increased by 14 per cent, in part driven by higher food prices and an increased incidence of home cooking in a bid to cut down on out of home dining expenses.
'Fresh food spend, in particular, registered an average growth of 15 per cent across households in Singapore, with the biggest jump being reflected among the high income households.'
Other findings from the the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer survey show that seven in 10 Singaporeans have altered their spending patterns in order to save more.
A majority of those surveyed - 74 per cent - indicated that they now buy only the essentials, while 37 per cent are buying the same product but in smaller quantities.
Singaporeans are also being 'more cautious when it comes to impulse buys.'
According to The Nielsen report, purchases of essential food items such as staples and dairy products like rice and bread have gone up. Meanwhile, the top three food types shoppers are buying less of are chocolates, carbonated soft drinks, and salty snack food.
Singapore's economy, which grew by 1.1 per cent in 2008, is expected to contract by 6 to 9 per cent this year.
