February Wrap-Up + New Insights on Chinese Consumers

Our February BIG Call was packed with insights from both the American and Chinese consumers’ perspectives.

For the first half of the Call, I presented the latest data from our Monthly Consumer Survey on Confidence, Employment, Practicality, Finances and Savings, and the 90 Day Outlook.

And in Part II, our Senior Analyst, Dianne Kremer, discussed the five trends you need to know about Chinese Consumers from the ProsperChina™ Quarterly Survey:

1. Consumer Confidence is Good, Not Great
2. Practicality Remains High
3. Spending on Needs over Wants
4. Shifting Attitudes
5. Consumer Connectivity

To listen to the recorded webinar, click here.

For more information on this data, please contact BIGinsight™.

Source: BIGinsight™ Monthly Consumer Survey – FEB-12 (N = 8716, 2/1 – 2/8/12)

© 2012, Prosper®

BIGinsight™ is a trademark of Prosper Business Development Corp.

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Yep, There’s an App for That Too

Smartphones are big, and tablets are even bigger, primarily due to the countless number of handy dandy apps available for download. From games, planning dinner, tracking the calories in that dinner, to connecting with friends, or even learning How to Drink Your Coffee, there’s bound to be an app for that.

But what apps do consumers really care about when it comes down to it? What about consumers in China, where the mobile market is soaring? Developers take note…it’s all about games and entertainment. For the purposes of this analysis we looked at the types of apps mobile-savvy American and Chinese Consumers ages 18-54 use most often. Despite cultural differences, games, entertainment, and social networking apps are most popular:

With gaming and general entertainment the top two types of apps in both countries, it’s clear that those little Angry Birds have global appeal. Social networking apps are also popular in both countries, with approximately 6 in 10 Chinese and American consumers connecting with friends and family via their mobile devices.

The cultural divide is apparent though once we look past gaming, entertainment, and social media. American consumers are far more likely to download apps related to weather (54.4%), radio (41.7%), and sports (31.0%) than their Chinese counterparts.  Mobile-savvy Chinese Consumers, on the other hand, are much more likely to use work-related apps focused on finance (49.4%), news (52.8%), and general business (51.2%).

Like Apps? We’ve got ‘em too. Visit www.BIGinsight.com/decisions

For more information on this data contact BIGinsight™ or ProsperChina™

Sources: BIGinsight™ Media Behaviors & Influence™ Study – DEC-11 (N=24,578); ProsperChina™ Quarterly Survey – Q4 2011 (N, 16,175)

© 2012, Prosper®

BIGinsight™ ProsperChina™ and Media Behaviors & Influence™ are trademarks of Prosper Business Development Corp.

ProsperChina: Executive Briefing Q4 2010 – Auto, Retail & Online Shopping

Can’t get enough of Chinese Consumers? Enjoy some more information on their favorite car brands, how often they shop online and where they shop in person.

Auto

•  In Q4 ’10, 40.2% of Chinese Consumers own a car. The top 5 brands driven most often are: Volkswagen (10.6%), Honda (8.0%), Buick (6.5%), Audi (6.3%) and Hyundai (5.5%).
• Both year-over-year (22.0% Q4 ’10 vs. 27.7% Q4 ’09) and quarter-over-quarter (22.0% Q4 ’10 vs. 26.4% Q3 ’10) the percent of consumers planning to buy a car in the next 6 months has declined. Among those planning to buy/lease in the next 6 months the top 5 brands being considered are: Audi (10.5%), Buick (8.4%), Volkswagen (8.1%), Chevrolet (6.9%) and Honda (6.8%).

Retail

• Carrefour (14.3%) remains #1 for where Chinese Consumers 18-54 shop for groceries most often. Rounding out the top 3 are Walmart (13.6%) and DaRunFa (7.7%) in Q4 ’10.
• TaoBao.com maintains the lead spot for where consumers shop most often for Apparel/Clothing with 16.7%. Rounding out the top 3 in Q4 ’10 are Parkson (6.4%) and New World (4.2%).
• In Q4 ’10, Guomei (32.2%) holds the lead for where consumers shop most often for Electronics with Suning second (23.1%).
• KFC remains in the top spot for fast food restaurant Chinese Consumers 18-54 eat at most often with 31.7% although, this number is down year-over-year (31.7% Q4 ’10 vs. 33.8% Q4 ’09). McDonalds (15.3%) and Pizza Hut (5.8%) complete the top 3.
• Chinese Consumers pick Starbucks for where they purchase their coffee at most often with 21.1%. KFC comes in second at 16.2% and McDonalds third at 11.7%.

Online Retail

• When it comes to researching products online, 95.1% of Chinese Consumers 18-54 regularly/occasionally research products online before purchasing them in person or in a store…down year-over-year (97.0% Q4 ’09) and down slightly from last quarter (95.6% Q3 ’10).
• The top 5 products Chinese Consumers researched online in the last 90 days are: Apparel (52.1%), Electronics (39.4%), Appliances (39.2%), Shoes (34.8%) and Beauty Care & Cosmetics (31.6%).
• More than 9 in 10 Chinese Consumers 18-54 regularly/occasionally purchase products online, up year-over-year (93.7% Q4 ’10 vs. 92.2% Q4 ’09).
• Up from Q4 ’09, 83.4% of Chinese Consumers 18-54 regularly/occasionally search the internet on mobile phone devices (vs. 79.3% Q4 ’09).

Future Purchases

• In Q4 2010, purchase intentions for most big dollar durables are down compared to last quarter. House, Major Home Improvement or Repair, Stereo Equipment and DVD/VCR are on the rise. Intent to purchase remains flat for Mobile Device.

Q4 ’10 Purchase Intentions Compared to Q3 ’10 and Q4 ‘09:

ProsperChina: Executive Briefing Q4 2010 – Economy and Personal Finances

Here’s your chance to read up on the Chinese consumer: Are the Chinese confident in their own economy? How often do they shop online? What car brands are popular in China?

First we will look at the current state of the economy and then dive into the personal financial situation of Chinese consumers. Check back for more on auto purchases, retail and online shopping!

 

Economy

• Chinese Consumers’ Confidence in chances for a strong economy during the next 6 months has declined since last quarter (54.1% Q4 ’10 vs. 59.1% Q3 ’10). Confidence remains down year-over-year (54.1% Q4 ’10 vs. 61.5% Q4 ’09).

• Focus on needs over wants has increased quarter-over-quarter (42.2% Q4 ’10 vs. 39.0% Q3 ’10) and is down year-over-year
  (42.2% Q4 ’10 vs. 44.6% Q4 ’09).
• Becoming more practical/realistic in purchases had decreased year-over-year (59.2% Q4 ’10 vs. 60.7% Q4 ’09) yet has risen quarter-over-quarter (59.2% Q4 ’10 vs. 56.3% Q3 ’10).

 

 

Personal/Financial

• In Q4 ’10, 36.4% of Chinese Consumers are anticipating more layoffs in the next six months than at present, up both quarterover-
  quarter (36.4% Q4 ’10 vs. 32.5% Q3 ’10) and year-over-year (36.4% Q4 ’10 vs. 29.7% Q4 ’09).
• Confidence in the Chinese Stock Market is flat quarter-over-quarter (60.0% Q4 ’10 vs. 59.6% Q3 ’10) although remains down
  year-over-year (60.0% Q4 ’10 vs. 65.9% Q4 ’09) when more consumers answered they would definitely invest/probably invest.
• Flat from last year, Chinese Consumers 18-54 say due to fluctuating gas prices, 31.4% will be driving less. Quarter-over-quarter
  this reading has decreased slightly (31.4% Q4 ’10 vs. 32.0% Q3 ’10). Though in general, Consumers are maintaining their
  coping methods when dealing with fluctuating gas prices.

• Year-over-year, Chinese Consumers who say their personal financial situation is “better off” is relatively flat (31.6% Q4 ’10 vs. 31.1% Q4 ’09) and down quarter-over-quarter (31.6% Q4 ’10 vs. 34.9% Q3 ’10).
• Year-over year, the number of 18-54 year old Chinese consumers that agree/strongly agree with the statement: “I am saving enough to meet my future needs” is on the rise (21.6% Q4 ’10 vs. 19.8% Q4 ’09). However, this reading is down quarter-overquarter (21.6% Q4 ’10 vs. 24.4% Q3 ’10).
• Chinese Consumers 18-54 planning to save “more” than they did last year remains flat year-over-year (35.3% Q4 ’10 vs. 35.3%
  Q4 ’09) and has decreased quarter-over-quarter (35.3% Q4 ’10 vs. 38.5% Q3 ’10).
• The card used most often for personal expenditures is bank debit card (33.8%), followed by Visa (28.5%) and Master Card (6.9%), 20.4% do not have a credit card. The top three categories that Chinese Consumers use a credit card for payment are: Electronics/Furniture (41.7%), Clothing (34.2%) and Health & Beauty Aids (29.8%).