Shops hoping for a Christmas lift are likely to be disappointed because spending will stagnate as the recession bites, market research firm Mintel is predicting.
Mintel市場(chǎng)咨詢公司預(yù)測(cè)，由于金融危機(jī)，圣誕消費(fèi)將會(huì)萎縮，所以想在圣誕節(jié)大賺一筆的商家很可能要失望了。

Christmas retail sales this year will stagnate, showing 0% growth--a marked contrast to the average 5% growth in seasonal spending seen each year since the start of the millennium.
今年圣誕零售業(yè)的消費(fèi)將會(huì)萎縮，并出現(xiàn)零增長(zhǎng)，這是2000年來的首次。之前的圣誕消費(fèi)都保持著平均每年5％的增加速度。

Since 2000 Christmas spending has grown by five per cent per year on average, according to the firm. Last year it grew slightly, despite predictions it would stall.
該公司稱，自2000年以來，圣誕消費(fèi)每年呈5%的速度增長(zhǎng)。盡管去年預(yù)計(jì)會(huì)停止增長(zhǎng)，但實(shí)際數(shù)字卻依舊有些許增幅。

But now the looming recession means people are looking to have a "much less indulgent" festive season, according to Richard Perks, Mintel's director of retail and financial research.
Mintel公司零售和金融研究主管理查德· 珀克斯說，如今的經(jīng)濟(jì)蕭條意味著人們不會(huì)在節(jié)日里“放縱自己了”。

He said: "There is always a lot of emotional pressure to spend money and spoil everyone over the festive season, and during the years of unprecedented boom time, many Brits enjoyed lavish Christmases. But this year, as budgets tighten, Christmas will become a much less indulgent affair.
他說，在經(jīng)濟(jì)蓬勃發(fā)展的節(jié)日氛圍里，人們總有消費(fèi)欲望，好好款待自己。“但今年，由于手頭緊，圣誕已不再是一個(gè)歡樂享受的事情了。”

Mintel's research found that nearly half of people (41 per cent) said they will be spending less this year--almost double the 22 per cent who said that last year.
Mintel公司的調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，有將近一半（41%）的受訪者表示會(huì)比去年圣誕節(jié)花費(fèi)少，這一數(shù)字幾乎是2007年的二倍，當(dāng)時(shí)只有22%的人作此表示。

Just 20% say they will still splash out at Christmas even though money is tight, a significant drop on last year's 32%.
只有20%的人表示不論手頭是否緊，都要一如既往地在圣誕花錢，而去年這一比例高達(dá)32%。

Only those young enough to be unburdened by mortgages and other financial commitments are likely to continue spending freely, according to Mintel's research.
Mintel公司的調(diào)查顯示，只有沒有房屋貸款或其它經(jīng)濟(jì)負(fù)擔(dān)的年輕人還是可能會(huì)一如既往地隨意消費(fèi)。

Mr Perks said: "Shops that target the under 25s, such as young fashion, games and those that sell small electricals, should do relatively well this Christmas in comparison to other markets."
珀克斯說：“諸如銷售新潮時(shí)裝、游戲以及小電子產(chǎn)品的商家將目標(biāo)定位在25歲以下的消費(fèi)群，與其它市場(chǎng)相比，這些商店在圣誕節(jié)的銷售會(huì)相對(duì)較好。”

"As a result, many retailers will be looking for ways to encourage people to part with their cash, and so we're likely to see discounting and end-of-year sales start before Christmas."
正因?yàn)榻?jīng)濟(jì)不景氣，許多商家會(huì)通過一些手段來刺激消費(fèi)，比如圣誕節(jié)前的打折和年終促銷。