金融時報:歐洲奢侈品行業(yè)溯洄之路

歐洲奢侈品行業(yè)溯洄之路

低迷的經濟形勢讓許多行業(yè)舉步維艱，但歐洲奢侈品行業(yè)卻逆流而上，發(fā)展蓬勃。它們在中國市場的表現(xiàn)如何？哪個國家會是其中最大的贏家？

測試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識：

downturn ['da?nt??n] 衰退（經濟方面）；低迷時期

commissioned [k?'m???nd] 受委任的，受任命的

Rémy Cointreau 人頭馬集團

like-for-like fall 同比下降

exposure [?k'sp????; ek-] 暴露；曝光

flagship ['flæg??p] 旗艦

European luxury sector thrives despite wider downturn（352 words）

By Kadhim Shubber December 9, 2014 5:09 am

The European luxury sector has shaken off the wider economic downturn as the number of people employed making high-end cars, wines and clothing rose 11 per cent between 2010 and 2013.

A new report from consultants Frontier Economics, commissioned by the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance trade body, suggests that the luxury sector added more than 100,000 jobs in the period and now directly employs about 1.1m people in Europe.

The figures come as luxury retailers have warned of slowing sales growth in Asia, particularly China. Consumer confidence in the world's second-largest economy has softened and new anti-corruption legislation has depressed demand for luxury goods as business gifts. Last month Rémy Cointreau reported a 14.6 per cent like-for-like fall in half-year operating profit, amid its heavy exposure to the slowing Chinese market.

But according to Harrods' boss Michael Ward, who is also president of the ECCIA, the slowdown is a positive sign for the wider industry.

“We have seen a slowdown in spend from the Chinese. But in fairness it's actually the right thing, a lot of it was in gift-giving. A lot of it was in expensive watches and expensive wines. That market has now cooled and it has moved back to core demand,” he said.

The report suggests that Europe's luxury sector has thrived despite problems in the rest of the economy. From 2010 to 2013, Europe's luxury goods sales, including high-end cars, wines and clothing, grew almost 28 per cent to €547bn, according to the report.

The UK could benefit most from the continued strength of the sector, according to retail consultants Conlumino, which has predicted that the country it will overtake Italy and France to become the largest luxury goods market in Europe by 2018, largely owing to the effect of London.

“London's status as a global luxury destination has increased as more and more luxury brands have opened flagship stores,” said Maureen Hinton, group research director.

The luxury sector's sales as a proportion of EU gross domestic product rose from 3 per cent to 4 per cent between 2010 and 2013, according to 1.ECCIA report.

請根據(jù)你所讀到的文章內容，完成以下自測題目：

1.According to the Frontier Economics,The European luxury sector's prosperity brought the benefit in?

A.Offering discounts.

B.Improving quality.

C.Creating employment.

D.Reducing prices.

答案(1)

2.What's the reason of a slowdown of luxury retailers in Asia?

A.New anti-corruption legislation was announced in China.

B.Consumer confidence in Asia is powerful.

C.The market of other consumer items boom in Asia.

D.Asia has suffered from a wider downturn.

答案(2)

3.Why it is likely that UK benefit most from the continuous prosperity of luxury sector?

A.London has become the largest luxury goods market in Europe.

B.A growing number of new luxury business is starting in London.

C.The European Union is giving the efficient and direct support a lot.

D.The UK's luxury goods sales profit most from gift-giving.

答案(3)

* * *

(1)答案：C.Creating employment.

解釋：文章第二段，歐洲奢侈品行業(yè)繁榮帶來的是新增了100000個工作崗位，1100000人直接被雇傭，促進了就業(yè)。

(2)答案：A.New anti-corruption legislation was announced in China.

解釋：文章第三段，歐洲奢侈品在亞洲銷售量減少主因是，打擊用奢侈品行賄受賄的行為。

(3)答案：B.A growing number of new luxury business is starting in London.

解釋：倒數(shù)第二、三段，英國可能成為奢侈品行業(yè)的贏家主要得益于倫敦成為了全球奢侈品的供應基地。