More potential bad news for the global economic outlook: Chinese shoppers are likely to trim spending this year: dining out less often, delaying smartphone upgrades and cutting out impulse buys. China's economy grew at its slowest rate in a quarter of a century last year.

全球经济前景可能面临更多坏消息：中国消费者今年可能削减支出，比如减少外出就餐、推迟更换智能手机，以及停止冲动购物。中国经济在去年的增长速度是过去25以年来的最低值。

"Chinese consumers came to the rescue in 2015," wrote Tom Rafferty, analyst¹ at the Economist² Intelligence Unit in Beijing. "Their spending helped offset³ weakness in industry and investment, the traditional drivers of the Chinese economy."

北京经济学人信息社分析师Tom Rafferty写道：“中国消费者在2015年赶来救援。他们的支出有助于抵消了工业及投资疲软的拖累，工业和投资是中国经济成长的传统驱动力。”

There's no guarantee they'll do the same again this year.

但是，现在没人能保证他们2016年还会这么做。

A survey by ANZ bank published yesterday showed Chinese consumer confidence at a record low this month, and data from US-based research group's China Beige Book showed fourth-quarter job growth and wage gains at four-year lows.

澳新银行昨日发布的一项调查显示，1月份中国消费者信心指数创下历史新低。来自美国研究机构的中国褐皮书调查报告数据显示，四季度中国就业增长及薪资增长都处于四年来的最低值。

Those surveys were echoed by shoppers canvassed⁴ by Reuters in Shanghai, who said they would keep their spending in check and more likely cut back.

路透社在上海的一项调查显示，消费者表示他们会控制消费，且很有可能削减支出。

A man surnamed Zhou said he and his girlfriend spent around 70,000 yuan (US$10,642) last year dining out and another 40,000 yuan on clothes and accessories. He said they plan to cut back by nearly a third this year given the economy. "We'll cook more at home. I may replace my electronic products like mobile phones less frequently," he said.

一位周姓男子表示，去年他和女朋友外出就餐费用约为7万元人民币（折合10642美元），购买服装及配饰费用为4万元。该男子表示，鉴于目前的经济情况，2016年他们计划削减费用开支近1/3。他说：“我们会更多地在家做饭。我可能会不那么频繁地更换手机等电子产品。”

"I think the growth of my income cannot catch up with surging prices," said a 30-year-old shopper surnamed Zheng as she browsed⁵ through a store's mugs and bedsheets. "These things aren't necessary. I might control myself a little bit try not to go shopping too often."

一位30岁、在商店看杯子和床单的郑姓女子说道：“我觉得我的收入增长的速度，无法跟上物价上涨的速度。这些不是必需品。我可能会对自己有所控制……尽量不去过于频繁地购物。”

"We expect consumer spending growth to ease this year as wage increases moderate," wrote Louis Kuijs, head of Asia Economics at Oxford⁶ Economics. Harder hit may be China's elderly, who are seeing health costs eating into disposable income. Caught in the squeeze, too, are China's many small retailers⁷ who are entirely⁸ dependent on domestic demand for their survival.

牛津经济研究院亚洲经济主管高路易写道："由于薪资增速放缓，我们预测今年消费者支出增速将放缓。"更受冲击的可能是中国老年人，其保健费用正在耗费其可支配收入。中国许多小零售商也受到挤压，其生存完全依赖国内需求。