Previous Press Releases
Affluent Market Survey Shows Dim Prospects for Retailers this Holiday Season
Retailers are likely to see Christmas and Hanukah gift spending by affluent consumers at or below the levels of 2009 expenditures according to a new survey of the wealthiest 10% of US households by the American Affluence Research Center (AARC). In the AARC Fall 2010...
Affluent Show ‘Frugal Fatigue’ in New Survey: Report Plans for Increased Spending
Affluent Reveal Commitment to "Green" Lifestyle ATLANTA, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Evidence of "frugal fatigue" resulting from the past two years of reduced spending surfaced in a new survey by The American Affluence Research Center that shows plans for increased...
The “New Normal†for Consumer Spending and Retail Sales: Another Myth about the Affluent Market?
According to various retail consultants quoted in recent media publications, the current recession has average American consumers entering into a “new normal†that will be characterized by less household debt, higher personal savings, and less consumption. This...
The Myth of Luxury Shame: Having More Wealth than Family and Friends Has Had Little Affect on the Spending of the Affluent
In November 2008, Newsweek published an article stating that the American affluent population was “experiencing an unfamiliar emotion: luxury shameâ€. The article, as well as several others that have appeared in various media since then, explained that across...
Wealthy Americans Rest Their Heads on ‘The Marriott Bed’ and Hilton’s ‘Serenity Bed’ in NYC
Contrary to popular perception, affluent Americans do not spend lavishly on luxury hotel suites on Park Avenue. In ground breaking research on the definition of luxury and the spending habits of the wealthiest 10% of US households, respondents to a survey by the...
Buying a Toyota? You may be in “good†company.
Contrary to popular media hype, wealthy Americans do not spend wildly on luxury cars, opulent hotel rooms, or 4000 thread count sheets. In ground breaking research on the definition of luxury and the spending habits of the wealthiest 10% of US households, respondents...
Luxury Market Research — Popular Views of Conspicuous Consumption Debunked in Survey of Luxury Consumers Part 3 of 3
Contrary to assertions by some luxury market and retail consultants that the current economic problems are creating longer term changes in their lifestyles and reductions in spending on luxury and conspicuous consumption by America’s luxury consumers, Ron Kurtz,...
Luxury Market Research — Popular Views of Conspicuous Consumption Debunked in Survey of Luxury Consumers Part 2 of 3
“Luxury is a very ambiguous word that is used very looselyâ€, according to Ron Kurtz, President of The American Affluence Research Center (AARC), which has conducted a survey that provides a new view of the luxury market and how luxury consumers define luxury. In...
Luxury Market Research — Popular Views of Conspicuous Consumption Debunked in Survey of Luxury Consumers Part 1 of 3
For several years, luxury retail and marketing consultants have fed the media with anecdotal research about the luxury market as though the purchases of $700 Manolo Blahnik shoes, $1,000 Prada hand bags, and $250 True Religion jeans are common place among luxury...
Luxury Market Research — Affluent Market for Vacation Homes Looks Gloomy for Full Ownership and Private Residence and Destination Clubs
The potential market for vacation homes, including full ownership and private residence and destination clubs, has declined substantially from 2007 levels, reflecting losses in net worth and a negative 12-month outlook for the economy and personal income among the...
