Anticipated Turnaround of U.S. Economy Marks Gradual Return to Optimism for Nation's Affluent Consumers

NEW YORK, NY, Nov 02 (MARKET WIRE) --
With the widely anticipated turnaround of the U.S. economy looming, the
unbridled pessimism that has afflicted affluent American consumers since
the onset of the Great Recession is dwindling. In its place is a sense of
gradually returning optimism, according to The Affluent Consumer Market
in the U.S., the latest report by leading market research publisher
Packaged Facts.

Notably, the study, based on data from Experian Simmons National Consumer
Study, reveals that half of affluent consumers have previously claimed to
be worse off financially than they were 12 months ago. The aftermath of
life in the new economy created a radical shift in the thinking and
behavior of affluent consumers, who increasingly favored belt-tightening
over extravagance and risk taking.

Economic analysts and social commentators remain divided in their views
about whether the Great Recession has caused a permanent change in
spending habits on the part of American consumers -- be they affluent or
otherwise. Nevertheless, Packaged Facts predicts the affluent cohort will
continue to wield considerable economic clout for the foreseeable future
as the returning optimism leads to increased, but careful spending.

"Although the affluent may feel less wealthy than before, as a group they
remain in a privileged position in relative terms and represent the most
attractive opportunity for marketers in the American consumer economy,"
says Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. "Affluent household income
is nearly four times larger than that of non-affluent households, and the
average affluent consumer unit spends nearly three times more than those
with an income of $70,000 and less."

In 2008 affluent households -- single person households with a $75,000+
income and multiple person households with a $100,000+ income -- made up
22% of all households, yet were responsible for generating 52% of
aggregate household income in the U.S., or a total of $4 trillion.
Packaged Facts projects that the number of affluent households will grow
from 26 million in 2009 to around 29 million in 2014, with aggregate
income reaching $5 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

The Affluent Consumer Market in the U.S. provides a timely, in-depth
analysis of how affluent consumers are responding to the most profound
economic crisis since the Great Depression. The report uses multi-year
data from Simmons studies to track affluent consumer attitudes and
behavior from the years preceding the onset of the Great Recession into
2009. Besides an in-depth demographic profile of affluent consumers, the
report assesses the size of the affluent market today and projects its
growth through 2014. For further information, please visit:
http://www.packagedfacts.com/redirect.asp?progid=76235&productid=2010386

About Packaged Facts - Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com,
publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics,
including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics,
pet products and services, and financial products. Packaged Facts also
offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit:
www.packagedfacts.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Contact:
Jenn Tekin
Packagedfacts.com
(240) 747-3015
jtekin@packagedfacts.com

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