-- 奧本海默公司的一項調查顯示，由於汽油價格高企，約五分之三的美國消費者計劃削減非必需支出，其中大多數人正在考慮減少旅行和娛樂方面的開支。 這家券商表示，在接受調查的1,000名家庭決策者中，重點關注了880名駕駛混合動力車或汽油車的受訪者。 該調查旨在評估汽油價格上漲對消費者行為的潛在影響，並確定如果燃油成本持續高企，他們可能會採取哪些行動。 奧本海默分析師布萊恩·納格爾和安德魯·查薩諾夫在周五的報告中指出，美國汽油價格已超過每加侖4美元，而近期低點為每加侖2.80美元。這次油價飆升是由於中東衝突導致供應中斷和生產停工，進而推高了原油價格。 納格爾和查薩諾夫寫道：“由於汽油價格高企，我們調查中近60%的受訪者表示計劃主動削減非必需支出，其中74%的人計劃每月減少超過400美元的非必需支出。” 奧本海默表示，調查顯示，計劃削減開支的人中有62%傾向於首先減少旅行和娛樂支出，例如體育賽事和音樂會。 調查也顯示，服裝和家居相關支出可能是消費者可以節省開支的其他領域。 密西根大學週五公佈的最終調查結果顯示，美國消費者信心指數較4月份的初步估計有所改善，但仍處於歷史低位，因為短期通膨預期錄得一年來最大的月增幅。 納格爾和查薩諾夫表示：“由於汽油價格至少在短期內仍將居高不下，我們預計受害者多於受益者，而且幾乎沒有‘避險天堂’。” “風險最大的行業包括運動休閒服飾、消費電子產品和中端家居用品連鎖店。”
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