2010/09/23

1.5% of Britons say they are gay or bisexual, ONS survey finds

Figures from Office of National Statistics much lower than the most commonly used estimate of 5% to 7%
Datablog: get the full data behind the ONS sexual identity survey

Belfast Couple Hold UKs First Gay Wedding 
Henry Kane (r) and Christopher Flanagan celebrate their civil partnership. The ONS figures found that over 45% of the gay community was cohabiting. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images 
 
Nearly three-quarters of a million adults in Britain say they are gay or bisexual, according to figures published for the first time today by the Office of National Statistics.

The findings, based on interviews with more than 450,000 people – the biggest pool of social data after the census – show that an estimated 481,000 people regard themselves as gay and a further 245,000 – mainly women – say they are bisexual.

The estimate puts Britain's gay community at 1.5% of the total population – much lower than the most commonly used estimate of 5% to 7%, which was cited by ministers introducing civil partnership legislation and implied a non-heterosexual population of 3.5 million.

The ONS said the higher estimate was based on different sampling methods and responses to questions about sexual attraction and behaviour both in the past and present.

The latest detailed figures show that gay people are much more likely to be in managerial or professional occupations – 49% compared with 30% for straight workers - and better educated, with 38% holding a degree. Their age profile is also much younger than the rest of the population, with 66% under the age of 44 and 17% aged 16 to 24.

Just over 45% of the gay community are cohabiting, although only 8% live in a household with at least one child present. A third of bisexual households include at least one child.
London is home to the highest concentration of gay people at 2.2% of the population, while this proportion falls to 0.9% in Northern Ireland.

The ONS said it was confident its survey had produced an accurate estimate based on a question of self-perceived sexual identity. Respondents were provided with a showcard containing four options: heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual or other. They were asked which option best described themselves.

Privacy from other household members was preserved by asking them to say "stop" when their option was reached. The ONS said a valid response was provided by 96% of those surveyed, with fewer than 4% refusing to respond to the question. The statisticians said this group could not be assumed to be secretly gay.

The results of the first Integrated Household Survey also showed that 71% of people in the UK say they are Christian, 4% are Muslim and 21% have no religious affiliation.

The statistics on religion – the first since the 2001 census – appeared to challenge the pope's assertion last week that Britain had become a country marked by an "aggressive secularism".

The data on religious affiliation showed that Slough had the highest concentration of religious devotion in England at 93%. Brighton had the lowest at 58%.

NEW PRODUCTS IN THE U.S. MARKET – FEBREZE® FLAMELESS IUMINARYS

研究美國及海外國家的新興產品至今已經超過三十年的歷史。我研究的範疇包括飲料、健康、美容產品,家用品,甚至寵物專用的產品。也和太太收集了為數可觀的收藏品,截自今天為止足足超過180個品項。而這些數量驚人的收藏品,我都仔細收好放在位於密西根州的安雅柏(Ann Arbor)的倉庫內。曾和另一位作者,共同寫了一本書,這本書叫作《消費者到底在想什麼?》(What Were They Thinking?)儘管現在呈現半退休狀態,我仍對這些在市場上推陳出新的產品感到著迷不已。其中今天要介紹的主力商品便是擺放在正居住的南加州商店架上。


           For more than 30 years, I have studied new consumer products which have been introduced on the American and overseas markets.  These included foods and beverages, health and beauty aids, household products and pet products.  My wife and I amassed a huge collection (over 180 thousand items now) of the winners and losers which are presently housed in a facility in Ann Arbor Michigan. With a co-author, I wrote a book on the subject outlining the reasons for failure called “What Were They Thinking?”  Despite being semi-retired these days I continue to be fascinated by the new entries which come on the market.  For the most part, we see products that show up on the local shelves of the retail stores in Southern California where we now live.

仔細注意電視廣告,可以發現在家附近新開的連鎖百貨Target Store架上,有著由寶僑家品(Procter & Gamble)新生產的香芬產品,它是個名為febreze®的空氣清新芳香噴霧,用可回收再利用的木盒裝著,閃著神祕燈光,還能選擇香味。
  
盒內的燈光以電池方式供電,並在木盒底部以金字塔的造型呈現。顯然的這樣的燈光能足以提供熱能,一方面能有迷人的光線,一方面又能讓香味芬芳滿室。香水的味道分很多種,其中最受人關注的是「小紅莓梨果(Cranberry Pear」、「燦開楊花香(Willow Blossom Nature)」。若是香水放在盒內,燈光也一併點上時。四小時候,燈光會自動熄滅。要是想要重新點燈,只要將香水瓶重新裝上即可。這些都是「中國製造」的商品,這些也許在當地已經盛行許久,但美國大眾可是第一次看到這麼聰明的室內燈飾。這項已專利申請中。(Patent Pending
           Spotted on television advertising initially, and found on the shelves of a newly remolded Target Store in our area is a really innovative fragrance-type product from Procter & Gamble. It is a “febreze® home collection flameless luminary” which comes in a square box containing a “reusable wooden base, changeable scented shades and a soft flickering light.”  The “light” is a battery operated small pyramid-shaped light mounted on the wooden base.  It apparently warms up enough when lit to activate the scented shade you place over the light source.  The shades themselves are transparent and printed with different attractive designs.  Fragrances are varied, and include two we spotted as “Cranberry Pear” and “Willow Blossom Nature.”   Assuming the shade (which activates the light when pushed down on the base) is left alone, the light extinguishes itself after four hours.  To reactivate the light, the user picks up the shade and replaces it on the base.  “Made in China,” these may already be available overseas.  But we have never seen anything like these clever room luminaries before!    The packages are marked “Patent Pending”!

普遍來說,在美國除了荒郊野外之外,電力在每一個家庭中都能隨手可得。只要沒有颱風來襲. 物干擾,或其它天災,電力可以維持24小時沒有問題。儘管燭光已經成為幾世紀以來的主要照明工具,電燈照明仍是現代人的主要照明工具。直到今天,蠟燭仍成 為美國消費者在燭光晚餐時,作為添加氣氛的最佳首選。還有另外一種兩全其美的由電力供應的人工蠟燭,現在深受兩派人馬歡迎。顯然地,電蠟燭能夠以各種形狀 出現,在家裡的各個角落,當然,亮度更是不容置疑。
           Generally speaking, electricity is plentiful in almost every home in America except very rural or wilderness areas.   Without interference from severe storms or other natural occurrences, it is available 24 hours a day.  So whereas candles served as one of the main light source generations ago, electric lights are our main source of illumination.  Candles are and have always been popular among many American consumers as they add a certain ambience to the dining room table or around the sitting room in the evening. And artificial candles, powered by batteries have become quite popular.  These can range from the tall simulated wax candles placed in holders, to broad-based artificial wax candles available with a battery-powered light in the candle, itself.  Obviously, artificially powered candles of any type can be considered safer to use around the house than those which are actually burned with lighted flames.

在這個同時,美國家庭都是由愉悅的香味所組成的。美國人也持續接受不同觀念的轟炸,用不同味道的芳香佈置家裡的氣氛,並且讓家中的每一個成員住得更開心。經過這些時間,香氛蠟燭更受歡迎了。有時候用這些蠟燭讓原本不甚好聞的家裡改變氣味。有的時候讓氣味更芳香。寶僑家品與莊臣(the S.C. Johnson Company)是最大的芳香器製造商。屬於寶僑家品的“Febreze®的噴霧劑,氣融膠等小工具,更是美國現今最暢銷的家庭用芳香器產品。Febreze®也用在P&G 的洗滌劑,衣物柔軟劑,還有多種用來清潔毛毯、窗簾的清潔劑裡。只要去零售商店走一圈,就能輕易認出我們平常用的那些牌子,在今天的市場佔有率頗高。零售業在今天萎靡不振的經濟中是唯一還能緩慢成長的產業。這些不靠打廣告的小眾品牌,在此時成為這個市場上的領導者。行銷的創意永遠趕不及消費者的喜新厭舊。Time waits for no marketer to innovate

           At the same time, Americans are fond of “pleasant smelling” homes.  We are constantly bombarded with new concepts and configurations for fragrances to change the home atmosphere to make it more pleasant for the occupants. Over a number of the past several years, fragranced real candles have become popular.  Sometimes these are used to mask unpleasant household odors, and at other times to make the ambience pleasanter.  Procter & Gamble along with the S.C. Johnson Company are the largest manufacturers of consumer-used air-changing products.  P&G’s “Febreze®” brand of sprays, aerosols and “gadgets” is probably the best selling line of fragrance-changing products in America at this time.  Febreze® is also used in P&G detergents and fabric softeners, and in various household chemical products for cleaning rugs and drapes and floors, etc. Visits to retailers indicate that most of the older well recognized brands of this category of products have for the most part, disappeared!   Retailers in these days of the poor economy are ceasing to stock the slower moving, unadvertised or under-advertised items and brands which were at one time the leaders. “Time waits for no marketer to innovate”

P&G
的新產品創新絕對不同凡響。消費者見到的第一眼就會馬上被吸引住了。我認為這款既聰明又獨特的新產 品充滿無窮潛力。但不幸地,我也必須對這款不尋常的產品表達個人意見。大筆數字的退稅會成為這款產品的包袱,一個正方形的平盒包裝內裝有兩支,這樣會造成 零售通路成本很大的負擔。光是一盒內兩包裝就要價4.95美元了。況且包裝上還有「為了保持氣味持久,請每周更換燈芯」這樣的建議。消費者看到這樣的建議只好望之卻步,裹足不前了。因為很少有任何一個消費者願意在這樣的經濟不景氣的時代,讓自己的錢包跟自己過意不去。

           This innovative new entry from from P&G is definitely unusual, and attracted our attention immediately when we first saw the advertising.  I give it a potential top rating for a clever and unique new produce   Unfortunately, I have to express my concern that while the whole concept is unusual, a potential drawback is the cost of the refill “shades.”  Two come individually sealed, packed in a square, flat box.  But they carry a high retail cost -- apparently $4.95 for the box of two refills.  With the suggestion “To refresh the scent, REPLACE the shade every week,” we remain concerned over the expense of replacement.  Hardly an expenditure the average consumer may want to make in these economically difficult times.  

然而這項產品最終還是拿到了四顆星,絕對的高分,希望這項產品在市場上最終能得到巨大迴響。

           They get my vote of 4 stars for uniqueness – and I hope they become a big success.

英國酒店推“經濟型婚禮” 199英鎊全包

http://www.chinareviewnews.com   2010-09-20 16:27:39  


廉價的婚禮一樣很浪漫
中評社北京9月20日電/婚禮,可謂對新郎新娘打理未來生活的第一次考驗。受金融危機影響,越來越多的準新人們希望 辦一場既不失體面和浪漫、又能把預算降到最低的經濟型婚禮,而精明的商家也瞅準了其中的商機。據英國每日郵報18日報道,英國一家連鎖酒店從11月1日將 推出全英最便宜的婚禮服務套餐,屆時新人們舉辦一場有20位嘉賓出席的婚禮只需掏199英鎊。

中國日報引述報道,今年的統計結果顯示,英國每對新人平均在婚禮上的開支是2.1萬英鎊,然而普裡米爾酒店(Premier Inn)在英格 蘭沃靈頓等5家分店推出的“最節儉婚禮”服務的價格還不到這個平均價的1/100。酒店提供舉辦一場婚禮必不可少的內容:新娘的婚紗、新郎的禮服、結婚蛋 糕、一頓可供20名客人享用的自助餐、撒在新人身上的五彩紙屑,甚至還有伴郎的發言稿。另外,酒店提供兩晚帶一日三餐的蜜月套房。新婚夫婦晚上可以穿著免 費睡衣,躺在灑滿玫瑰花瓣的大床上,品嘗美味的葡萄酒。

當然,以如此低廉的價格提供這麼齊全的服務,酒店對每項內容的標準自然不會定得太高:婚紗、禮服和蛋糕均是從超市購買的,自助餐只有一瓶酒精飲料。但對於手頭不寬裕的準新人來說,這種經濟實惠的婚禮服務還是很具有吸引力。

酒店發言人史蒂夫.康韋說:“婚禮不一定要花很多錢才能辦得特別。希望我們的婚禮套餐能讓新人度過愉快、浪漫又沒有經濟壓力的一天。”他還表示,這項服務暫時只接受10對預定名額,服務將持續到今年聖誕節,如果反饋良好,會考慮在更多分店內提供廉價婚禮套餐。
Source

英國8月零售銷售一月份以來首降

2010年09月16日 16:50:55
英國國家統計局(ONS)周四公布數據顯示,英國8月份零售銷售下降0.5%,對經濟復蘇造成影響,表明消費需求下降領先於政府削減開支計劃。
路透社
英國8月份零售銷售一月份首降
2010年1月14日,英國購物者攜帶Primark 購物袋在行走。
 
國家統計局數據顯示,8月份零售銷售數據意外下降,主要由於藥店、書店、體育用品店銷售額下降引起。

經濟學家此前預計8月份零售銷售微升0.3%。作為經濟步伐的指針的零售銷售數據表明,英國上半年經濟或將是曲線是增長朗讀

《路透社》援引倫敦諮詢機構Capital Economics經濟學家Vicky Redwood表示,"8月份零售銷售下降,這可能是最近消費者支出意外反彈將要結束的第一個跡象。"

他表示:"誠然,由於此前三個月零售銷售額都穩步增長,現在8月份意外下降0.5%,我們對此可能會有很多擔心。不過仍然期待第三季度中,零售銷售能夠對GDP增長作出積極貢獻。
英國第二大零售商Next Plc預計,低增長的銷售環境,將使全年前景黯淡。

報告公布后,英鎊兌美元走低,下跌0.4個百分點。

同時,英國央行周四公布調查顯示,明年英國公眾預期通貨膨脹上升。根據英國央行-GFK NOP Inlaftion Attitudes調查,與今年5月份預測值3.3%相比,預計明年通脹將為3.4%。
本周公布的數據顯示,整體通脹保持3.1%不變,遠高於英國央行的2%的目標。
7月份零售銷售修訂后,意外上升0.8%。

與去年同期相比,今年8月份零售銷售額增長0.4%,但遠低於分析師預計的將增長2%。
今年8月,主要食品商店銷售下降0.5%,而非食品商店銷售下降0.7%。除了非專門商店外,各個部門普遍降低,增加了0.9%,專門商店銷售則增長0.9%。統計局數據顯示,無店面零售銷售增長了2.1%。

6月至8月份銷售總額比前三個月增長了1.4%。

Want to be happy? Don't live in the UK

UK and Ireland are the worst places in Europe for quality of life – and France is the best – new study finds
london britain rain 
Miserable weather, not enough holidays, and lower life expectancy ... why live in the UK? Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA
 
The UK and Ireland have been named as the worst places to live in Europe for quality of life, according to research published today.

 
The UK has the 4th highest age – 63.1 – at which people choose or can afford to take retirement, and one of the lowest holiday entitlements. Net household income in the UK is just £2,314 above the European average, compared with £10,000 above average last year, falling behind Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark.

 
UK workers enjoy a week less holiday than the European average and three weeks less than the Spanish, while the UK's spend (as a percentage of GDP) on health and education is below the European average and UK food and diesel prices are the highest in Europe. Unleaded petrol, electricity, alcohol and cigarettes all cost more than the average across the continent.

Ireland has the lowest numbers of hours of sunshine, the second lowest government spend on health as a proportion of GDP and the second highest retirement age of 64.1.

If that's not bad enough, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Sweden and Italy all enjoy a longer life expectancy than the UK, according to uSwitch.com's latest Quality of Life Index.
The study examined 16 factors to understand where the UK sits in relation to nine other major European countries. Variables such as net income, VAT and the cost of essential goods, such as fuel, food and energy bills, were examined along with lifestyle factors, such as hours of sunshine, holiday entitlement, working hours and life expectancy.

France took the top spot for the second year running, despite families earning an annual net income of only £32,766 – £4,406 below that of the UK. In fact, the UK scores well in several categories (such as low VAT, decent pay and reasonable working hours) making its overall ranking surprising.

uSwitch explained that it did not give each individual factor a standardised weighing because each category has "different levels of importance to each individual". It said the UK's investment in health and education – or lack of it – had a significant impact on its score in the index.

France enjoys the earliest retirement age (joint with Poland), spends the most on healthcare (11% of GDP) and has the longest life expectancy in Europe at 81.09 years. Its workers also benefit from 36 days holiday a year – compared with just 28 in the UK – and it comes only behind Spain (second in the rankings) and Italy for hours of sunshine.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "Last year compared with our European neighbours we were miserable but rich, this year we're miserable and poor. Whereas some countries work to live, UK consumers live to work. The picture looks bleak for British consumers, with confidence crumbling as the reality of the government's deficit reduction starts to bite. But for those of us who decide to stick it out and ride the storm, there will be no choice but to batten down the hatches.

"There are positive signs that consumers are already cutting back, curtailing spending and trying to clear outstanding debt, but more could be done. Taking control of our household finances may be the only way we can steer through these turbulent times until we reach a point where we can start to see our quality of life improve."
Source
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