On Nov. 26, the Nishi Nippon City Bank published results from a survey taken in 2011, asking homemakers in Fukuoka City how they spend their end-of-year bonus money. The top response (62.8%) was to add the money to savings. This has been the top result of the survey for the past 20 years. The second highest response (37.6%) was to spend the bonus money on trips and leisure, followed by 28.8% who answered they will keep the money for extra everyday spending, and another 28.8% who plan to spend the bonus on their children’s education. Another question in the survey asked homemakers whether they have refrained from spending the bonus because of an expected rise in consumption tax – 24% of respondents answered yes, and 49.5% answered no to this. When asked which item homemakers have refrained from purchasing with their bonus money- the top item was car, followed by electrical appliances, homes and real estate. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun Nov 27, p.13
