2024年新年，美国民众迎来了被称为‘最贵新年’的节日季。受持续高通胀影响，从食品、交通到娱乐和礼品，各项节日开销显著上涨。根据美国劳工统计局数据，2023年消费者物价指数（CPI）虽有所回落，但仍高于疫情前水平，尤其是食品杂货价格同比上涨近5%。许多家庭在筹备新年聚会时发现，一顿普通年夜饭的成本比往年高出数十美元。此外，机票、酒店和跨年活动门票价格也水涨船高，令不少民众感叹‘过不起节’。经济学家指出，尽管美联储加息在一定程度上抑制了通胀，但核心商品和服务价格仍居高不下，加之工资增长未能完全跟上物价涨幅，导致实际购买力下降。‘最贵新年’不仅反映了当前美国经济的结构性压力，也凸显了普通家庭在节日季面临的财务困境。一些非营利组织和地方政府已开始提供节日援助，帮助低收入群体渡过难关。专家建议，消费者应提前规划预算、比较价格，并考虑简化庆祝方式，以减轻经济负担。
As Americans ushered in the New Year in 2024, many faced what media outlets dubbed the ‘most expensive New Year’s holiday’ in recent memory. Persistent inflation has driven up costs across nearly every category of holiday spending—from groceries and transportation to gifts and entertainment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, although the Consumer Price Index (CPI) eased slightly in 2023, it remained significantly above pre-pandemic levels, with grocery prices alone rising nearly 5% year-over-year. Families preparing traditional New Year’s meals found their grocery bills tens of dollars higher than in previous years. Airfare, hotel stays, and tickets to New Year’s Eve events also surged in price, leaving many consumers feeling priced out of the festivities. Economists note that while the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have helped temper inflation, core goods and services remain costly. With wage growth failing to fully keep pace with rising prices, household purchasing power has declined. This ‘most expensive New Year’ not only reflects broader structural pressures in the U.S. economy but also highlights the financial strain on ordinary families during the holiday season. In response, some nonprofits and local governments have launched holiday assistance programs for low-income households. Experts advise consumers to budget early, compare prices, and consider simpler celebrations to ease the financial burden.
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