Lunar New Year, or Imlek, is the celebration of the new year according to the lunar calendar, a calendar system based on the cycle of the moon. This year, Imlek falls on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Chinese communities typically celebrate the Lunar New Year by gathering and having meals with family and friends.
According to a Milieu Insight survey, respondents from Chinese communities across Southeast Asia had already planned their Imlek shopping as early as December 2022.
For food products, the majority of respondents will buy fruits and vegetables (63%), snacks such as biscuits, candies, and chocolates (50%), and non-alcoholic beverages (44%).
For services, most respondents intend to celebrate Imlek with haircuts (73%) and facials (50%).
A significant number also plan to celebrate Imlek with domestic tourism or staycations (43%), watching movies in cinemas (42%), and purchasing film streaming services (32%).
"54% of respondents estimate that their spending for this year's Imlek celebration will be higher. Despite inflation, consumer spending plans for Imlek 2023 tend to be the same or higher than last year," said Milieu Insight in its report, *Chinese New Year 2023, Spending Patterns Across Southeast Asia*, released on Friday, January 6, 2023.
The Milieu survey involved 5,000 respondents spread across Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The survey was conducted online in December 2022.