Chinese consumers emulating the Japanese?

We have all seen the LV stores throughout the world bustling with Japanese tourists taking advantage of some modern day consumer arbitrage. Well based on a recent report by Bain & Co., it seems the Chinese are giving the Japanese a run for their money. More than half of all luxury goods purchased by the Chinese, were bought abroad. An estimated $13 billion, of which half of that was spent in Hong Kong & Macau, and the rest amongst the fashion capitals like Paris and New York.

LVMH claim that their LV products cost on average 35% more in China - is this not just a well structured plan to aid the French Tourism Board attract their pocket heavy friends from the east to some retail therapy?

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