Wells Fargo(US:WFC) Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-07-21 11:00Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of tariff policies on consumer spending and inflation in the U.S., highlighting that while consumer confidence has shown signs of recovery, the long-term effects of tariffs are likely to lead to increased inflation pressure as pre-tariff inventories are depleted [1][8]. Group 1: Consumer Confidence and Spending - The University of Michigan's consumer confidence index rose to 61.8 in July, marking a 5-month high, but remains 16% lower than before the Trump administration [1]. - Retail sales in June increased by 0.6%, exceeding market expectations, while consumer spending on debit and credit cards grew by 7% and 4% respectively in Q2 compared to the previous year [4][5]. - Despite these positive indicators, Wells Fargo warns that consumer spending is not as robust as previously thought, with households reducing discretionary service spending [4][5]. Group 2: Discretionary Spending Trends - Discretionary service spending has shown a concerning decline, with a 0.3% drop noted in May, and a contribution of only 0.3 percentage points to GDP in the first quarter, the lowest since Q2 2020 [5][7]. - Consumers are increasingly opting for essential goods over discretionary items, as evidenced by shopping behavior during Amazon's Prime Day, where essential items were prioritized [6][7]. Group 3: Tariff Policy Effects - The effective tariff rate currently stands at 20.6%, the highest since 1910, yet inflation data does not reflect significant price increases due to tariffs [8][9]. - Key factors mitigating the impact of tariffs include declining energy prices and the Federal Reserve's tightening monetary policy, which has kept inflation in a downward trend [8][10]. - Import behavior has shifted, with a significant increase in imports prior to tariff implementation, leading to a stockpiling effect that has buffered immediate price impacts [8][9]. Group 4: Economic Outlook - The overall economic growth in the U.S. is expected to slow, with various economic indicators showing mixed performance and a general contraction trend [2][10]. - Low-income households are particularly vulnerable, as they are quickly exhausting pandemic savings and facing rising debt levels, which could lead to a significant impact on overall consumer spending [7][10].