激活“八月魔咒”的首个拼图? 美国非农远逊于预期 华尔街陷入抛售恐慌

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. labor market is showing significant signs of weakness, with recent non-farm payroll data indicating a sharp decline in job growth, which has heightened expectations for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1][5][6]. Labor Market Data - In July, non-farm employment increased by only 73,000, far below the expected 104,000, and previous months' figures were revised down by nearly 260,000 [6][8]. - The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2%, aligning with market expectations [6]. - Over the past three months, the average monthly job growth was only 35,000, marking the worst performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began [1][5]. Economic Implications - The slowdown in job growth and rising unemployment are contributing to risks for consumer and business spending, which are already showing signs of deceleration [5][9]. - The labor market's deterioration is increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to consider interest rate cuts, especially in light of the conflicting economic signals [7][8]. Sector-Specific Insights - Job losses were particularly pronounced in manufacturing, professional and business services, and government sectors, with federal government jobs decreasing for six consecutive months [8][9]. - Despite the overall job market weakness, demand in other sectors remains relatively healthy, with job vacancies still above pre-pandemic levels [9][10]. Market Reactions - Following the release of the disappointing non-farm payroll data, U.S. stock index futures experienced significant declines, reflecting a surge in selling sentiment on Wall Street [8][12]. - Historical data suggests that August is typically a challenging month for stock performance, with the S&P 500 index often experiencing declines during this period [11][12].