关税阴影下，美国零售业之“怪现象”（环球热点）

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the unusual phenomena in the U.S. retail industry following the announcement of new tariffs, highlighting the impact on pricing, inventory management, and consumer behavior amid rising costs and economic uncertainty [4][12]. Group 1: Pricing Dynamics - Global prices for identical products remain stable, but U.S. consumers face potential price increases due to new tariffs, with Adidas CEO reporting losses in the hundreds of millions of euros due to tariffs affecting their supply chain [5][6]. - Procter & Gamble plans to raise prices by approximately 5% on about a quarter of its products in the U.S. market to offset an increase in costs of $1 billion due to tariffs [5]. - A study found that 29% of 230 tracked products on platforms like Amazon and Walmart saw price increases averaging nearly 6% since March 2 [6]. Group 2: Retailer Challenges - U.S. retailers are stockpiling goods to mitigate rising procurement costs, leading to increased warehousing expenses [8]. - Retailers like Best Buy and various small businesses are struggling to pass on the full cost of tariffs to consumers, resulting in reduced profit margins [8][9]. - The phenomenon of stockpiling is seen as a temporary solution, with inevitable price increases expected once inventories are depleted [9]. Group 3: Consumer and Investment Sentiment - The new tariffs, effective August 7, are causing heightened anxiety among businesses and consumers, with many small business owners reporting order cancellations and increased costs [9][10]. - Consumer spending is showing signs of decline, with the PCE price index rising 2.6% year-over-year, indicating inflationary pressures [11]. - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is expected to suppress both consumer spending and business investment, potentially leading to slower economic growth [12].