美国典当行火了

Group 1 - American families are planning to spend about 2% less on back-to-school shopping this year compared to last year, leading to increased visits to pawn shops for essential items [1] - Pawn shops offer a wide range of back-to-school supplies, including sneakers, laptops, instruments, and mini-fridges, often at prices significantly lower than large retail stores [1] - The rise in tariffs on imported clothing and footwear, with some reaching up to 30%, has contributed to higher prices for essential back-to-school items, with shoe prices increasing by 1.4% and clothing prices by 0.1% in July [1] Group 2 - EZPawn, a chain with 500 locations, reports that prices at pawn shops can be up to 50% cheaper than large retail stores, with a 4% increase in sales last quarter, particularly in categories like footwear and electronics [2] - Approximately 98% of items sold at pawn shops are second-hand, making them exempt from tariffs, which is an attractive feature for budget-conscious consumers [2] Group 3 - There has been a significant increase in the number of families pawning gold and jewelry to obtain extra cash for school supplies, indicating a growing financial strain on households [3] - The National Pawnbrokers Association notes that customers who can access loans may be heavily indebted, while many regular pawn shop customers struggle to obtain traditional credit [3] - The busy nature of pawn shops may signal worsening economic conditions, as many customers are facing severe financial difficulties [3]