Walmart(US:WMT) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-02 19:47Group 1 - The consumer confidence index in the U.S. dropped nearly 6% in August, ending a two-month recovery trend [1] - The primary victims of this decline are middle-class families, particularly those with incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, whose confidence levels are nearing those of low-income groups [3] - Retail giant Walmart reported that middle and low-income consumers are strictly controlling spending, with a significant decrease in non-essential items in their shopping carts [3] Group 2 - The restaurant industry is feeling the pressure, with chain restaurant executives noting that middle-class customers are actively seeking discounts and opting for cheaper menu items [6] - Fast food chains have seen an increase in traffic from middle-class customers shifting to lower-priced restaurants, while low-income customer visits have decreased [6] - High-income consumers continue to show strong spending, with airlines reporting robust sales of premium tickets and a contrasting weakness in economy class [6] Group 3 - A survey indicates that over 70% of respondents plan to further cut their spending in the coming year, surpassing the levels seen during the inflation surge in 2022 [9] - High-income groups are more likely to maintain their spending habits, while middle and low-income families are forced to adjust their spending structures [9] - This trend of consumer spending differentiation is expected to persist and have profound impacts on the overall economy [9]