美国8月零售销售或逆势增长 消费韧性成经济关键支撑

Group 1 - The overall performance of the US economy in August was weak, with rising unemployment and inflation, but consumer spending is expected to be a bright spot, with retail sales projected to grow by 0.2% month-on-month [1] - High-income households are playing a crucial role in supporting consumer spending despite economic weaknesses, as increased household wealth from a bull market and rising home prices allows for continued spending [1] - The unemployment rate in August rose to 4.3%, the highest level since 2021, with a significant downward revision of nearly 1 million jobs in employment estimates for 2023-2024 [1] Group 2 - Retail sales have shown resilient growth over the past year, with consumer spending in August increasing by 0.4% month-on-month and 1.7% year-on-year, indicating strong consumer resilience [2] - There is a divergence between weak job growth and strong consumer spending, which may not be sustainable in the long term; the future economic direction will depend on whether consumer spending or the labor market adjusts first [2] - Executives from major companies express optimism about consumer resilience, suggesting that as long as the right products or services are available, consumers will continue to spend actively [3] Group 3 - Future months will require attention to tariff policies and their impact on consumer behavior, especially with the holiday shopping season approaching, as rising prices due to tariffs could challenge consumer spending [3] - The upcoming retail sales data is critical ahead of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting, with a strong or weak retail sales report likely to influence market expectations regarding future monetary policy [3]