特朗普赚大了，达成协议签下9000亿美元订单，但消费信心却三连降

Group 1: Economic Pressure on South Korea and Japan - Trump is demanding a total of $900 billion from Japan and South Korea, with Japan expected to contribute $550 billion and South Korea $350 billion, framing it as a "prepayment" rather than investment or cooperation [1][12] - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed concerns that the pressure for such large investments could lead to systemic risks reminiscent of the 1997 financial crisis, as the country lacks robust foreign exchange reserves and economic growth [3] - Japan's investment list includes major companies like SoftBank and Hitachi, focusing on energy and AI, with most investments backed by government institutions [3] Group 2: Declining Consumer Confidence in the U.S. - U.S. consumer confidence index fell to 94.6 in October 2025, marking the lowest level since April of the same year, with short-term expectations dropping to 71.5, indicating potential economic recession [3][14] - A significant 43% of U.S. respondents reported that high prices are affecting their living standards, an increase of 4 percentage points from July [3] - The retail sales growth in April 2025 slowed to 0.1%, a stark decline from 1.7% in March, reflecting the impact of declining consumer confidence [5] Group 3: Impact of Tariff Policies - Trump's tariff policies are identified as a major factor contributing to the decline in consumer confidence, with the U.S. trade deficit widening by 22.1% to $103.6 billion in July [5] - The Atlanta Federal Reserve revised the U.S. GDP growth forecast for Q3 down to 2.2% due to the economic impact of tariffs [5] - The frequency of the term "tariff" mentioned in earnings calls has reached a ten-year high, indicating growing concern among companies about economic uncertainty [6] Group 4: Inflation and Economic Outlook - Inflation expectations among U.S. consumers rose to 4.9% for the next year, significantly above the Federal Reserve's comfort zone [8] - The average tariff rate is projected to increase from 10% to approximately 15%, further straining consumer prices [8] - The U.S. CPI rose by 2.7% year-on-year, with core CPI nearing a 3.1% annualized growth rate, impacting the quality of life for middle and low-income families [11] Group 5: Employment and Consumer Behavior - The U.S. job market shows signs of structural weakness, with only 22,000 non-farm jobs added in August, below market expectations [8] - There is a notable shift in consumer behavior, with more Americans opting for personal loans over high-interest credit card debt, as personal loan issuance surged by 18% year-on-year [9] - Retailers are facing tough decisions, with companies like Walmart and Target adapting differently to rising costs due to tariffs, impacting their profit margins [15]