美媒：美节日消费季遭遇“账单寒意”

Core Insights - The holiday shopping season in the U.S. is expected to be overshadowed by rising prices, trade tensions, and issues related to food assistance and healthcare, leading to significantly higher consumer costs compared to last year [1] Food Prices - The average cost of preparing a holiday meal for 12 people is projected to reach $362.80, a 5% increase from last year's $344.61 [2] - The average price of Thanksgiving turkey is expected to hit $2.05 per pound, resulting in a cost of approximately $31 for a 15-pound turkey, which is a 25% increase from the previous year [2] - Prices for roasted beef and steak have risen by 18.4% and 16.6% year-over-year, respectively [2] - Candy prices have increased by 8% to 10% due to a record shortage of cocoa beans, with tariffs on cocoa-producing countries further driving up chocolate prices [3] - Since January 2020, food prices in the U.S. have risen by approximately 26% [3] Holiday Decorations - Prices for holiday decorations are expected to rise by about 15% due to supply chain bottlenecks and tariff policies [4] - The National Tree Company has raised its product prices by 10%, attributing $6 to $7 million in additional costs to tariffs [4] - Consumers are expected to bear a significant portion of the increased costs, with estimates suggesting an additional $40 billion in holiday shopping costs due to new tariffs [4] Retail Sector Concerns - The ongoing decline in box sales has raised concerns about the performance of U.S. retailers during the holiday shopping season [5] - The third quarter saw the lowest shipment volume of corrugated boxes since 2015, with a year-over-year decline of 8.7% reported by Smurfit Kappa [6] - The weak demand for boxes, which are crucial for product transportation and display, indicates that retailers are adopting a more conservative approach to inventory and sales expectations for the holiday season [6]