不止AI有‘闭环’，美股也在悄悄‘闭环’了，背后有何玄机？

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a non-typical economic cycle in the U.S. driven by layoffs and stock prices, suggesting that the perceived economic prosperity is based on asset price increases rather than real income growth [1][8]. Group 1: Economic Mechanism - The cycle begins with companies improving their profit margins by controlling costs, which includes layoffs and reducing non-core expenditures, even when revenue growth slows [2]. - As profits improve, stock prices rise, leading to an increase in household wealth, with recent estimates showing a nearly 15% annualized increase in U.S. household wealth driven by asset price appreciation rather than wage growth [3]. - The "wealth effect" kicks in as households feel richer due to asset appreciation, leading to increased consumption despite stagnant wage growth, with a noted effect of $1 in wealth leading to an additional 3.5 cents in consumption [4]. Group 2: Economic Stability and Risks - The cycle appears stable on the surface, with companies reporting strong earnings and consumer spending remaining resilient, but the underlying stability is fragile [8][9]. - Key vulnerabilities include low personal savings rates, which indicate that current consumption relies on past savings rather than current income, and a potential rapid decline in consumption if asset prices fall [10]. - Consumer confidence is low, with many households expecting income growth to lag behind inflation, suggesting that the current consumption growth is based more on perceived wealth than stable income [11][16]. Group 3: Labor Market and AI Influence - The labor market has not fully taken over the role of supporting consumption, with ongoing risks of labor market weakness potentially leading to a gap in economic support [17]. - The recent increase in household wealth has been significantly influenced by high valuations in AI-related technology companies, creating a narrow base for economic resilience [18][24]. - If the valuations of AI companies decline or fail to meet expectations, the support for household wealth and consumption could diminish, leading to broader economic implications [21][25]. Group 4: Indicators for Future Stability - Key indicators to monitor include whether personal savings rates can return to pre-pandemic levels, consumer confidence and income expectations, and the stability of high valuations in the tech/AI sector [25].