美国“黑五”线上消费创新高 火爆数据背后“冰火两重天”

Group 1: Core Insights - The U.S. consumer market is experiencing a dichotomy during the holiday shopping season, with record online spending on Black Friday reaching $11.8 billion, a 9.1% increase year-over-year, despite a decrease in the number of items purchased due to rising prices [1] - Retail sales (excluding automobiles) on Black Friday grew by 4.1% year-over-year, surpassing last year's 3.4%, with in-store sales increasing by 1.7% and online sales rising by 10.4%, although the latter's growth rate is lower than the previous year [1] - The average selling price has risen by 7%, leading to a 1% decline in order volume and a 2% decrease in the number of items purchased per transaction, indicating that spending growth is primarily driven by price increases rather than volume [2][5] Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Trends - High-income consumers are showing stronger spending power, driven by stock market wealth effects, while middle and low-income households are facing pressures from inflation, a weak job market, and high interest rates [2][5] - The use of AI-driven shopping tools has surged, with a reported 805% increase in AI-driven visits to retail websites compared to last year, as consumers increasingly rely on these tools for price comparison and discount tracking [3] - The holiday shopping season reflects a K-shaped economic recovery, where high-income consumers continue to spend on luxury goods and travel, while lower-income consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending [2][5] Group 3: Economic Indicators and Future Outlook - The U.S. labor market is showing signs of cooling, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.4%, the highest level since October 2021, which may further suppress consumer spending [6] - Despite short-term resilience in consumer spending, long-term growth momentum may weaken due to declining purchasing power among the general population and the ongoing high interest rate environment [6][7] - The Federal Reserve faces challenges balancing inflation control and employment stability, with recent comments from officials indicating a potential for interest rate cuts, which could influence future consumer spending patterns [7][8]