关税战下的美国库存“倒计时”

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential impact of tariffs on U.S. inventory levels and how long these inventories can buffer against rising import costs and consumer prices [1]. Group 1: U.S. Inventory Analysis - As of February, the overall inventory-to-sales ratio in the U.S. manufacturing and trade sectors is approximately 1.5 months, with manufacturers at 1.9 months, wholesalers at 1.3 months, and retailers at 1.4 months, all at relatively low percentiles since the pandemic [4][8]. - If assuming that inventories from manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers are solely for domestic retail sales, the overall inventory could cover about 4.2 months of sales [5][9]. - The low inventory-to-sales ratios suggest limited buffering capacity against supply-demand imbalances, which could lead to upward pressure on inflation [5][9]. Group 2: Industry-Specific Inventory Insights - In the retail sector, categories such as furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics have a notably low inventory-to-sales ratio of just 1 month, placing them in the 6.5% percentile since the pandemic [13]. - Conversely, the automotive and building materials sectors have higher ratios, exceeding 2 months, indicating a more stable inventory position [13]. - In the manufacturing and wholesale sectors, categories like machinery and textiles show higher inventory-to-sales ratios, while electrical equipment remains low at around 1 month [6][14]. Group 3: PMI and Inventory Trends - The ISM manufacturing PMI inventory index fell to 50.8% in April from 53.4% in March, indicating a decrease in inventory accumulation as companies reduce stockpiling ahead of tariff implementations [17]. - The customer inventory index remains low at 46.2%, suggesting concerns about the sustainability of overall manufacturing inventory levels [17][18]. - Among 18 manufacturing sectors, 5 reported increased inventory levels in April, while 8 sectors, including textiles and transportation equipment, saw declines, reflecting a mixed inventory landscape [18].