120 万人丢了饭碗，美股涨了 17 万亿：AI 正在把美国撕成两半

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights a paradox in the U.S. economy where significant layoffs and a perceived recession coexist with a booming stock market, particularly driven by AI and technology investments [5][20][36]. Group 1: Employment and Layoffs - Since 2025, U.S. companies have announced approximately 1.2 million layoffs, with the scale of layoffs expected to match levels seen during the 2008 financial crisis [5][7]. - In November alone, 71,321 jobs were announced for elimination, marking the third-highest monthly layoff figure on record [9]. - The manufacturing sector has been particularly hard hit, with a reduction of 18,000 jobs in November, continuing a trend of job losses in this sector [11][12]. Group 2: Economic Sentiment - A survey by Affirm indicates that 60% of Americans believe the economy is in a recession, primarily citing inflation and rising living costs as key factors [20][21]. - Despite the negative sentiment, market pricing suggests a low probability (33%) of a recession occurring before 2027, reflecting a disconnect between public perception and market performance [21][27]. Group 3: Stock Market Dynamics - The S&P 500 index has seen a significant increase, with a total market value rise of approximately $17 trillion since April, approaching historical highs [5][22]. - The current market rally is heavily concentrated among a few tech giants, with the top 10% of stocks accounting for about 76% of the market's total value, a record high [37][41]. - The article notes that the growth in GDP is largely driven by AI-related investments, which accounted for about 63% of the GDP increase in Q2 2025 [26][30]. Group 4: Economic Disparities - There is a growing divide between financial assets and the real economy, with private sector financial assets relative to GDP at historically high levels, indicating a "Wall St vs Main St" disparity [38][40]. - The article emphasizes that the ongoing economic conditions favor asset holders, suggesting that individuals without assets may face significant challenges in the current economic landscape [40].