Group 1 - The U.S. consumers are facing a new wave of price increases as companies from food giants to hardware chains warn that tariff costs are being passed on to retail prices [1][2] - Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have indicated that tariff-related price hikes are gradually reflected in the costs of grocery items, home goods, and electronics [1] - J.M. Smucker warned of a 22% drop in coffee profits due to tariffs, leading to further price increases [1] - Hormel Foods noted a sharp rise in commodity input costs after its quarterly performance fell short of expectations, resulting in a 12% drop in its stock price [1] - A recent ruling by a federal appeals court deemed most of Trump's global import tariffs unconstitutional, adding uncertainty to future costs for retailers and consumers [1] Group 2 - The former CEO of Gap expressed that the current situation is beyond control, indicating that businesses cannot determine the relationship between product costs, retail pricing, and profit margins [2] - Retail executives warned that more price increases are imminent as new inventory is procured at higher costs [2] - Walmart's CEO mentioned that the company is trying to maintain low prices as long as possible, but costs are expected to continue rising into the third and fourth quarters [2] - The economic pressure is forcing retailers to weigh how much cost can be absorbed and how much will inevitably be passed on to consumers [2] - A consumer confidence survey showed a nearly 6% decline in August compared to July, with inflation expectations rising from 4.5% to 4.8% [2] Group 3 - Consumer behavior in the U.S. is changing, with households across income levels becoming more selective about where and how they spend [3] - Whirlpool's CEO noted that consumers are starting to purchase lower-end products, while Procter & Gamble observed a slight downgrade in brand preferences [3] - The concept of "alternative consumption" is emerging, where consumers opt for cost-effective substitutes rather than purely downgrading [3] - Retailers like TJX, Ross, and Marshall's are benefiting as consumers seek lower-priced brand items [3]