Core Viewpoint - Recent signs indicate that American consumers are abandoning travel plans to save expenses, which may serve as an early warning signal of a broader economic slowdown in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Travel Consumption Trends - According to TS Lombard's analysis of TSA data, U.S. airport passenger throughput has declined year-on-year for the first time since the pandemic, indicating a negative growth in air traffic [1] - American Airlines and Delta Airlines have seen stock declines of 22.46% and 20.37% respectively, while American Airlines and JetBlue have dropped by 39% and over 40% [4] - In May, U.S. airline travel spending fell by 11% year-on-year, with accommodation spending down approximately 2.5% and air travel spending down 6% [3] Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Economic Indicators - Consumer confidence in the U.S. has sharply declined since the beginning of the year, with spending on travel accommodations and air travel lower across all income groups compared to the same period in 2024 [1] - The low-income group has shown a significant reduction in travel spending, particularly after the announcement of large tariffs by President Trump [3] - High-income groups are also tightening their wallets, with a 7 percentage point drop in air travel spending growth for those earning over $150,000 [3] Group 3: Impact on Airlines and Hotels - Major airlines have withdrawn their full-year earnings forecasts for 2025 due to economic uncertainty affecting demand [4] - Hotel groups like Marriott and Hyatt have revised their 2025 profit expectations downward, with Wyndham reducing its RevPAR growth forecast from 2%-3% to -2%-1% [4] - The current environment is expected to test key metrics in the hotel industry, such as occupancy rates and average daily rates [4] Group 4: International Travel and Perception - A report from Oxford Economics predicts a 9% decline in international visitors to the U.S. this year, resulting in an estimated $8.5 billion reduction in spending [7] - Negative perceptions of U.S. trade and immigration policies are contributing to a decrease in international tourist arrivals, particularly from France and Germany [7] - American tourists are also planning fewer long-haul trips abroad, with a 7% decrease in those planning to travel to Europe this summer [7] Group 5: Economic Outlook and Consumer Spending - The increase in tariffs is expected to significantly lower U.S. economic growth rates in 2025, impacting consumer purchasing power and stock markets [8] - Rising inflation and slowing job growth may lead to a decline in real wage growth below 1% by the end of the year, making it difficult for consumers to maintain current spending levels [8] - The depletion of excess savings accumulated during the pandemic has returned bank deposits to 2019 levels, indicating a potential strain on consumer spending [8]

Core Insights - Travel spending in the U.S. is declining, indicating potential early warning signs of an economic slowdown [1][3][4] - Consumer confidence has sharply decreased since the beginning of the year, leading to reduced travel expenditures across all income groups [1][3] - The airline industry is experiencing significant declines in ticket sales, particularly in the economy class, due to economic uncertainty [3][4] Group 1: Travel Spending Trends - U.S. airline travel spending fell by 11% year-on-year in May [3] - Accommodation spending decreased by approximately 2.5% year-on-year, while airline spending dropped by 6% [3] - Low-income groups have shown a notable contraction in travel spending, with significant reductions in ticket purchases following the announcement of tariffs [3][4] Group 2: Airline Industry Impact - Major U.S. airlines have seen stock declines, with American Airlines and JetBlue down over 40% [4] - Airlines have withdrawn their full-year earnings forecasts for 2025 due to economic uncertainties [4] - The current environment is expected to challenge key hotel industry metrics such as occupancy rates and average daily rates [4] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Economic Indicators - The trend of cautious spending has extended to high-income groups, with a 7 percentage point drop in ticket spending growth for those earning over $150,000 [3] - The International Air Transport Association reported a 26.2% year-on-year drop in revenue passenger kilometers for North America, significantly higher than the global average decline of 4.2% [3] - Economic analysts suggest that current consumer fatigue may indicate future declines in booking volumes [4] Group 4: International Travel and Perception - A report predicts a 9% decrease in international visitors to the U.S. this year, with a projected reduction of $8.5 billion in spending [6] - Negative perceptions of U.S. trade and immigration policies are impacting potential tourists' decisions [6] - American tourists are also reducing long-haul travel plans, with a 7% decrease in those planning to visit Europe this summer [6] Group 5: Economic Outlook - Analysts predict that tariff increases will significantly lower U.S. economic growth rates in 2025 [7] - Rising tariffs are expected to suppress consumer purchasing power and stock market performance [7] - The depletion of pandemic-era savings and rising delinquency rates on loans indicate potential challenges for consumer spending [7]