Euro zone consumers have altered their consumption habits in anticipation of U.S. tariffs, moving away from American products and reducing discretionary spending, a study published by the European Central Bank has found. Euro zone consumers, sitting on ample savings built up in the years since the pandemic, have been cautious in making purchases all year as uncertainty over tariffs kept key parts of the bloc's economy in limbo. 'In response to tariff-related concerns, consumers are altering their spending habits in notable ways,' the ECB said in an Economic Bulletin article. ADVERTISEMENTNearly all of the spending cuts impacted discretionary items while spending on necessities remained largely unaffected, the ECB added. 'These findings highlight the tangible effects of trade tensions on the behaviour and economic expectations of European consumers,' it said.