{"id":53445,"date":"2025-09-22T05:08:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-economic-shifts-tariffs-impact-european-spending-accenture-expands-softbank-connects-asia\/53445\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T05:08:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:08:32","slug":"global-economic-shifts-tariffs-impact-european-spending-accenture-expands-softbank-connects-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-economic-shifts-tariffs-impact-european-spending-accenture-expands-softbank-connects-asia\/53445\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Economic Shifts: Tariffs Impact European Spending, Accenture Expands, SoftBank Connects Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>European consumers are increasingly willing to abandon U.S. products due to tariffs<\/strong>, with a recent ECB poll indicating a strong preference shift over price concerns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accenture (<a href=\"\/stock\/ACN\">ACN<\/a>) is set to acquire French Orlade Group<\/strong>, significantly bolstering its capabilities in managing complex capital projects across critical sectors like energy, defense, and aerospace, addressing a market where only 6% of projects meet deadlines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SoftBank Corp ((\/stock\/9434)) is collaborating with Meta (<a href=\"\/stock\/META\">META<\/a>) and other partners to develop a new submarine cable system<\/strong> that will enhance connectivity between Japan and Singapore, with NEC contracted as the system supplier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>European shoppers are demonstrating a notable shift in purchasing behavior, with a recent European Central Bank (ECB) poll revealing a strong inclination to cut spending on U.S. products in response to tariffs. The ECB&#39;s Consumer Expectations Survey (CES), conducted in March 2025, found that European consumers are &quot;very willing to actively move away from U.S. products and services.&quot; The median substitution score reached 80 on a scale of 0 to 100, indicating a high readiness to seek alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>This willingness to substitute is driven more by a change in preference (43.7% of respondents) than by price increases (38.1%), suggesting a potential <em>long-term structural shift<\/em> in consumer habits. Interestingly, the survey indicated that higher-income households showed an even greater propensity to switch, prioritizing preference over affordability. These findings contrast with similar surveys in the U.S., where consumers reported a tendency to stockpile goods in anticipation of tariff-induced price hikes.<\/p>\n<p>In corporate news, global professional services company <strong>Accenture (<a href=\"\/stock\/ACN\">ACN<\/a>)<\/strong> has announced its intent to acquire the French <strong>Orlade Group<\/strong>, including its subsidiaries Op2 and pmO. This strategic acquisition aims to significantly expand Accenture&#39;s capabilities in advisory and project management services for large-scale capital projects. The move will integrate approximately 200 professionals into Accenture&#39;s infrastructure and capital projects practice within Industry X, enhancing its offerings for clients in vital sectors such as <em>energy, utilities, rail, aerospace, and defense<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The acquisition comes at a crucial time, as research from Accenture highlights that only 6% of organizations successfully deliver capital projects on or ahead of schedule, with two-thirds facing delays that add an average of 29% in labor costs and penalty fees. Koen Deryckere, Accenture France &amp; Benelux market unit lead, emphasized that the acquisition would strengthen Accenture&#39;s position in France and boost its ability to help clients <em>reinvent the planning and execution of large-scale projects<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>SoftBank Corp ((\/stock\/9434))<\/strong> is making strides in global connectivity, announcing a collaboration with <strong>Meta (<a href=\"\/stock\/META\">META<\/a>)<\/strong> and other partners to develop a new submarine cable system. This ambitious project will establish a critical high-speed data link connecting Japan and Singapore. <strong>NEC<\/strong> has been contracted as the system supplier for this significant infrastructure undertaking, underscoring the ongoing investment in robust digital networks across Asia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways European consumers are increasingly willing to abandon U.S. products due to tariffs, with a recent ECB poll indicating 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