Working Americans across the country are feeling the pinch. Specifically, tariffs that were shoved through during the Trump administration are massively increasing Americans’ cost of living. Families are changing their everyday routines and spending habits as they face soaring prices for everyday household goods. Chinese exports now encounter an average tariff of approximately 58%. By 2025, economists and taxpayer groups predict that businesses will face over $1.2 trillion in additional burdens.
In Portland, Oregon, Minnie, a 55-year-old former food writer, has had to make some major lifestyle adjustments to keep up with these increasing expenses. Now used to eating out every week, she is no longer able to afford those luxuries. Minnie’s taken a foray into doing something pretty audacious this year. She mentioned her family will make Christmas gifts for everyone, illustrating her change in priorities due to the financial squeeze.
The impact of tariffs goes beyond Minnie’s home. Paige Harris, an electrifying 38-year-old special ed teacher’s assistant, is feeling the pinch from mounting costs. She notes that the Trump administration campaigned on lowering drug prices and making life more affordable. Those promises now seem like a bad dream.
“Items that I have bought regularly have gone up in price steadily,” – Paige Harris
As someone who was on the front lines of the pandemic, Harris has seen firsthand how necessities have skyrocketed. She adds that her family’s grocery list has shrunk as prices for products like baby formula and hair dye have surged.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, tariffs will cost American households an additional $2,394 per household annually. This burden is particularly hard for those who live on fixed incomes. Myron Peeler, an 81-year-old retiree and family caregiver. He shares his struggle with how this year has been financially devastating for him.
“The bread I buy has doubled in price within a year. We live on a fixed income that doesn’t keep up with inflation,” – Myron Peeler
Many Americans are experiencing similar challenges. This has hit commercial troller Richard Ulmer hard too — he calls 2023 his worst economic year to date. He points out how much more expensive groceries and electric bills have gotten.
Though Cassie budgets $65 a week for groceries, inflation has changed how she’s always shopped and budgeted. Those changes have forced her to rethink her craft just to keep things going. She laments the lack of affordable options and states:
“We need to buy new tires for a car and can’t, because affordable tires are no longer in stock and we can’t afford $250 a tire,” – Cassie
The continuing impact of these tariffs is all too clear when I look around my community’s stores and see empty shelves. Take Natalie, a semi-retired 55-year-old, who notices that groceries she used to buy regularly have skyrocketed in price. She recounts a scary incident from this past summer. Walmart recently experienced a banana shortage that lasted almost two weeks due to tariffs on banana imports from Mexico and other Latin American countries.
“The store shelves have become more and more bare … instead of multiple choices there may only be one or two, and name brands are being replaced by store brands,” – Natalie
She’s experienced a three-fold increase in cat food costs. Other brands have risen 25% to 100% above their previously advertised price points.
“Any brand of cat food has increased anywhere from 25% to double the price. One wet food my cats like went from $1.79 to $2.49 per can,” – Natalie
Along with these increasing costs has come a very real feeling of concern among America’s consumers. Jean Meadows reflects on her shopping habits, stating:
“Prices are way too high. I mostly shop at Costco and buy as little as possible anywhere else,” – Jean Meadows
Meadows feels that’s because most people are scared about the future as they adjust to new realities in an evolving economic paradigm.
“I think people are really afraid of what is coming,” – Jean Meadows
With tariffs hitting all Americans where it hurts, everyday Americans are already starting to make lifestyle changes. When relief will come is uncertain at a time when inflation is wreaking havoc on everything from food to personal care items.