As the Trump administration's new tariffs loom, U.S. consumers are rushing to stockpile essential goods in anticipation of rising prices. Shoppers at stores like Walmart and Costco are filling their carts with canned goods, flour, sugar, and more—hoping to beat a predicted surge in costs.
One shopper, Thomas Jennings, 53, explained his strategy: "I'm buying double of whatever – beans, canned goods, flour, you name it." Like many, Jennings fears that the new tariffs will trigger a sharp increase in prices. Earlier at Costco, he bolstered his supplies of flour, sugar, and water, citing worries about a looming recession.
The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, has projected that the tariffs could add roughly $2,100 per household in 2025 and cost Americans about $3.1 trillion over the next decade. Supply chain experts, such as Manish Kapoor from a Los Angeles-based management firm, note that these fears echo the stockpiling seen during COVID-19 disruptions, when anxious consumers rushed to grab essentials.
Retired garment industry professional Angelo Barrio is among those preparing cautiously. He has been buying goods with long shelf lives since November, concerned that retailers might pass tariff costs onto shoppers. Barrio's methodical approach reflects a broader trend among consumers looking to secure their households against potential economic turbulence.
This shift in consumer behavior is raising questions about the broader impact on supply chains and retail stability—not just in the U.S. but in a global market where economic interconnections run deep.
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Some U.S. consumers stockpile goods ahead of Trump's new tariffs
cgtn.com
