Americans Stock Up Ahead Of Price Hikes From Trump Tariffs

Trade war reshaping how families shop and small businesses operate amid uncertainty

- Marina Lopes

WASHINGTON - Ms Mariana Ibarguren combed through the racks at Swedish retail giant H&M, her arms draped with beachwear and bargain T-shirts. "It hasn't hit these prices yet, but it's coming," she said, eyeing the clothes behind her.

She was not alone. Around the Georgetown store, shoppers were stocking up - racing against the calendar to grab deals before new tariffs on China, first announced on April 2, ripple through the supply chain and drive up prices.

A wave of consumer anxiety is sweeping the country as Americans brace themselves for steep price hikes on everyday items. From Halloween costumes to bicycles, goods in the United States are about to get significantly more expensive, thanks to President Donald Trump's latest trade crackdown. His salvos include a sweeping 145 per cent tariff on many Chinese imports, and they are already reshaping how families shop and how small businesses prepare for the months ahead.

Retail giants Shein and Temu have warned customers that they will both raise prices starting on April 25 because of "recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs". The announcements have triggered a wave of panic buying and what economists call "precautionary behaviour" - spending now to avoid sticker shock later.

"We won't be able to enjoy our shopping sprees any more," said 14-year-old Guadalupe Hernandez, who had placed a last-minute jewellery order at Shein. "I'm not (wild) about these tariffs. It sucks to have to pay a ton of money because of a trade war."

The anxiety is now showing up in hard numbers. Consumer sentiment plunged in mid-April to its second-lowest level in the history of a University of Michigan survey that dates back to 1952, while inflation expectations just surged to the highest level since the early 1980s.