Across American supermarkets, shoppers are reacting to new import tariffs by stocking up on everyday essentials. With the Trump administration set to implement tariffs, many consumers fear rising prices and are doubling up on items like canned goods, flour, and sugar.
Tom Jennings, a 53-year-old shopper, captured the mood vividly at his local Walmart Supercenter. "I'm buying double of whatever – beans, canned goods, flour, you name it," he said. His experience at Costco was similar, as he loaded up on bulk essentials in anticipation of a price surge.
Experts warn that these tariffs could have a significant economic impact. Research by a nonpartisan group estimates that, over the next 10 years, the tariffs might cost Americans around $3.1 trillion – potentially adding roughly $2,100 to each household's tax bill in 2025.
The anxiety isn’t new. Industry voices recall the frantic rush during the pandemic when empty shelves became a common sight. Manish Kapoor, from a supply chain firm near Los Angeles, noted, "We've seen this before when people grabbed everything in sight because of supply chain disruptions."
Retired garment industry professional Angelo Barrio echoed these concerns, adding that his early stockpiling of long shelf-life goods was a precaution against what he described as "muddying the water and causing chaos." As economic uncertainties mount, consumers are taking no chances in their everyday shopping, ready for whatever comes next. 😟
Reference(s):
Some U.S. consumers stockpile goods ahead of Trump's new tariffs
cgtn.com
