US consumers rush to buy big-ticket items before Trump's tariffs kick in

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

US consumers rush to buy big-ticket items before Trump’s tariffs kick in

By CLAIRE RUSH and MARK THIESSEN
Updated 12:10 AM EDT, April 5, 2025

John Gutierrez had been thinking about buying a new laptop for the past year. The Austin, Texas, resident needed a computer with faster processing and increased storage for his photography work and had his sights set on a product from a Taiwanese brand.

Then President Donald Trump announced expansive new import tariffs Wednesday, including a 32% tax on imports from Taiwan. That same day, Gutierrez ordered the laptop, with a base price of $2,400, from a retailer in New York specializing in photo and video gear.

“I thought I’d bite the bullet, buy it now, and then that way I’ll have the latest technology on my laptop and don’t have to worry about the tariffs,” he said.

Gutierrez was among the U.S. consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items before the tariffs take effect. Economists say the tariffs are expected to increase prices for everyday items, warning of potentially weakened U.S. economic growth.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-consumer-spending-2e29ccf002ba4a1696ea54005b1a377c

[unblock]

1. yeah, we just bought some tech.

we had been holding off on an ipad & iphone upgrade, just went ahead yesterday figuring prices are only going to go up, a lot and fast.

we probably should be switching away from apple entirely, but that's another bigger decision....

[kimbutgar]

2. I brought a new refrigerator right after the orange Hitler was elected

A spare TV when my old one in my bedroom dies, used some rewards points from my credit card got two new iPads as backups, a laptop for my son as a backup when his other one dies. Honey, Tuna, and my freezer is filled with an extra packs of Costco chicken breasts and ground beef. And been buying extra bottles of my favorite Italian wine. I’m stocking up on items because the shit is going to hit the fan by June.

[GoreWon2000]

3. I did my big ticket items before tRump returned

and I'm very grateful that I was able to do so before this tRump tariffs insanity.

[BootinUp]

4. Which means in a few months we will be in a recession. nt

[Hugin]

5. Where the gouging is going to be...

Is where spares are already on the shelf, yet when purchased they will have the tariff pricing.

Like, for example, an older car someone has needs repairs. The parts to do so have been laying on a shelf in a warehouse (in the US) for perhaps decades. When the parts are ordered and supplied, do you think the supplier is going to differentiate pre- and post-tariff? Hell, no! That percentage is going directly into their pocket.

That doesn’t even take into account the headaches presented by the omnipresent JIT (Just In Time) supply philosophy adopted by many retailers and repair shops over the last twenty-five years. They did this to cut the costs of warehouses. We’re about to FO the downside.