Home / Money / Tariffs Set to “Rattle”...

Tariffs Set to “Rattle” Economy as Businesses Face Higher Costs

Left 33% Center coverage: 24 sources Right

Washington, D.C., USA

May 20, 2025 0 Negative I want money/finance advice

Washington, D.C., USA: Economists warn that recent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could soon push up consumer prices and strain businesses. Some duties are as high as 145%, catching importers off-guard. Companies from coffee roasters to holiday décor makers say they’re scrambling to pass along increased costs or absorb losses. This uncertainty hits consumer confidence, with the Conference Board index at its lowest since 2020. While inflation remains moderate overall, hidden cost pressures are mounting, reminiscent of the 2019 tariff wave. Experts fear the trade strategy could weigh on economic growth even though job and GDP figures are still solid.

What this means for you:

•	Watch for rising prices on everyday items, from coffee to holiday decorations.
•	If you run a small business, plan for supply disruptions and consider alternative suppliers.
•	Track how bigger retailers respond—some might spread costs across multiple products.
•	Consumers can research local or domestic brands as potential cost-saving alternatives.
•	Consider reviewing your budget or building a cushion to handle possible price hikes.

Key Entities

• President Donald Trump: Former U.S. president elected again in 2024.
• Advocates aggressive trade policies, including high tariffs on Chinese imports.
• U.S. Businesses: Ranging from small coffee roasters to major retailers.
• They face higher costs and may pass them to consumers.
• Conference Board: A nonprofit that publishes economic indicators like consumer confidence.
• Its index measures how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are.
• Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters: A Massachusetts-based small coffee company.
• Cited as an example of how tariffs force price hikes.
• Village Lighting Co.: A Utah holiday decor firm.
• Struggling to finance a large tariff bill, planning a 10–15% price increase.

Bias Distribution

Left: 50% (12 sources)

Center: 33% (8 sources)

Right: 17% (4 sources)

Multi-Perspective Analysis

Left-Leaning View

Criticizes tariffs as harmful to workers and consumers, sees them as inflationary.

Centrist View

Acknowledges the economic threat but highlights that overall inflation is still moderate.

Right-Leaning View

Emphasizes the necessity of tariffs for national trade leverage and combating unfair practices.

Want to dive deeper?

We've prepared an in-depth analysis of this story with additional context and background.

Featuring Our Experts' Perspectives in an easy-to-read format.

Read Deep Dive

Future Snapshot

See how this story could impact your life in the coming months

Exclusive Member Feature

Create a free account to access personalized Future Snapshots

Create Account

Future Snapshots show you personalized visions of how insights from this story could positively impact your life in the next 6-12 months.

Tailored to your life indicators
Clear next steps and action items
Save snapshots to your profile

Related Roadmaps

Explore step-by-step guides related to this story, designed to help you apply this knowledge in your life.