As the latest round of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration takes effect, some US consumers are rushing to stock up on everyday goods, fearing that prices will soon rise.
Thomas Jennings, 53, pushed his shopping cart through a Walmart Supercenter in New Jersey, filling it with juices, condiments, and other essentials. “I’m buying double of whatever—beans, canned goods, flour, you name it,” he said. Jennings is preparing for what he believes is a looming recession. “There’s a recession coming and I am preparing for the worst,” he added.
Earlier that day, Jennings had visited Costco to buy flour, sugar, and water in bulk. Like many shoppers, he is concerned that the new tariffs will lead to higher retail prices.
The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, estimates that the new levies will cost Americans $3.1 trillion over the next 10 years, amounting to roughly a $2,100 tax increase per household in 2025 alone.
While some consumers are adopting a wait-and-see approach, others fear that panic buying could lead to a stockpiling frenzy, exacerbating inflation. Manish Kapoor, founder of GCG, a supply chain management firm near Los Angeles, noted that the tariffs are reviving fears of empty store shelves, reminiscent of the shortages during the pandemic. “We saw this during COVID as well, where everybody frantically went and grabbed everything on store shelves, whether they needed it or not,” Kapoor said. “It’s not to that level, but people are worried that the cost of goods is going to go up, so they are stocking up.”
Angelo Barrio, 55, a retired garment industry professional, also expressed concern about the economy’s direction. He began buying goods with long shelf lives last November, fearing that retailers would pass on tariff costs to consumers. At Costco this week, he stocked up on toothpaste, soap, water, and rice to fill six canisters already stuffed with canned goods in his basement. “Trump’s tactics of muddying the waters and causing chaos have us worried,” Barrio said.
As Wednesday’s tariff deadline approaches, it’s uncertain how widespread the stockpiling trend will become. However, the actions of consumers like Jennings and Barrio highlight the anxiety felt by some Americans as they brace for potential economic challenges ahead.
