Several U.S. Shoppers Accumulate Supplies in Anticipation of Trump's Latest Tariffs
As Thomas Jennings, 53, navigated the aisles of a Walmart Supercenter with a shopping cart, he filled it with juices, condiments, and a variety of other items that came to mind.
TroibNews 
Pushing a shopping cart through the aisles of a Walmart Supercenter, 53-year-old Thomas Jennings filled it with juices, condiments, and various essentials.
"I'm buying double of whatever – beans, canned goods, flour, you name it," he shared. His plan is to accumulate supplies ahead of the latest round of import tariffs from the Trump administration, which take effect on Wednesday.
Earlier at Costco, Jennings purchased flour, sugar, and water in bulk. "There's a recession coming, and I am preparing for the worst," he stated.
As more U.S. shoppers share Jennings' concerns, many believe that retail prices will soon increase because of the new tariffs. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, estimates that these levies will cost Americans approximately $3.1 trillion over the next decade, resulting in about a $2,100 tax hike per household in 2025 alone.
While a number of consumers are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, some worry that panic could spark a stockpiling trend driven by fears of rising inflation, as noted in reports from Reuters.
Manish Kapoor, founder of GCG, a supply chain management firm based near Los Angeles, remarked that the tariffs are reviving fears reminiscent of empty store shelves seen during the pandemic, when supply chain issues led to shortages and inflation spikes.
"We saw this during COVID as well, where everybody frantically went and grabbed everything on store shelves, whether they needed it or not," Kapoor recalled.
"It's not to that level, but people are worried that the cost is going to go up and, you know, let's stock up."
Walmart and Costco did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.
Angelo Barrio, a 55-year-old retired garment industry professional, expressed that Trump's approach of "muddying the water and causing chaos" has left him and his friends concerned about the economy's trajectory.
Starting in November, Barrio began purchasing long-shelf-life items, anticipating that retailers would transfer tariff costs to consumers. This week at Costco, he loaded up on Crest toothpaste, soap, water, and rice to stock his basement, which already contains six canisters filled with canned goods kept in a temperature-controlled environment.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
"I'm buying double of whatever – beans, canned goods, flour, you name it," he shared. His plan is to accumulate supplies ahead of the latest round of import tariffs from the Trump administration, which take effect on Wednesday.
Earlier at Costco, Jennings purchased flour, sugar, and water in bulk. "There's a recession coming, and I am preparing for the worst," he stated.
As more U.S. shoppers share Jennings' concerns, many believe that retail prices will soon increase because of the new tariffs. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, estimates that these levies will cost Americans approximately $3.1 trillion over the next decade, resulting in about a $2,100 tax hike per household in 2025 alone.
While a number of consumers are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, some worry that panic could spark a stockpiling trend driven by fears of rising inflation, as noted in reports from Reuters.
Manish Kapoor, founder of GCG, a supply chain management firm based near Los Angeles, remarked that the tariffs are reviving fears reminiscent of empty store shelves seen during the pandemic, when supply chain issues led to shortages and inflation spikes.
"We saw this during COVID as well, where everybody frantically went and grabbed everything on store shelves, whether they needed it or not," Kapoor recalled.
"It's not to that level, but people are worried that the cost is going to go up and, you know, let's stock up."
Walmart and Costco did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.
Angelo Barrio, a 55-year-old retired garment industry professional, expressed that Trump's approach of "muddying the water and causing chaos" has left him and his friends concerned about the economy's trajectory.
Starting in November, Barrio began purchasing long-shelf-life items, anticipating that retailers would transfer tariff costs to consumers. This week at Costco, he loaded up on Crest toothpaste, soap, water, and rice to stock his basement, which already contains six canisters filled with canned goods kept in a temperature-controlled environment.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
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