Long Term Tax Foundation

FAQs About Border Adjustment

A border adjustment tax would make imported products more expensive while potentially making U.S.-made goods relatively cheaper. This could significantly impact household budgets since many everyday items like electronics, clothing, and appliances contain imported components or are fully imported.
Products: Most imported consumer goods including smartphones, cars, clothing, home appliances, and food items
Price Impact: 5-25% increase on imported goods depending on implementation
Immediate CNBC Economics

Fourth-quarter U.S. GDP up just 1.4%, badly missing estimate; inflation firms at 3%

Inflation is running at 3% annually, meaning the average family will pay about 3% more for most goods and services compared to last year. With slower economic growth, this price pressure may persist as the economy isn't growing fast enough to offset rising costs.
Products: groceries, gas, housing costs, clothing, electronics, and most consumer goods
Price Impact: 3% increase across most goods and services
Immediate CNBC Economics

Consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, less than expected

Overall consumer prices rose 2.4% compared to last year, which is actually lower than the expected 2.5% increase. This means everyday items cost slightly more than a year ago, but the pace of price increases is slowing down compared to expectations.
Products: All consumer goods and services measured in the Consumer Price Index
Price Impact: 2.4% increase across all consumer goods
Immediate CNBC Economics

The January CPI inflation report is due out Friday morning. Here's what it's expected to show

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report measures how much prices have changed for everything families buy - from groceries to gas to rent. This report will show whether inflation is cooling down or heating up, which affects your purchasing power and household budget.
Products: All consumer goods and services tracked in CPI basket
Price Impact: CPI measures overall price changes across all goods and services
Immediate Supply Chain Dive

States sue Trump in bid to halt 10% global tariff

A 10% global tariff would raise prices on nearly all imported products by roughly 10%, affecting everything from groceries to electronics. The lawsuit by states aims to block this tariff, but if unsuccessful, families could see hundreds of dollars added to their annual household expenses across multiple categories.
Products: All imported goods including food, electronics, clothing, appliances, furniture, toys, beauty products, and automotive parts
Price Impact: 10% increase on most imported goods
Immediate Supply Chain Dive

US to hike global tariff to 15% ‘sometime this week,’ Bessent says

A 15% global tariff means most imported products will become more expensive as companies pass these costs to consumers. This will affect everything from phones and laptops to clothes and household items, making everyday purchases cost significantly more.
Products: Most imported consumer goods including smartphones, computers, clothing, home appliances, furniture, cars, and household items
Price Impact: 10-15% increase on imported goods
Immediate Manufacturing Dive

States sue Trump in bid to halt 10% global tariff

A 10% global tariff would increase prices on nearly all imported products by roughly 10%, affecting everything from smartphones to groceries. The lawsuit by states aims to block this tariff, which could significantly impact household budgets if implemented.
Products: All imported goods including electronics, clothing, food items, appliances, furniture, and consumer goods
Price Impact: 10% increase on most imported goods
30 Days Freight Waves

Seasonality pushing rejections and rates higher ahead of the Fourth

Rising freight and shipping costs mean retailers will likely pass higher transportation expenses to consumers through increased prices on most goods that need to be shipped. This affects nearly everything you buy online or that gets delivered to stores, from groceries to electronics.
Products: All shipped consumer goods including online purchases, retail inventory, and delivered products
Price Impact: 2-5% increase on shipped goods
Long Term Freight Waves

White Paper: 7 Reasons Security Guards Aren’t Enough Protection

Cargo theft increases shipping costs and supply chain disruptions, which companies typically pass on to consumers through higher retail prices. While not directly tariff-related, increased security costs for freight protection affect the cost of virtually all shipped goods.
Products: All consumer goods that require shipping and warehousing
Price Impact: 1-3% increase on shipped goods
30 Days Freight Waves

FMCSA purges dozens of ELDs amid compliance crackdown

When trucking companies must replace non-compliant electronic logging devices, they face equipment costs and potential service disruptions that get passed on to consumers. This affects virtually all retail goods since most products rely on trucking for delivery to stores and warehouses.
Products: All retail goods dependent on truck transportation
Price Impact: 1-3% increase across transported goods
30 Days Freight Waves

DHL Express workers threaten strike if no contract by March 31

A DHL Express strike would disrupt international shipping and express delivery services, leading to higher shipping costs and longer delivery times for online purchases. Consumers ordering items from overseas or needing express delivery may face significant delays or have to pay premium rates for alternative shipping services.
Products: International packages, express deliveries, e-commerce shipments
Price Impact: 10-20% increase on express shipping costs, potential product delays
Long Term Freight Waves

Broker liability at the Supreme Court: real-time coverage as the arguments are made

This Supreme Court case could change how freight brokers are held responsible for shipping problems, potentially making shipping more expensive if brokers face higher liability costs. Higher shipping costs typically get passed on to consumers through slightly higher prices on nearly all products that need to be transported.
Products: All consumer goods requiring freight transportation
Price Impact: 1-3% increase on shipped goods
90 Days Freight Waves

Feds signal pivot on East Coast shipping speed rules

Removing speed restrictions on East Coast shipping could allow cargo ships to move faster, potentially reducing shipping times and costs for imported goods. This could lead to modest price decreases on a wide range of consumer products that arrive through East Coast ports.
Products: imported consumer goods arriving through East Coast ports
Price Impact: 1-3% decrease on imported goods
30 Days Freight Waves

DOT warns motor carriers on RTD noncompliance

Truck driver compliance issues could disrupt freight transportation, leading to delivery delays and higher shipping costs that get passed on to consumers. This affects virtually all goods that rely on trucking for delivery to stores and homes.
Products: All consumer goods transported by truck
Price Impact: 1-3% increase on transported goods
Long Term Freight Waves

How to Turn Fleet Data Noise Into Signal

Better fleet data management can help trucking companies operate more efficiently, potentially reducing shipping costs that get passed on to consumers. While not directly related to tariffs, improved logistics efficiency could help offset some price increases on virtually all goods that require transportation.
Products: all consumer goods requiring trucking/transportation
Price Impact: indirect cost reduction potential of 2-5% on transported goods
Long Term Freight Waves

Thoma Bravo to acquire WWEX Group, combine with Auctane

This merger creates a larger shipping and logistics company that could potentially lead to higher shipping costs across most online purchases. While the immediate impact may be minimal, consolidation in the shipping industry typically reduces competition and can result in higher delivery fees over time.
Products: online purchases requiring shipping services
Price Impact: 1-3% increase on shipped goods
Immediate Finance

The momentum trades of 2026 are breaking with gold, silver and South Korea down big

Gold and silver prices are falling significantly, which should make jewelry and precious metal items cheaper for consumers. This creates a buying opportunity for engagement rings, watches, and other jewelry items.
Products: gold jewelry, silver jewelry, precious metal watches, investment coins
Price Impact: 5-15% decrease on gold and silver jewelry
Immediate Bloomberg Economics

Japan’s Real Wages Advance for First Time in 13 Months

Japanese workers now have more buying power as their wages are finally growing faster than inflation for the first time in over a year. This means households can afford more goods and services without stretching their budgets, potentially leading to increased consumer spending across all categories.
Products: all consumer goods and services
Price Impact: general purchasing power improvement, no specific price changes
30 Days MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse

Alibaba stock climbs on report of vendor service fee increase

Alibaba is raising fees charged to sellers on its platform, which will likely be passed on to consumers as higher prices for products sold through Alibaba's marketplace. This affects millions of items from Chinese suppliers that consumers buy directly or through retailers who source from Alibaba.
Products: Consumer goods sold on Alibaba marketplace including electronics, clothing, home goods, and imported merchandise
Price Impact: 2-5% increase on Alibaba marketplace products
30 Days Retail Dive - Latest News

Saks Global announces 15 more store closures, expands vendor base to 500

Store closures at luxury retailers like Saks and Neiman Marcus reduce competition and shopping options, potentially leading to higher prices on designer clothing, jewelry, and beauty products. The expansion to 500 vendors suggests the company may pass increased sourcing costs to consumers.
Products: designer clothing, luxury handbags, high-end jewelry, premium beauty products, luxury accessories
Price Impact: potential 5-15% increase on luxury goods
Long Term FreightWaves

Kelly: U.S. maritime ‘critical’ to national, economic security

Legislation to strengthen U.S. maritime shipping could reduce reliance on foreign shipping companies but may increase costs for transporting imported goods. This could lead to modest price increases across many consumer products that rely on ocean shipping, though benefits may include more reliable supply chains.
Products: Most imported consumer goods including electronics, clothing, furniture, and food products transported by sea
Price Impact: 2-5% increase on imported goods
90 Days FreightWaves

Fraud first: why ‘broker transparency’ misses the mark

Changes to freight broker regulations could increase shipping costs, which get passed on to consumers through higher prices on nearly all physical goods. When transportation becomes more expensive or inefficient, retailers typically raise prices to maintain profit margins.
Products: all shipped consumer goods and retail products
Price Impact: 1-3% increase across shipped goods
Long Term Journal of Commerce

TPM26: US trucking crackdown likely to have delayed impact on drayage sector

Restrictions on trucking drivers could reduce the available workforce for moving goods from ports and warehouses, potentially leading to shipping delays and higher transportation costs that get passed on to consumers. Since most consumer goods rely on trucking at some point in the supply chain, this could affect prices across many product categories.
Products: Most consumer goods that require truck transportation from ports, warehouses, and distribution centers
Price Impact: 1-3% increase on goods transported by truck
30 Days Journal of Commerce

Air freight backlog set to gridlock Asia airports amid Middle East conflict: K+N CEO

Air freight delays and reduced capacity from Middle East conflicts will increase shipping costs for lightweight, high-value imports from Asia. This means consumers will likely pay more for electronics, clothing, and other goods that rely on air transport to reach stores quickly.
Products: smartphones, laptops, fashion items, cosmetics, small appliances, holiday merchandise
Price Impact: 3-8% increase on imported goods
30 Days Journal of Commerce

Carriers pause India-Middle East cargo bookings amid Persian Gulf port chaos

Shipping disruptions from Middle East ports will reduce supply of various imported goods, leading to higher prices at stores. Fresh foods and perishables will be hit hardest first, followed by other consumer products as inventory runs low.
Products: Fresh produce, dates, spices, Persian rugs, Middle Eastern textiles, electronics components, gold jewelry
Price Impact: 3-8% increase on imported goods from Middle East