Shopping spree? Consumers rush to buy goods ahead of Trump tariffs

[mystery-ak]

 Shopping spree? Consumers rush to buy goods ahead of Trump tariffs
by Andrew Dorn - 04/05/25 8:03 AM ET

New car sales soared at the end of March, driven by tariff fears

Trump's trade war is expected to drive up prices for many consumer staples

Mark Cuban said it's not a bad idea to 'buy lots of consumables now'

President Trump’s latest tariffs are expected to drive up prices, and some shoppers aren’t waiting around, rushing to make purchases they fear will soon cost more.

Initial estimates suggest that new-vehicle sales surged at the end of March, driven by consumers jumping in before new tariffs pushed prices higher, according to Cox Automotive. The research firm said March could end up being the best month for sales volume in four years.

“In the short term at least, shoppers have embraced a ‘better buy now’ attitude, betting on higher prices later this year,” Erin Keating, an executive analyst at Cox Automotive, wrote in an analysis.

Those fears are not entirely unfounded, with auto experts warning that Trump’s tariffs, particularly the taxes levied on car parts, could cause production to plummet.

Wednesday’s “Liberation Day” marked a major escalation in a Trump-initiated trade war that may lead to higher prices for cars but also coffee, beauty products, electronics and a range of other goods.

Trump’s 10 percent baseline tariff on imports from all countries will take effect on April 5, and his reciprocal tariffs, whose rates vary by country, start April 9.

more
https://thehill.com/business/5233534-consumers-shopping-donald-trump-tariff-prices/

[LMAO]

There’s that crazy human nature again that neither MAGAs or progressive’s account for when they come up with their schemes

[Wingnut]

Lemmings.  Just leave the TP alone this time...mmmk

[catfish1957]

There’s that crazy human nature again that neither MAGAs or progressive’s account for when they come up with their schemes

@LMAO

I am tired of your naysaying.  Just what would you do POTUS LMAO (apt)

Scheme?  I know you tried in another  thread to erroneously  smear Trump's chart.    So,  okay POTUS LMAO....   Your nation is $37T sovereign debt, and is incurring an annual $1.2T trade deficit. 

Enlighten us with your plan.

[mountaineer]

We generally put more thought (less kneejerk reaction) into major purchases like cars. OMG, let's rush out and buy a foreign car that we don't need!!!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

2026 I thnk is a lost cause, people will blame Trump for any and all high prices (whether they're actually connected to the tariffs at all)... and I think 2028 might be lost as well. I dunno, I could be wrong I guess.

[Bigun]

2026 I thnk is a lost cause, people will blame Trump for any and all high prices (whether they're actually connected to the tariffs at all)... and I think 2028 might be lost as well. I dunno, I could be wrong I guess.

Given the level of economic illiteracy in this country today, you may well be right.

[Bigun]

Lemmings.  Just leave the TP alone this time...mmmk

Yep! 

[catfish1957]

Yep! 

Seconded.....

[Hoodat]

There’s that crazy human nature again that neither MAGAs or progressive’s account for when they come up with their schemes

The invisible hand strikes again.

[Hoodat]

@LMAO

I am tired of your naysaying.  Just what would you do POTUS LMAO (apt)

Scheme?  I know you tried in another  thread to erroneously  smear Trump's chart.    So,  okay POTUS LMAO....   Your nation is $37T sovereign debt, and is incurring an annual $1.2T trade deficit. 

Enlighten us with your plan.

@catfish1957

Can I ask you what your goal is here?  What is it that you want to achieve?  And then tell me what Trump is trying to achieve.  Thanks.

This question goes for everyone here.  What are we actually doing here?  And what should we be doing?

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

Can I ask you what your goal is here?  What is it that you want to achieve?  And then tell me what Trump is trying to achieve.  Thanks.

Easiest question yet.  Equitable and eventually free trade. 

Not sure you are aware, but last year's trade deficit was $1.2T  Are we that talentless, resource challenged, and stupid to incur those numbers?  Of course not.  For 30+ years, most of the world has taken advantage of our good nature, and invoked tariffs that make it near if not impossible for us to  compete.

5 previous POTUS have chose to stick their head in the sand, and allow this bleeding of national wealth.  Thankfully we are now addressing that problem .

update:
@Hoodat ...  answering your question from another thread

[Bigun]

@catfish1957

Can I ask you what your goal is here?  What is it that you want to achieve?  And then tell me what Trump is trying to achieve.  Thanks.

This question goes for everyone here.  What are we actually doing here?  And what should we be doing?

Prior to WWII most everything we bought here was made here. Having things stamped with "Made in the USA" used to be a source of pride and we sorely need to get back to that. Trump is desperately trying to make that happen but it cannot happen overnight and some pain is going to be involved of necessity.  @Hoodat

[Hoodat]

Easiest question yet.  Equitable and eventually free trade. 

Not sure you are aware, but last year's trade deficit was $1.2T

@catfish1957

'Free trade' and 'balanced trade' are two completely different issues.  We can have 0% tariffs worldwide, and the US would still run trade deficits.

In the grander scheme of things, trade deficits don't matter.  Free trade does.  Which is why I was baffled when Trump discarded the North American Free Trade Agreement in his last term.  His actions do not align with yours.  He is not a free trader.

[Hoodat]

Prior to WWII most everything we bought here was made here. Having things stamped with "Made in the USA" used to be a source of pride and we sorely need to get back to that. Trump is desperately trying to make that happen but it cannot happen overnight and some pain is going to be involved of necessity.  @Hoodat

@Bigun

So for you, it's more strategic and ego.  Free trade doesn't matter.  Fair trade doesn't matter.  Only that we produce what we consume and ignore the rest of the world.  Correct?  If so, Trump may be your guy.  Not good for the economy though.  The Soviet Union followed this strategy for several decades.

[Bigun]

@Bigun

So for you, it's more strategic and ego.

Strategic for sure as a prelude to real tax reform which will solve the problem permanently.

Free trade doesn't matter.  Fair trade doesn't matter.  Only that we produce what we consume and ignore the rest of the world.  Correct?  If so, Trump may be your guy.  Not good for the economy though.  The Soviet Union followed this strategy for several decades.

Wrong! As I have said elsewhere,



When WE get our own house in order WRT taxation our trading problems go away permanently. @Hoodat

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

'Free trade' and 'balanced trade' are two completely different issues.  We can have 0% tariffs worldwide, and the US would still run trade deficits.

In the grander scheme of things, trade deficits don't matter.  Free trade does.  Which is why I was baffled when Trump discarded the North American Free Trade Agreement in his last term.  His actions do not align with yours.  He is not a free trader.

This is a cart before the horse scenario.  Got to fix the system before implementing the long term solutions.  Did you even read the blurp from Calvin Coolidge?  Tariffs are just one tool in the tool kit in trade.  Kind of like a scapel of enforcement, while you impress your opponents with an industrial and economic might with a sledgehammer.

This inequity in trade/tariffs is why.  Tariffs have contributed to a loss of our industrial base, and hence marketable goods.  Which, if you were watching the entire situation, is what Trump is trying to accomplish by bringing investment back in.  I thought conservatives were pro-business.  But, after a few days here on these tariff threads,  I am guessing otherwise.

Am I 100% certain this strategy is going to succeed?  Of course not, but it is at least an attempt and better than the approach of laying down in a bed of fire ants, and letting them strip your bones  bare.   I vote for action instead of inaction.

[Smokin Joe]

Prior to WWII most everything we bought here was made here. Having things stamped with "Made in the USA" used to be a source of pride and we sorely need to get back to that. Trump is desperately trying to make that happen but it cannot happen overnight and some pain is going to be involved of necessity.  @Hoodat

Yep. I remember when, if it was made elsewhere (especially in the orient) it was of questionable quality. Yes, those countries have turned out some amazing products, but they didn't then so much.

Made in USA was the badge of superior quality for most things, outside of a few luxury cars and some other high end items from Europe.

This won't be fixed overnight, and it's going to get a little rough along the way, but if people will give it a chance, I think it will work out well for the country in the long run. (It hasn't even been three months since he was sworn in, and as Pogo said in Walt Kelly's comic strip, "We have met the enemy and he is us.")

We are a nation accustomed to cheap stuff and instantaneous gratification, oblivious to the long term detriment thereof.

[Hoodat]

When WE get our own house in order WRT taxation our trading problems go away permanently. @Hoodat

What do you think is our "trading problem" right now?  And let's say after we get our own tax in order, we're running a $100 billion trade deficit with Brazil even though their tariffs on US goods are zero, would you be OK with a reciprocal 0% tariff on Brazil goods?  Just trying to understand, @Bigun .

[Hoodat]

Yep. I remember when, if it was made elsewhere (especially in the orient) it was of questionable quality. Yes, those countries have turned out some amazing products, but they didn't then so much.

One of the reasons Japan sells such high quality today is because of the import quotas the US put in place back in the 80s in order to protect the Unions.  Since Japan had a limit on the number of cars they could export to the US, they chose to maximum profits by entering the high-end car market and enjoy the higher markups.  The Honda Civic and Datsun Cherry were replaced by the Honda Prelude, the Acura, and Toyota's Lexus brand.  And with that, they are still kicking our asses simply because we couldn't accept the economic reality of what we wanted.  Envy is what drove our trade policy then and it is driving it now.

[roamer_1]

Made in USA was the badge of superior quality for most things, outside of a few luxury cars and some other high end items from Europe.

That's because it WAS a matter of high quality and low cost.

That isn't true anymore. And forcing people to buy your crappy, high priced junk is not the answer.
The answer is to restore high quality and low price.

It is called being competitive.
It's an American thing.

Worry about the work and the money will come. That's the truth.

[Hoodat]

This is a cart before the horse scenario.  Got to fix the system before implementing the long term solutions.  Did you even read the blurp from Calvin Coolidge?  Tariffs are just one tool in the tool kit in trade.  Kind of like a scapel of enforcement, while you impress your opponents with an industrial and economic might with a sledgehammer.

Yes, I realize tariffs are a tool.  Which is why I asked the question, what are we trying to do, @catfish1957 .

This inequity in trade/tariffs is why.

Let me stop you right there.  'Trade' and 'tariffs are not synonymous.  It is entirely possible to have equality in one and not the other.  Take Saudi Arabia, for example.  Do you ever think Saudi Arabia will import goods equal to the amount of oil it sells every year?  It's not going to happen.  Ever.  Saudi Arabia runs trade surpluses year after year after year.  And their economy never grows.  So what do they do with all that excess money?  They put it in the bank or they purchase US equities with it.  Yeah, that cash ends up right back here in the US.

Or let's look at Angola.  They export gems, minerals, and oil to the US.  And what does the US export to them?  Certainly not software, technology, services, and iphones.  They are a poor country.  They can't afford those thing.  So you are NEVER going to have zero-balance trade with Angola.

Tariffs have contributed to a loss of our industrial base, and hence marketable goods.

Nope.  High wages and opposition to automation are what have caused us a loss of our industrial base.  Besides, the service economy is what puts us at the top of the food chain.  It would be asinine to grow sugar or produce ethanol here when we can purchase them on the cheap from Caribbean nations and Brazil.  (Yet that is exactly what we do, paying seven times the world price for sugar just so we can pay off sugar plantation owners all in the name of 'national security'.)

Which, if you were watching the entire situation, is what Trump is trying to accomplish by bringing investment back in.

I wasn't sure what Trump was trying to accomplish, which is why I asked.  But if this is Trump's goal, then he is neither a Free Trader nor a Fair Trader.  This will only lead to our own peril.

I thought conservatives were pro-business.

Conservatives are pro-freedom.  Besides, reducing trade deficits by reducing trade is not "pro-business".

I am really hoping that a President with an Economics degree isn't this ignorant of basic macroeconomics.  I still believe that he has some other motive for doing what he is doing (like hitting reset, for example).  But if he really thinks that raising tariffs on the rest of the world is going to revitalize the US Steel industry or make US shipbuilding competitive with South Korea, then he is a fool.

[Hoodat]

That's because it WAS a matter of high quality and low cost.

That isn't true anymore. And forcing people to buy your crappy, high priced junk is not the answer.
The answer is to restore high quality and low price.

It is called being competitive.
It's an American thing.

Worry about the work and the money will come. That's the truth.

Spot on, @roamer_1

[roamer_1]

But if he really thinks that raising tariffs on the rest of the world is going to revitalize the US Steel industry or make US shipbuilding competitive with South Korea, then he is a fool.

Absolutely true. Great post.

[Bigun]

What do you think is our "trading problem" right now?  And let's say after we get our own tax in order, we're running a $100 billion trade deficit with Brazil even though their tariffs on US goods are zero, would you be OK with a reciprocal 0% tariff on Brazil goods?  Just trying to understand, @Bigun .

Short answer, Our current tax system puts every good or service produced in this country at a price disadvantage internationally before it ever leaves the factory.

We are always going to run trade deficits because this is where the markets are but if our tax system was good we would become very competitive with any other nation without the need for tariffs. Brazils zero tarrif policy is largely due to the fact that, for the most part, they cannot afford anything we produce. @Hoodat