Days of our Tariffs

What It Covers

Planet Money examines how Trump's 2025 tariffs directly impact consumer prices through producer James Sneed's experience paying unexpected fees on a Canadian collectible, plus economist data showing imported goods cost 6% more.

Key Questions Answered

• •Direct tariff costs: International purchases under $800 now require customs paperwork after de minimis exemption ended, with carriers like UPS charging brokerage fees ($14-24) plus tariffs, sometimes doubling final product costs at delivery.
• •Price increases by product type: Imported goods show 6% average price increase from tariffs, with coffee rising 12% and cheaper product varieties experiencing twice the inflation of premium versions due to smaller profit margins absorbing less cost.
• •Domestic price spillover: American-made products competing with imports increased 3.5% as tariffs raised competitor costs, allowing domestic producers to raise prices without losing market share, demonstrating protective tariff effects beyond imported goods alone.
• •Overall inflation impact: Tariffs add 0.7 percentage points to annual inflation, pushing the consumer price index from 2.2% to 2.9% as of late 2025, with Harvard economist Alberto Cavallo tracking 350,000 products daily across major retailers.