Americans Share Shocking Tariff Costs Hitting Wallets

Buzz Feed

2 days ago

On May 12, President Trump reached a deal with China that cut tariffs on imported goods from the country from 145% to 30% for 90 days. But for companies that had to restock while the higher tariffs were in effect, like the open-source hardware retailer Adafruit, the costs of the highest tariffs are still being felt. In a blog post about its tariff bill, Adafruit wrote, "We'll have to increase the prices on some of these products, but we're not sure if people will be willing to pay the higher cost, so we may well be 'stuck' with unsellable inventory that we have already paid a large fee on."
The co-founder and president of Popsmith and Franklin's Popcorn also took to X to share how the tariffs are affecting his business:
He went on to clarify that yes, the tariffs will cause higher prices.
Some companies have announced layoffs related to the higher costs of doing business under Trump's tariffs.
Higher prices are also beginning to show up on store shelves. It can be harder to tie these increases directly to the tariffs because big American companies are currently not being very transparent about how these new import taxes are affecting prices. For example, this Target employee captured the moment they changed an imported 6-foot USB cable's price from $9.99 to $17.99 in mid-May, before the highest tariffs were paused. The timing would seem to line up with the tariffs' first round of effects, but there's nothing on the price tag to indicate why the price went up by so much so quickly.
BuzzFeed has reached out to Target for comment, but they did not immediately respond to our request.
A Walmart employee also shared the price jump on an 8-ounce container of cocoa powder from $3.44 to $6.18. Walmart recently announced that it would be raising some prices due to the tariffs.
If you work in retail, please pop into the comments and let us know what you're seeing in your store — and post pics if you've got 'em! Or, if you'd like to remain extra anonymous, email me.
On the other hand, some smaller brands, like the inclusive underwear company tomboyx, have started showing a tariff charge on their products. The company explained on its website, "The tariff surcharge helps us stay sustainable while we move quickly behind the scenes—developing new styles and expanding production to other countries. We're adapting fast, but building responsible manufacturing relationships takes a bit of time — and we refuse to compromise on the quality you expect from us."
And people genuinely appreciate the transparency:
Meanwhile, at the "old-fashioned" grocery store, this Iowa shopper noticed a wild price tag on a container of pre-cut imported fruit:
Restaurant prices are also creeping up. One restaurant owner told CBS News, "We're not importing fresh ingredients like vegetables, but everything else around it — spices, seasonings, even our beers. Now it's double. Who's going to pay $20 for a beer?"
If you've got kids who maaaybe do a little online shopping, you should probably talk to them about the tariffs to avoid any nasty surprises like what this parent discovered:
And if you're planning to buy any new shoes or clothing for the summer season, be warned: most of these products are manufactured in Asia.
Scientists who are lucky enough to still have funding for their research are now facing higher prices on lab equipment:
While all of this is going on, many everyday shoppers are still asking, "Are 'import charges' the same thing as tariffs?" The answer is yes, yes they are.
Finally, before you say "just buy American," there are many things that people and businesses rely on to survive that we do not (or in some cases, can not) make here. It could take years for manufacturing to gear up, and paying high prices in the meantime is a financial pain that few Americans are equipped to meet.
Now it's time for Comment Corner. A few weeks ago, I shared some of the first tariff receipts making the rounds online, and members of the BuzzFeed Community joined the conversation to share where they've noticed the tariffs going into effect. Here's what they had to say:
"Jasmine rice is usually imported from Thailand. Costco is already showing how tariffs affect consumers and hardworking citizens like me. In March 2025, a bag of jasmine rice cost $15.99 (25 lbs). April 2025: $17.99 (25 lbs). In the month of May, it already jumped to $25.73 (25 lbs)."
—Anonymous, 41, Florida
"I'm an assistant store manager at Skechers, and maybe a week ago, we were given updated/higher prices for EVERYTHING in our store — shoes, socks, backpacks, apparel, and even the cleaning supplies we have for your shoes!! I wish I was kidding when I say our three pack of quarter crew socks went from prices between $14.00, $16.00, and $18.00 (which was already, in my opinion, kinda pricey) to $20.00."
"The cost of my home repairs is three times the amount previously quoted due to an increase in materials costs. I canceled all repairs unless absolutely needed. I'll just sell my house 'as is' or not at all. Someone quoted me $18k to put up a fence. Not going to happen."
—Anonymous, 66, Florida
"I own a small wedding company in California. I have noticed that people are opting for the less expensive package we offer, which is just elopements. Flowers for weddings are going sky high. People are just cutting way back and not having the wedding they've always dreamed of."
"My contact lenses went from $750 last year to $1,248 this year. They updated the prices the week before my appointment, saying it was due to the tariff charges."
—Anonymous, 35, North Dakota
"I work for a patio furniture company. Two weeks ago, they started raising all of our prices up 40-70%, which is an incredible amount. We had a chaise lounge chair go from an already high of $1,000 to $1,600 while others doubled. I don't believe all these increases are due to tariffs. A lot of companies see an opportunity to raise prices on a product that wasn't necessarily hit that high simply because they can. We have no way of actually knowing if that product was really part of it."
"I was laid off from my job because of tariffs. When they called me in, they said that because they were an 80% import business, they were decreasing their staff by 25% because of the Trump tariffs. I was on track to be promoted next month."
—Anonymous, 48, Los Angeles
"I have a small business where all of my stock comes from overseas. There simply aren't any US-based producers. My suppliers started raising their prices in January due to 'expected tariffs,' and they're still rising. What cost me $3 a year ago now costs me $6.50. This is unsustainable for businesses and customers."
And finally, "My partner and I were in the process of purchasing an apartment here in Spain (he is Spanish, I am American) when the bank rescinded our mortgage offer due to 'economic uncertainty in the global market caused by Trump's changing policies.' Even abroad, we can't escape the effects of all this."
—Anonymous, 36, Spain
Have you been charged a tariff fee or noticed prices going up on imported goods? Tell us all about it in the comments or via this anonymous form: