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Higher U.S. tariffs will extend uncertainty for businesses, experts say
President Trump's executive order hiking tariffs on U.S. imports could drive up consumer prices and prolong uncertainty for millions of businesses, trade experts said. Materials issued by the White House on Thursday outline new tariff rates for dozens of countries, but details remain scant on how to implement the trade agreements, said Barry Appleton, co-director of the New York Law School Center for International Law. "The last thing businesses want to have are unanswered questions. They were looking for certainty, and what we have instead is a gigantic Rubik's Cube," he told CBS MoneyWatch. "Everyone has been waiting for 'Liberation Day' to be finished," he added, referring to the country-based tariff announcements Mr. Trump first made in early April. "Instead, with this announcement, we have another perpetuation of what's going on." Under the Trump administration's new import duties, most countries will face a baseline tariff of at least 15%, although other nations will faces levies of more than 40%. The U.S. effective tariff rate is now 17%, according to Fitch Ratings — the highest in decades. That could mean pricier garments from Vietnam, shoes and toys from China, chocolate from Switzerland, and coffee from Brazil, according to economists. As a result, the revised U.S. tariffs could cost Americans an average of $2,048 per year, according to a new analysis from the National Taxpayers Union, a nonpartisan advocacy organization. Mr. Trump has argued his tariff strategy is necessary to correct what he views as unfair trading practices and revive American manufacturing, and points to still-fairly-low inflation rates. But many economists warn tariffs can lead to higher inflation and more sluggish economic growth, and some of the president's early trade moves rattled financial markets. The White House has said that Mr. Trump's trade policies benefit Americans. "President Trump's trade deals have unlocked unprecedented market access for American exports to economies that in total are worth over $32 trillion with 1.2 billion people," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. "As these historic trade deals and the Administration's pro-growth domestic agenda of deregulation and The One Big Beautiful Bill's tax cuts take effect, American businesses and families alike have the certainty that the best is yet to come." On social media, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs are "a knockout win over the distorted global trading order that has disadvantaged American workers, farmers, and manufacturers for decades." He added that Trump's foreign trade policy has achieved "expansive new market access for U.S. exporters, increased tariffs to defend critical industries, and trillions of new manufacturing investments that will create great American jobs." Which products could get pricier? In the U.S., the products most commonly imported from abroad — and therefore most likely to see their prices rise because of sharply higher tariffs — include household appliances, furniture, cars, clothing, sports equipment, toys and cleaning products, according to an analysis from Oxford Economics. The price of such goods rose about 1% in June, or more than double the increase in May, according to the investment research firm's analysis of consumption data, a sign that tariffs are starting to seep into the cost of everyday items. "The question is really what's not going to go up in price. The costs were being eaten in the profits of companies, but that's not sustainable," Appleton said. Mr. Trump slapped some of the highest tariffs on key trade partners like Canada, a major provider of lumber to U.S. companies. That could lead to higher housing costs, according to Oxford. Some fruits and vegetables also could get pricier this winter as grocery stores leans on imports to stock store shelves, he said. U.S. automakers including Ford, GM and Stellantis have recently warned that higher U.S. tariffs will reduce their profits by billion of dollars. That is likely to increase new car prices, said Terence Lau, dean of the Syracuse University College of Law and formerly a government affairs executive at Ford. "My advice to consumers back in April was that they should wait to buy cars," said Lau, who expects dealer prices for 2026 models to rise between 4% and 6%. "In August, my advice is to buy now." Although many businesses are still selling inventory they imported earlier this year in a bid to avoid higher tariffs, subsequent imports will likely be subject to the newly announced levies when they arrive at U.S. ports, according to trade experts. "A lot of businesses front-loaded goods to get them in the door before tariffs were announced. They'll now have to increase their costs as inventories dwindle and businesses start replenishing them," Oxford Economics' senior U.S. economist Matthew Martin told CBS MoneyWatch. "We expect cost hikes to peak in the second half of the year," Along with facing potentially higher prices, U.S. consumers could face reduced product choices stemming from supply-chain delays, according to economists. That's largely because companies unable to reshore manufacturing to the U.S. are likely to stop importing low-margin goods as they move to control costs. "In many cases, tariffs will be so high that we'll create embargoes," Martin said. "That will make it more difficult for retailers and distributors to get things out to market." Rodney Manzo, a supply-chain expert and senior director at Sage, a business management software company, said higher tariffs often end up affecting businesses and consumers in ways beyond the cash register. "For the average shopper, the effects don't always show up as a big price hike on the shelf. Instead, it's subtler — fewer options, smaller quantities and less generous promotions," he said. "Companies are quietly reducing [their stockpiles], reworking product specs or stripping out expensive components to hit margin targets." Arkansas officials reveal new details about Devil's Den murders of husband and wife The A.I. Divide | America Unfiltered Defense attorneys refuse new cases in Massachusetts, citing unfair pay Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
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Proto Labs Inc (PRLB) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and Strategic Growth ...
Revenue: $135.1 million, a company record, up 6.5% year over year in constant currencies, and up 7% sequentially. CNC Machining Revenue: Grew 20% over the prior year, with a 30% increase in the US. Injection Molding Revenue: Declined 4% year over year. 3D Printing Revenue: Down 1% year over year. Sheet Metal Revenue: Grew 9% year over year. US Revenue: Grew 12% year over year. Europe Revenue: Declined 15% in constant currencies. Non-GAAP Gross Margin: 44.8%, flat sequentially, down 90 basis points year over year. Non-GAAP Operating Expenses: Increased $2.7 million, up 6% consistent with revenue. Adjusted EBITDA: $19.7 million, or 14.6% of revenue. Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share: $0.41, above guidance range, up $0.08 sequentially, and up $0.03 year over year. Cash from Operations: $10.6 million generated during the second quarter. Share Repurchases: $3.1 million returned to shareholders. Cash and Investments: $123.2 million on balance sheet with zero debt. Q3 2025 Revenue Guidance: Expected between $130 million and $138 million, implying 6% growth year over year in constant currencies. Q3 2025 Non-GAAP EPS Guidance: Expected between $0.35 and $0.43. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with PRLB. Release Date: July 31, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Proto Labs Inc (NYSE:PRLB) delivered record revenue of $135.1 million in the second quarter, exceeding expectations. The company saw a 44% growth in customers utilizing their combined offer over the trailing 12 months. Revenue per customer increased by 11% year over year, indicating strong customer engagement. The metal 3D Printing service in Raleigh, North Carolina received ISO 13,485 certification, enhancing credibility in the medical device manufacturing sector. Proto Labs Inc (NYSE:PRLB) continues to generate healthy cash flows, allowing for ongoing investments in growth and innovation. Negative Points Injection Molding revenue declined by 4% year over year, with noted weakness in the medical sector. 3D Printing revenue was down 1% year over year, reflecting continued weakness in prototyping. European revenue declined by 15% in constant currencies, indicating challenges in the region. Tariffs and changing trade policies created short-term margin pressures, impacting profitability. Gross margin was down 90 basis points year over year, driven by higher growth in network revenue and lower US network margins due to tariffs. Q & A Highlights Q: Can you elaborate on the strength you're seeing in CNC, particularly in terms of growth across the factory and network? A: Daniel Schumacher, CFO: We are experiencing similar growth in both the factory and the network, with a 30% CNC growth in the US driving the overall 20% growth for the company. Suresh Krishna, CEO: We've grown revenues with larger accounts due to our go-to-market reorganization, and our production teams have shown agility in responding to customer needs. Q: Is the CNC work leaning more towards production or prototyping? A: Daniel Schumacher, CFO: It is a combination of both production and prototyping. We don't provide a specific split, but both contribute to our revenue growth. Q: Can you provide more details on the Injection Molding business and the factors affecting its performance? A: Daniel Schumacher, CFO: The network is a small portion of our Injection Molding business, with most of it through the factory. We saw some larger production orders last year, particularly in automotive, which impacted year-over-year comparisons. Currently, we are seeing weakness in the medical sector, but we continue to innovate and add capabilities to drive future production growth. Q: What excites you about joining Proto Labs, and what are your initial observations? A: Suresh Krishna, CEO: I'm excited about the opportunity to reaccelerate growth. My focus is on listening to employees, customers, and partners to remove friction and identify future opportunities. I believe there is significant potential to enhance customer and employee experiences. Q: Can you explain the impact of tariffs on gross margins and how it was addressed? A: Daniel Schumacher, CFO: Tariffs impacted our US network margins, particularly on aluminum and steel. We adjusted pricing and fulfillment strategies, and by June, margins returned to normal. The impact was due to a backlog priced at different assumptions, but adjustments have since stabilized margins. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
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Mega Millions winning numbers for Aug. 1: $140 million jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $140 million for the drawing on Friday, Aug. 1, after no one matched all the winning numbers in the drawing on Tuesday, July 29. If someone matches all six numbers on Friday, they will have the option of a one-time cash payment of $62 million. There have been four Mega Millions winners this year, with the most recent being the June 27 win in Virginia of a jackpot of $348 million. Before then, on April 18, an Ohio player took home a $112 million jackpot, a lucky lottery ticket holder in Illinois took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25 and another lucky person hit the Mega Millions jackpot on Jan. 17 for $113 million. Here are the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, August 1, 2025. Mega Millions winning numbers for 8/1/25 The winning numbers for Friday, August 1, will be posted here once drawn. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Did anyone win the Mega Millions? Any Mega Millions winners will be posted here once announced by lottery officials. To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website. How to play the Mega Millions To play the Mega Millions, you have to buy a ticket. You can do this at a variety of locations, including your local convenience store, gas station or even grocery store. In some states, Mega Millions tickets can be bought online. Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24. If you're feeling especially unlucky or don't want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick.' These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you. Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the "Megaplier.' Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions winning numbers for 8/1/25: Jackpot at $140 million
