Refresh

This website www.fingerlakes1.com/2025/05/23/tariffs-raise-prices-walmart-ford-retail-2025/ is currently offline. Cloudflare's Always Online™ shows a snapshot of this web page from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. To check for the live version, click Refresh.

Skip to content
Home » News » Tariffs trigger rising retail prices at Walmart, Ford, Shein

Tariffs trigger rising retail prices at Walmart, Ford, Shein

  • / Updated:
  • Digital Team 
Tariffs raising prices in America

U.S. shoppers are starting to feel the sting of steep new tariffs, with price increases now hitting everything from clothing and seafood to power tools and cars.

Retailers including Walmart, Ford, and Shein have confirmed or already implemented price hikes in response to new tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico, and Canada. The impact is spreading quickly, and experts say it could worsen as existing inventory runs out.

Walmart, Amazon, and Shein pass costs to consumers

Walmart recently said it will raise prices due to tariffs, while many third-party sellers on Amazon and budget platforms like Temu and Shein have already done so.

Cincinnati-based small business owner Brenda Buschle reported a sharp spike in prices on Chinese-made apparel. “A 3-pack of capri pants I ordered jumped from $17 to $36,” she said.

The rising costs stem from a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, a 25% tariff on vehicles made in Mexico, and new surcharges on Canadian seafood and produce.

Major retailers confirm product-specific increases

Some of the most affected product categories include:

  • Clothing and shoes: Apparel prices are up 14%, and shoes by 15%, according to Yale’s Budget Lab.
  • Seafood: Cod, halibut, and swordfish prices are climbing, says Richard Barlion of Findlay Market in Cincinnati.
  • Automobiles: Ford is raising prices by $600 or more on vehicles assembled in Mexico, including the Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E.
  • Electronics: Nintendo and Microsoft have begun increasing prices on gaming accessories.
  • Tools and hardware: Stanley Black & Decker is raising prices on products sourced from China.

Back-to-school season adds urgency

Retailers and consumers are bracing for deeper impacts as back-to-school shopping ramps up. Walmart, Target, and others front-loaded inventory earlier this year, but they warn those stocks will run out soon.

“Products had to ship early this summer to be on shelves in time,” said Steve Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. “Retailers can’t fully shield consumers from this trade war.”

Trump administration doubles down

Despite pressure from retailers, President Donald Trump has insisted companies should “eat the tariffs” instead of passing costs to consumers.

After Walmart’s CEO warned of inflationary pressure during an earnings call, Trump criticized the retailer on social media: “Walmart made billions. They should not charge customers ANYTHING.”

Still, the data tells a different story. Analysis by AlphaSense shows a surge in earnings calls mentioning “tariff surcharges,” with U.S. firms making up two-thirds of those mentions.

What happens next

Economists expect price pressures to increase through the summer and into the holiday season, especially as inventories of pre-tariff goods dwindle.

Consumers considering large purchases — from school supplies to cars — may benefit from shopping sooner rather than later.



Categories: NewsBusiness