Tariffs are already driving up the cost of everyday goods, and most Americans are feeling the strain. A recent Savanta survey found 77% of Americans expect tariffs to have a negative impact on their household finances in the coming year.
With inflationary pressures already straining household budgets, tariffs are compounding the issue by quietly driving up consumer prices. As trade restrictions raise import costs, businesses often pass those expenses to shoppers through subtle price hikes across everyday categories.
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They Are a Hidden Tax
Tariffs function as a hidden tax. When businesses face higher import costs, they rarely absorb the difference. Instead, those costs are passed down to consumers through small, strategic price adjustments, often without any visible warning.
“You rarely see a single dramatic jump; you get a slow bleed across categories you touch weekly,” said Nic Adams, co-founder and CEO of 0rcus, a data and systems security firm. “Retailers spread a 10% landed-cost increase over multiple SKUs, add ‘handling’ fees, reduce promotional depth, or downsize packages.”
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Tariffs Have Ripple Effects
Tariffs may apply to specific goods, but their effects don’t stop there. Many affected imports, such as steel, semiconductors and plastic components, are used across industries, meaning that prices rise not only for targeted items but for the finished products they help create.
“It’s important to remember that the tariffs are a lot more porous than they may appear to be at face value,” said Chris Motola, a special projects editor and financial analyst at NationalBusinessCapital.com. “There are exemptions for high-tech and automotive parts, for example.”
He explained, “More discretionary items like toys, clothing, decorations, household tchotchkes, furnishings, and miscellaneous plastic goods lack exemptions, and are more likely to see price inflation unless the producers eat the tariff.”
They Quietly Pressure Household Spending
Unlike a sudden bill or interest rate change, tariff-related inflation often appears in slow, subtle increases that are difficult to track. Consumers may not notice the change immediately, but over time, rising costs can derail spending plans, deplete emergency savings or prompt households to rely more heavily on credit.
Motola said that while inflation in essentials like food and shelter remains elevated, the impact of tariffs may take longer to surface.
“I would expect tariff-related costs to change discretionary spending habits,” he said. “I would expect budgets to eventually take a hit, assuming discretionary spending habits remain the same. If they don’t, we could see people cutting back on non-essentials or shopping around for cheaper alternatives if they’re available.”
Housing Becomes More Expensive
Housing is particularly vulnerable to tariff-related price increases, as many key construction and repair materials are imported.
According to said Ben Johnston, COO of Kapitus, a small business financing company, many of the materials used to build and maintain homes in the U.S., including lumber, steel, roofing, plumbing fixtures, and HVAC systems, are imported from countries now facing proposed or active tariffs, such as Canada, Mexico, China, and South Korea.
Although some of these items are available domestically, the current supply chain still relies heavily on imports.
“Given the magnitude of proposed tariffs, there is no question that housing will be more expensive to build, maintain and improve for Americans in the coming months,” Johnston said.
4 Ways To Protect Your Budget
To offset the pressure of tariff-driven inflation, experts recommend these proactive steps.
- Check the country of origin: Johnston recommended determining whether it’s possible to source goods domestically. If not, he said, consumers should pay attention to the tariffs being levied and which countries are most impacted.
- Buy now if possible: Motola said the tariff negotiations remain in flux. However, if consumers need an item without a tariff exemption, now is the time to buy while retailers are still offloading pre-tariff inventory.
- Compare brands, not just prices: In the long term, consumers should closely compare product costs, Motola said, because some brands may find “creative” ways to avoid passing on added fees.
- Lock-in rates and plan ahead: Consumers expecting major purchases, such as new appliances or service contracts, may want to act sooner rather than later, before tariff-related price increases take effect. Adams said consumers should build a small monthly buffer into their budget and use rewards or cashback strategies on everyday essentials that can’t be easily skipped or substituted.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Tariffs Could Quietly Undermine Your 2025 Budget — and What To Do About It
