Retail aisles across the US are buzzing with shoppers like Thomas Jennings, 53, who’s filling carts with beans, flour, and toiletries ahead of Wednesday’s looming tariff hike. 💸 “I’m buying double of whatever I can,” he told Reuters, mirroring a growing trend as Americans brace for price spikes linked to former President Trump’s new import taxes.
Panic Buys & Pandemic Flashbacks
Suppliers warn the tariffs – projected to cost households $2,100 extra in 2025 alone, per the Tax Foundation – are reviving COVID-era fears of bare shelves. “People worried about costs will stock up, just like in 2020,” said supply chain expert Manish Kapoor.
Basements Becoming Bunkers
Retiree Angelo Barrio, 55, has turned his temperature-controlled basement into a stockpile of toothpaste, rice, and canned goods. “Chaos is coming,” he said, reflecting broader anxieties about economic instability.
While Walmart and Costco remain tight-lipped, analysts predict short-term price surges as retailers pass tariff costs to shoppers. Will this pre-tariff frenzy trigger inflation? Stay tuned. 📈
