BY AMIRA BRYANT

President Donald Trump’s tough tariff strategies are causing major disruptions in the American economy, making it hard for consumers, businesses, and economists to deal with a new level of uncertainty. With tariffs reaching as high as 145% on goods from China and a broad 10% import tax on products from almost every other country, experts caution that the fallout could go far beyond the intended aim of safeguarding American industries. Big retailers like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot have raised alarms, indicating that these tariffs might result in empty store shelves and rising prices in just a few weeks. Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon mentioned that people might start noticing the impact right away as supply chains become strained and stock levels decrease. ‘We’re facing significant delays and price hikes on essential items like groceries, clothing, and electronics,’ McMillon stated. ‘These are not luxury items; they are necessities.’ Even companies that primarily produce in the U.S. are feeling the effects.

Procter & Gamble, which manufactures 90% of its products domestically, revealed it would need to increase prices due to higher costs for imported materials. Likewise, LG and PepsiCo have adjusted their earnings predictions downward, preparing for lower sales and how much money a company makes for every dollar of sales. Economists are growing more negative about the future of the U.S. economy under these tariffs. Seth Carpenter, Morgan Stanley’s chief global economist, warned that if all tariffs stay in place, the U.S. could experience a ‘significant negative shock’ to economic growth by 2026. ‘These aren’t just theoretical figures on a graph,’ Carpenter explained. ‘This is real money being taken out of family budgets and real stress on businesses trying to survive.’ The effects are also being seen in how consumers feel. The University of Michigan reported that the consumer confidence index fell by 10.5% in March alone, marking a 27% drop over the past year, mainly due to worries about inflation and economic instability.

The younger communities are also feeling the impact of Trump’s policies. Now that they are rising, older audiences on the internet are now informing younger people on what to do before the tariffs rise further until they are unlikely to be able to support themselves or have freedom with their money. Let’s say that your favorite amazon shirt is $10, with the store charging an additional $10 so they make a profit. Since most shirts are imported from abroad, Trump’s tariffs would mean the shirt could now cost $15 to make, with the shop only profiting $2.50 per shirt if it kept the price at $10. Your local coffee shop prices could rise, convenient stores, clothing stores, retails, etc. It’s between you, and your minimum wage part-time paycheck, being busy with school, you won’t be able to make as much money as you want to, these tariffs will affect you too.