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Consumer News: Main Street gears up for Trump tariffs' impact

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Category: Consumer Daily Reports

Supply costs, shifting consumer behavior, falling tourism are terrifying many small business owners

By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
April 15, 2025

Key takeaways:

  • Entrepreneurs nationwide prepare for cost increases tied to new import tariffs

  • Supply chain adjustments, price hikes, and sourcing shifts underway

  • Many owners fear long-term strain on operations, hiring, and consumer demand

As new rounds of President Trump's tariffs loom, small businesses across the United States are scrambling to assess and mitigate the potential economic fallout. The measures include broad import taxes on a wide range of goods, with higher rates for nations running trade surpluses with the U.S.

Business owners say the move has injected uncertainty into already fragile post-pandemic operations.

From retail to manufacturing, owners are reviewing supply chains, forecasting pricing adjustments, and, in some cases, exploring domestic sourcing options to shield operations from what could become a long-term economic shift.

Im terrified for my business, and Im terrified for all the other small businesses in the United States right now, because we dont know what to do, and were invested in our businesses. I could lose my home, and I dont understand it, and I dont know what to do," said Beth Benike, the ownerofBusy Baby, Zumbrota, Minnesota.

"I am abandoning my products in China. I am leaving them there because I simply cannot afford to ship them here," Benike told The Guardian.

Weve already seen material costs jump 8% in the last quarter, said Carmen Liu, owner of a home goods company in Illinois. If tariffs hit as planned, Ill either have to raise prices or cut back on hiring neither is ideal.

Navigating rising costs

Many small businesses rely on international suppliers for raw materials, parts, or finished goods. The proposed tariffs, particularly on electronics, textiles, and auto components, are expected to raise wholesale costs by 1025%, depending on the country of origin.

Were building contingency plans, said Tim Harper, who runs a bike shop in Oregon. If tariffs go into effect, our imported components could cost 20% more were already working with vendors to lock in pre-tariff inventory.

Others, like food and beverage startups, are stockpiling inventory or seeking alternative suppliers in countries unaffected by the new trade rules.

Tourism, travel bookings fall

The ongoing tariffs are having a direct impact on our vacation rental business, with cancellations from Latin American and Canadian guests and a noticeable drop in new bookings from these markets," said Helena Sideris,general manager,Park City Lodging, Park City, Utah. "Combined with rising costs and broader economic volatility, these shifts are creating real pressure on our family business.

In California, the popular winter playground Palm Springs has been feeling a chill. Canadian visitors and winter residents packed up and left early and, while no tumbleweeds have been spotted, the normally bustling downtown area has been eerily quiet lately.

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled atourism campaignon Monday urging Canadians to come experience our California Love after seeing a dip in in visits from the United States' northern neighbors who say theyve been alienated by President Trumps policies.

In a videoposted on social media, Newsom focuses on the allure of the Golden State while distancing it from Trumps administration.

Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but dont let that ruin your beach plans, Newsom says, as images of the Golden Gate Bridge and a woman flying a kite on a beach appeared on the video.

Shifting consumer behavior

The concern isnt just about input costs its also about whether customers will absorb higher prices. A recent Numerator survey found that 83% of U.S. consumers plan to alter their spending habits in response to rising costs. For small businesses, this could mean reduced sales or a longer road to profitability.

Consumer spending has remained robust but there are early indicators that consumers may be cutting back.Kikoff, acredit-building platform,surveyed over 1,700 users to understand how inflation, and now tariffs, are reshaping spending behavior.

Key findings include:

  • A majority (85.7%) said inflation has impacted their ability to afford everyday items like gas and groceries

    • Nearly half have used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options to manage unexpected expenses

    • More than a quarter turned to payday loans

  • Low confidence in the economy

    • About two-thirds of those surveyed rate the current U.S. economy as "poor" or "very poor and believe a recession is likely or very likely in 2025

  • 73% have scaled back summer plans to reduce spending

That's not good news for businesses counting on consumers to continue their habitual spending.

We run a tight margin. A price hike of even 5% can mean the difference between staying afloat or going under, said Marisol Rivera, who owns a boutique skincare brand sourcing packaging from Asia.

Policy and Preparedness

Industry groups like the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce are calling for clarity and support, urging policymakers to consider how tariffs could compound inflation pressures and slow recovery for small businesses.

"More than 95% of consumers live outside the United States. Selling more U.S.-made goods and services around the world is crucial to American jobs and will help businesses small and large grow. Expanding trade also enhances the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers while boosting the buying power of American families," the Chamber said on its website.

Meanwhile, some small business owners are hopeful that policy details or legal challenges may delay or soften the impact but many arent waiting to find out.

Weve learned that agility is key, said Harper. Whether its tariffs, supply chain snags, or labor shortages, we have to be ready to pivot fast.

As the business community awaits formal implementation of the tariff plan, small business owners are balancing caution with creativity, determined to protect their livelihoods and adapt to an increasingly volatile economic environment.





Posted: 2025-04-15 23:42:20

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Consumer News: Mortgage rates moved slightly higher this week
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:07:07 +0000

Rising bond yields may keep rates above 6% for a while

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs
March 13, 2026

  • 30-year mortgage rate rises to 6.11%, returning to roughly the same level seen last month, according to Freddie Mac.

  • Rates remain lower than a year ago, when the average 30-year mortgage was 6.65%.

  • Early signs of spring housing activity are emerging, with existing-home sales rising 1.7% in February and purchase applications increasing.

Mortgage rates ticked up slightly this week but remain lower than they were a year ago, a trend that could help support demand as the spring homebuying season begins.

Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.11% for the week ending March 12, up from 6.00% the previous week. At the same time last year, the average rate was 6.65%, meaning borrowing costs remain more than half a percentage point lower than a year earlier.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage a common option for homeowners refinancing or seeking shorter loan terms increased slightly to 5.50%, compared with 5.43% last week and 5.80% a year ago.

Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist, said the modest increase still leaves rates within a range that buyers appear willing to accept.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage returned to last months level of 6.11%, Khater said. Despite the modest uptick, buyers are responding to rates in this range, with existing-home sales increasing 1.7% in February.

More people taking out mortgages

Khater also pointed to a recent rise in mortgage purchase applications, which track demand from prospective homebuyers. The increase suggests buyers are beginning to reenter the market as the traditionally busy spring season approaches.

Lower borrowing costs compared with last year could help boost affordability for some buyers, even though mortgage rates remain well above the ultra-low levels seen during the pandemic housing boom. For a typical borrower, the difference between a 6.65% rate last year and 6.11% today can translate into meaningful monthly savings.

Still, affordability challenges persist due to elevated home prices and limited housing supply in many markets. Even so, the recent stability in mortgage rates could encourage more buyers who had been waiting on the sidelines to start shopping.

If purchase applications and home sales continue to rise in the coming weeks, it may signal that the spring housing market is gaining momentum despite borrowing costs that remain historically elevated compared with the past decade.


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Consumer News: If you stop using a GLP-1 drug, do you regain the weight?
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:07:06 +0000

New research found little evidence of that

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs
March 13, 2026

  • A new Cleveland Clinic study of nearly 8,000 patients found that people who stop popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs often avoid major weight regain in real-world settings.

  • Researchers say many patients restart the medications or switch to other obesity treatments, which may help stabilize their weight.

  • The findings contrast with earlier clinical trials that suggested patients regain more than half of the lost weight within a year after stopping the drugs.

As the use of injectable GLP-1 drugs continues to rise, researchers are beginning to examine what actually happens when patients stop taking them outside tightly controlled clinical trials.

A new analysis from the Cleveland Clinic suggests that, in real-world clinical practice, patients who discontinue semaglutide or tirzepatide often avoid the significant weight regain reported in earlier randomized studies.

The research, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, examined nearly 8,000 adults who had started one of the injectable medications and later stopped taking it within three to 12 months. Investigators found that many patients either restarted the drug or transitioned to other weight-management treatments, helping them maintain much of their earlier weight loss.

Our real-world data show that many patients who stop semaglutide or tirzepatide restart the medication or transition to another obesity treatment, which may explain why they regain less weight than patients in randomized trials, said Hamlet Gasoyan, DS, Ph.D., MPH, a researcher with the Cleveland Clinics Center for Value-Based Care Research who led the study.

Study looked at nearly 8,000 patients

The retrospective cohort study included 7,938 adults with obesity or overweight in Ohio and Florida who had been prescribed injectable semaglutidesold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovyor tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound. Patients had been using the drugs to treat either obesity or type 2 diabetes.

Researchers tracked the treatments patients pursued after discontinuing the medications and monitored how their weight changed during the following year.

Before stopping treatment, patients generally experienced meaningful weight loss, though results varied by condition.

Patients using the medications to treat obesity lost an average of 8.4% of their body weight before discontinuation and regained about 0.5% of their weight one year later.

Those taking the drugs for type 2 diabetes lost an average of 4.4% of their body weight before stopping treatment and, on average, lost an additional 1.3% during the following year.

Weight changes varied across patients

Individual outcomes differed widely. Among patients treated for obesity, 55% gained weight during the year after stopping the medication, while 45% either continued losing weight or maintained their weight.

In the group treated for diabetes, 44% gained weight, while 56% continued losing weight or stayed roughly the same.

The researchers say the findings highlight the range of strategies patients use to manage weight after discontinuing GLP-1 medications, including restarting the original drug, trying another obesity treatment or adopting therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Cost and side effects drive discontinuation

Previous research by the same group found that two main factors led patients to stop taking the medications: high cost or insurance coverage limitations and side effects. Financial barriers were the most common reason.

Insurance coverage differences may also explain why patients using the drugs for diabetes were more likely to restart treatment than those taking them for obesity, the researchers said. Prescriptions related to diabetes are typically covered more consistently by insurers.

As the popularity of GLP-1 medications continues to grow, the researchers say understanding what happens after patients discontinue treatment will become increasingly important for clinicians and policymakers evaluating long-term obesity care.


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Consumer News: Senate passes legislation aimed at making homes more affordable
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:07:06 +0000

The measure had bipartisan support, passing 89-10

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs
March 13, 2026

  • The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan housing bill Thursday in an 8910 vote, aiming to address the nations worsening housing affordability crisis.

  • The legislation targets corporate homeownership, eases construction regulations and expands tools to build more affordable homes.

  • Lawmakers say the measure could represent the most significant federal housing action in decades, though it must still clear the House before becoming law.

In a rare show of bipartisan unity on one of the countrys most pressing economic issues, the Senate has passed legislation designed to make housing more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans.

The bill, approved by an 8910 vote, reflects months of negotiations between lawmakers from both parties who agree that the United States faces a severe housing shortage and rising home prices that have pushed homeownership further out of reach.

Supporters say the measure attempts to tackle the problem from several directions at once encouraging more housing construction, limiting certain large investors ability to buy single-family homes, and giving communities greater flexibility to use federal housing funds.

Keeps hedge funds out of the market

A key provision would restrict large institutional investors that own hundreds of single-family homes from expanding their portfolios, a policy intended to curb the growing role of corporate buyers in the housing market.

Lawmakers backing the provision argue that competition from major investors has made it harder for first-time buyers to purchase homes.

The legislation also includes steps to streamline regulations that builders say have slowed housing construction and adds incentives for cities that make it easier to build new homes.

Other provisions promote modular and factory-built housing and expand opportunities for private investment in affordable housing developments.

Building more houses

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, said the bill is aimed at increasing the supply of homes and making them more accessible for people who want to live in them, not for investors.

Still, the proposal faces hurdles before becoming law. The House previously passed a different housing package, meaning lawmakers will need to reconcile differences between the two versions before sending a final bill to the presidents desk.

Even with bipartisan momentum, the next stage of negotiations could determine whether the Senates sweeping housing plan ultimately becomes the first major federal housing reform in years or another stalled attempt to confront Americas affordability crisis.


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Consumer News: There’s good news and bad news for renters
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:07:06 +0000

Theres been a slowing in rent increases, but rents are still at a high level

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs
March 12, 2026

  • Rent growth has stalled nationwide, but millions of renters still face severe affordability challenges after years of pandemic-era rent increases.

  • Nearly half of all U.S. renters are cost burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, according to a new Harvard housing report.

  • Rising construction costs and a shift toward higher-priced apartments are shrinking the supply of lower-cost rental units.

Despite a recent slowdown in rent increases and signs of cooling in the apartment constructionpipeline, rental housing in the United States remains deeply unaffordable for households across a wide range of income levels, according to a new report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

The report, "Americas Rental Housing 2026," finds that headline rent figures showing little or no growth in recent years mask the financial strain facing millions of renters who are still grappling with the lingering effects of steep pandemic-era rent hikes and a shrinking supply of lower-cost units.

Headline numbers showing flat or falling rents can be misleading, said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. For millions of renters, especially those with lower and moderate incomes, housing is deeply unaffordable.

National rent growth hovered near zero from mid-2023 through 2025, after surging earlier in the decade. By the fourth quarter of 2025, asking rents for professionally-managed apartments had declined 0.6% compared with a year earlier. Vacancy rates rose to 5.2%, roughly the same level as a year earlier, as rental demand slowed faster than new supply reached the market.

Construction still strong but slowing

Multifamily construction activity remains high by historical standards, though it has begun to retreat from recent peaks. Developers started about 416,000 multifamily units in 2025, below the three-decade high recorded in 2022, but still above typical pre-pandemic levels.

At the same time, the number of apartments under construction dropped significantly from a record 996,000 units in 2023 to 686,000 in 2025. Market data also show a sharp year-over-year drop in new construction starts, suggesting a broader slowdown ahead.

Rising costs are a major factor. Between January 2020 and December 2025, prices for materials used in residential construction increased 42%, while employment costs for construction workers rose 24%.

These pressures have pushed developers toward higher-priced projects, contributing to a major shift in the rental market. From 2014 to 2024, the number of units renting for less than $1,400 per month fell by 9.3 million, while units renting for $1,400 or more increased by 11.8 million.

Cost burdens reach record levels

Even as rent growth has cooled, affordability problems have intensified. The report estimates that 22.7 million renter households in 2024about 49% of all renters spent more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, the threshold commonly used to define a cost burden.

Among them, 12.1 million households were severely cost burdened, meaning they spent more than half their income on housing.

Over the past five years, the share of renters facing cost burdens has risen in 44 states and in 88 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. The trend increasingly affects middle-income households, as well as those with the lowest incomes.

The affordability crisis is no longer confined to the lowest-income households, said Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, a senior research associate at the center. She noted that renters earning between $45,000 and $75,000 annually are increasingly struggling to keep up with housing costs.

Safety-net programs under pressure

The report warns that federal rental assistance and housing preservation programs are not keeping pace with growing demand. Aging rental housing, energy costs, and climate-related risks are also increasing the need for investment in the nations housing stock.

Budget cuts to some safety-net programs and delays in energy assistance funding are adding pressure on household finances, while potential changes to disaster assistance policies could shift more responsibility to state and local governments.

Meanwhile, the high cost of homeownership is likely to keep many households renting longer. However, broader economic uncertainty and stricter immigration policies could also dampen rental demand in some markets.


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Consumer News: Target is slashing prices on 3,000 spring items
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:07:07 +0000

New discounts aim to help shoppers refresh their homes and wardrobes without overspending

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs
March 12, 2026

  • Target is lowering prices on more than 3,000 products for spring, including apparel, home goods, and essentials.

  • Most discounts range from 5% to 20% off, with price cuts rolling out starting in March.

  • The move is designed to help shoppers save on seasonal updates while dealing with ongoing inflation.

If youve been waiting for a good time to refresh your wardrobe or home for spring, Target may have just delivered it.

The retailer announced it is lowering prices on more than 3,000 popular items across several categories as part of a seasonal push to give shoppers more value. The reductions began rolling out in March and will continue throughout the spring shopping season.

The move comes as many households continue to feel the impact of higher living costs. By lowering prices on everyday items and seasonal favorites, Target says it wants to make it easier for families to update their homes, wardrobes, and essentials without stretching their budgets.

"Busy families are thinking about value as they begin to update their homes and wardrobes for spring," Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target, said in a news release.

"We're delivering by lowering prices on 3,000 spring favorites across apparel, essentials, and home. We're committed to making it easier than ever for guests to have the fresh style and incredible value they love, with lower prices on the items we know they want."

What items are getting cheaper

The price reductions span a wide range of categories, including many items shoppers typically buy as the weather warms up.

According to Target, some of the biggest savings will be found in:

  • Apparel: Womens and kids clothing designed for spring trends and everyday wear

  • Home items: Bedding sets, blankets, and sheets for seasonal refreshes

  • Footwear: Popular styles like flats, sneakers, and sandals

  • Everyday essentials: Baby products, household necessities, and pantry staples

  • Select food and beverages included in grocery aisles

The company says the discounts are part of a broader strategy to emphasize value for shoppers.

What shoppers should know before heading to the store

If youre planning to shop these new lower prices, a few tips can help you get the most out of them.

  • The price cuts wont necessarily appear all at once. Target says the reductions are rolling out throughout the spring season, so you may see new deals appear over time

  • Shoppers may be able to stack additional savings. Target notes that customers can combine the lower prices with offers through its Target Circle rewards program, which is free to join and often includes extra discounts and deals.

  • Availability may vary by location and online, so its worth checking the app or website if youre looking for a specific item.


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