Are you/ will you be stocking up on goods in anticipation of increasing tariffs in the US?

[Leann]

DISCLAIMER: This is not a political discussion so please don't get this thread shut down by turning it into one. Thank you.

In the US, we are anticipating increased tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico and Canada beginning in 2025. While this will affect big ticket items such as automobiles and electronics, it will also impact everyday items such as fruits and vegetables. Mexico and Canada provide approximately 33% of the produce sold in the US. The price of gasoline will likely rise because the US imports about 4 million barrels of oil per day from Canada. These are but two examples.

Purportedly the threat of high tariffs is intended to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the US (some of whom are thought to be criminals) and the importation of street drugs.

Now, back to the topic of this thread. Will you be stocking up on goods in anticipation of increasing tariffs in the US? For me, the answer is "sort of". I typically buy extra non-perishable items during sales, especially at this time of year. But I have been buying a little more than I used to.

What about you?

 

[Don M.]

We, too, are anticipating higher prices if Trump imposes the tariffs he is boasting about. If we see something, non-perishable, on sale at the grocery store, we are buying extras.

 

[That Lady in PA]

Nothing worth stocking up on for us.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Yes I have stocked up.

 

[againstthegrain]

Might pick up some extra maple syrup.

 

[RadishRose]

No.

 

[Trade]

Not so much on goods but I did go ahead and get the lastest Covid 19 and Flu vacinations just in case getting vaccinated gets made illegal.

 

[dilettante]

Nope. This chicken's head is firmly attached. Things look pretty decent for a change.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I posted a thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago. To update my thoughts about it, I've been wondering if, though they say we would have months before seeing price increases, would manufactures, farmers, etc. be raising their prices ahead of time in anticipation of the tariffs?
Should We Stock Up This Year Before Proposed Heavy Tariff On China?

 

[oslooskar]

No! I live in Thailand, so I don’t have to worry about tariffs or food quality, which is generally better than in the USA—except for the beef.

 

[Rossana]

We keep a larger supply of dry goods since Covid.
We always keep a good supply of products through the hurricane season. (that seems to become longer and longer each year!)
We are all set.

 

[againstthegrain]

Actually now that I think about it I have taken advantage of some sales to buy some Chinese junk. Most of the stuff I've been wanting for a while, but just waited for the best sales. I've bought a 12v freezer/fridge for camping, 2 GMRS handheld radios, a phone for a gift, and a set of snow tires although those were made in Thailand or Japan.

Facing an economy short of workers and endless threats of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs it seems we could be in for a rough ride. In anticipation I have been selling APPL slowly over the last year and replacing it w a broad US index fund.

 

[Don M.]

We were at the grocery store yesterday, and they had large cans of sweet potatoes on sale for $1...normally $3. We bought 4 cans, Cooking those with some brown sugar and marshmallows makes a tasty meal.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Personally I think that even items not subject to tariffs will increase in price at the grocery stores. If they think they can get away with it they will keep raising prices.

Yesterday I stopped to pick up some items and one was $3 higher than 2 weeks ago. A month ago I bought a year’s supply of paper products and cleaning supplies, 4 months of coffee and 6 months of toiletries. I decided against stocking up on meat because we are having a lot of power outages and sometimes the energy company is turning it off because of risk of fires if windy.

If I’m wrong there’s no loss as it’s stuff I use daily and won’t have to bother buying for a long time. I had the room in my closets because I don’t have a lot of stuff.

 

[Aunt Bea]

We were at the grocery store yesterday, and they had large cans of sweet potatoes on sale for $1...normally $3. We bought 4 cans, Cooking those with some brown sugar and marshmallows makes a tasty meal.

Drain, mash, and follow your favorite pumpkin or sweet potato pie recipe.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

We’ve been stocking up for years, so will continue to do so.

 

[gilead]

Not really, we have made & completed some major purchases recently that probably be affected by the tariffs. We are assuming a wait see attitude. I can't imagine that it will go as smoothly as reported. That's not a political stand just have been through a lot of changes in my lifetime that involved government intervention that haven't gone too well. No panic as yet! If nothing else the pandemic was a good training period.

 

[StarSong]

We keep a larger supply of dry goods since Covid.
We always keep a good supply of products through the hurricane season. (that seems to become longer and longer each year!)
We are all set.

Same here. Our pantry is deeper since Covid but has always been substantial due to the threat of possibly being on our own for days or weeks if there's a large earthquake.

Given the demonstrated propensity the future president has for hyperbole, false promises, will o' the wisp thinking, and lack of follow through, I'll believe the tariffs when I see Mexico pay for that big, beautiful wall.

 

[jimintoronto]

Personally I think that even items not subject to tariffs will increase in price at the grocery stores. If they think they can get away with it they will keep raising prices.

Yesterday I stopped to pick up some items and one was $3 higher than 2 weeks ago. A month ago I bought a year’s supply of paper products and cleaning supplies, 4 months of coffee and 6 months of toiletries. I decided against stocking up on meat because we are having a lot of power outages and sometimes the energy company is turning it off because of risk of fires if windy.

If I’m wrong there’s no loss as it’s stuff I use daily and won’t have to bother buying for a long time. I had the room in my closets because I don’t have a lot of stuff.

Four months worth of coffee ? Did you know that the world wide price of it is at an all time high? Droughts, failed crops and other events in the few nations that grow it, are all contributing to the rising prices. It is not just a US price increase, it's world wide.

 

[Jackie23]

Personally I think that even items not subject to tariffs will increase in price at the grocery stores. If they think they can get away with it they will keep raising prices.

Yesterday I stopped to pick up some items and one was $3 higher than 2 weeks ago. A month ago I bought a year’s supply of paper products and cleaning supplies, 4 months of coffee and 6 months of toiletries. I decided against stocking up on meat because we are having a lot of power outages and sometimes the energy company is turning it off because of risk of fires if windy.

If I’m wrong there’s no loss as it’s stuff I use daily and won’t have to bother buying for a long time. I had the room in my closets because I don’t have a lot of stuff.

Yes, I'll be stocking up too as I have the room. I worry about the future and my life's savings.

 

[gilead]

Four months worth of coffee ? Did you know that the world wide price of it is at an all time high? Droughts, failed crops and other events in the few nations that grow it, are all contributing to the rising prices. It is not just a US price increase, it's world wide.

A few months back I went to one cup a day routine. 4 months! Sounds like my father when they got into storage through the LDS (coffee is against the WOW) coffee goes stale after 2 weeks. So it's hard to anticipate the need. Paper products shouldn't be affected but will. It's all about money, gouging will happen, all we can control is 'supply & demand'. I can see that the black market will be up & running, so money will be made by the well off. The government needs to remember what was the result of the ill planned time during the 'Prohibition' fiasco.

 

[StarSong]

coffee goes stale after 2 weeks.

Am I understanding correctly that you're stating coffee beans and/or ground coffee are stale after two weeks? If so, wouldn't virtually everyone be drinking stale coffee?

 

[gilead]

Am I understanding correctly that you're stating coffee beans and/or ground coffee are stale after two weeks? If so, wouldn't virtually everyone be drinking stale coffee?

Yep, I was informed or misinformed of that fact during my 'coffee snob' days. I've since grown accustomed to stale coffee.

 

[Dave03]

Honestly? The price of something has never affected me. I buy what I need. I can't do anything about it, so why get in a twist over something I can't control?

 

[Muskrat]

My vacuum packed coffee may or may not be out of date. I have never noticed it to be stale. I buy at a large discount from a guy who gets it by the pallet. I am not going to try to outguess tariffs. It is a losing game.