Something that confuses me: why aren't prices sky-high already? The disruption of the supply chain...

[Girard442]

...is already baked into the cake. Could it be they don't want to be accused of price-gouging?

[hlthe2b]

1. Depends on what you are looking for. Some sellers are already anticipating future demand...

As an example, I was going to upgrade my cell phone, but I wanted a specific iPhone (se-3) that is still supported but I will have to buy on the refurbished market. It is the last remaining small model Apple produced/sells--at least for now.

The reliable refurbished (with excellent reviews totalling in the thousands) are selling them out (those with "excellent" refurbish ratings and 128 or 512 GB storage) as fast as they are listed. And this weekend Amazon was pre-selling with June delivery (anticipating availability, I guess) for $100 more than they were last week.

My iPhone se-2 is working great, but, I'd like a back-up just in case the WORST happens and at worst, I use my old one to hold my extensive music collection for home use (while available if necessary to use as a phone) and commission the new one for primary use.

I already replaced my laptop with a very well-priced open-box model.

I can't replace my car, so that is my big vulnerability, but I have to think something will shake out there given how desperate that sector is for workers, sellers, buyers alike. But, I do think technology is a big target for price-gouging--whether in response to tariffs or just the possibility of same.

[Diraven]

2. I think what we're going to see instead

Is just a lot of products are going to become unavailable. Retailers won't even import products if they figure the price will be too high to resell them.

[eShirl]

3. we're at the stage where Wile E. Coyote hasn't yet noticed he's gone way past the cliff edge

[ImNotGod]

4. In the past week and a half Walmart has increased prices by around 25 percent on many of its brand items

I only buy groceries and have noticed the price jumps. Not sure if its due to tariffs or just profiteering.

[global1]

5. We Do Most Of Our Food Shopping On Weekends And We Hit 3 to 5 Different Stores.....

every weekend - because no one store stocks all of our favorite foods.

This past weekend I noticed that the prices have been adjusted up in all the stores we shop at and for all of our favorite items.

Now - they still haven't gone up precipitously - but they are inching up the prices by small amounts. Some about 0.6 cents more and others by over 0.10 to 0.15 cents more than the prices for the same item just one week before.

I've noticed this at Wal-Mart, Trader Joes and Aldi's. I've also noticed this at some of the local grocery stores we shop at.

Check out the latest price on Subway footlongs. The days of a $5.00 footlong are long gone. I've seen them going for as high as $8.99 each.

Also - many of the local Subways are not honoring the Corporate Coupons - you get in you weekly newspapers.

The other trick I see more and more grocery stores using is - posting a price for an item - like $0.99 cents. In the small print that you can't read - it says that this price if only if you present your store card and a digital coupon. You have to read everything these days - because it says without the digital coupon one has to pay the full price. The item I almost bought at the $0,99 price was then priced at $3.29. If you weren't watching as they were ringing up this item - you would have just thought you bought it at the lower price. However, the price on your receipt would reflect the higher price. Many people don't even review their receipts and they just think they saved money.

Watch it folks. It's only going to get worse. Even items that aren't under any tariff directives - will be going up. That's where the price gouging is really going to hurt us. A lot of greed out there. Just like during the pandemic - there will be those stores that will take advantage of the situation and where they see an opportunity to raise the price - they will - even on non-tariff items.

[madville]

7. Subway still has some decent deals

But like many places now you have to get the app and create an account. Just looked in my app the two foot long promotions are any foot long for $6.99 or Buy One Get One 50% off which would put it around that same cost, $6.75 each on two regularly priced at $8.99.

[madville]

6. The actual import price could just be

So cheap on some things that the cost of even a 100% tariff can be passed on without much notice by the consumer. If a company has 100,000 toasters built in China and imported for $2 each, then wholesales them for $8, then a retailer sells them for $17.99, is the consumer really going to notice if they pass that extra $2 100% import tariff on and the retail cost becomes $19.99?

Or if Apple has an IPhone built in China for $50 that retails in the U.S. for $999, is bumping it to $1049 due to 100% tariff going to stop most people from upgrading to that phone?

[darkstar]

8. Former chief economic advisor in Trump's first term

explains the lag and when he expects to see tariff impacts:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143449296