The Trump administration’s tariffs will impact American families and parents, increasing the cost of many household goods, experts say.
Economists and researchers say the cost to Americans will be significant, with estimates ranging from nearly $4,000 to almost $8,000 per household.
An April analysis from The Budget Lab at Yale University estimates all 2025 tariffs so far will increase costs at least 3% and, on average, increase costs for the average American household by about $4,900.
Leo Feler, a chief economist for consumer research firm Numerator, previously told ABC News in early April that U.S. consumers will end up bearing the brunt of the cost of increased tariffs if new policies remain in place.
“Since we import about $3 trillion worth of goods, if we are taxed at an effective rate at about 30% on these goods, if tariffs are effectively around 30%, collectively, American households and American businesses are going to pay an extra $1 trillion per year,” Feler said at the time. “That’s about $7,700 per household in addition that we are paying for imported goods.”
Tariffs and impact on food
Various foods and household items from fruits like bananas to staples like oats are expected to increase in price.
The Consumer Brands Association, which represents the consumer packaged goods industry that makes household, personal care, food and beverage products, said in a March letter to the Trump administration that some food product costs will inevitably increase because certain ingredients, such as coffee, oats, and tropical fruits, aren’t available in the U.S.
“While CPG companies make every effort to source ingredients and inputs from U.S. farms and suppliers, some key ingredients and products simply are not available in the U.S. Products like coffee, oats, cocoa, spices, tropical fruits and even tin mill steel (used to manufacture specialty food and household product cans) are some of the more obvious examples of where lack of domestic supply necessitates imports,” the trade group said in part, adding, “Similar issues impact household and personal care manufacturers, in terms of specialty component parts that go into making products like diapers, cleaners, lotions and more.”
The industry group doubled down on the call for tariff exemptions on certain foods in an April 2 news release.
“There are critical ingredients and inputs that need to be imported due to scarce availability domestically. No amount of tariffs will bring these inputs back to the U.S.,” the association said in part at the time. “However well intended, the success of the President’s America First Trade Policy, must recognize the U.S. companies that are already doing it the right way but depend on imports for specific ingredients and inputs that cannot be sourced domestically. Reciprocal tariffs that do not reflect ingredient and input availability concerns will inevitably raise costs, limit consumer access to affordable products and unintentionally harm iconic American manufacturers.”
Tariffs and impact on baby formula and diapers
Baby formula and diapers appear not to be exempt from new tariffs so far, but tariffs on infant formula products have been temporarily lifted in the past, such as in July 2022, when Congress enacted the Formula Act amid the baby formula shortage at the time.
Some diaper brands like Pampers‘ diaper products are made in the U.S., but some of the material components are imported.
Tariffs and impact on baby and kids’ gear
The cost of baby and children’s products, from furniture and toys to car seats and safety products, are likely to increase if new tariffs continue.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the industry trade association for baby and children’s products, says tariffs on “critical” safety products for kids including car seats, cribs and their components, which are often made in China, will negatively impact American families and has urged the Trump administration to consider tariff exclusions for such products.
“Tariffs, particularly those on Chinese imports, will negatively impact product categories like car seats and cribs that safety experts unanimously agree are critical to keeping babies and young children safe,” JPMA Executive Director Lisa Trofe said in part in a February press relelase. “Tariffs will mean higher costs for consumers, placing a heavy and unnecessary burden on families that will undoubtedly result in fewer babies and toddlers having access to products critical to their safety.”
Trofe added that the impact of tariffs can be “devastating” and lead to safety risks if families turn to used safety products instead or even forego them completely.
Retailer Albee Baby, which sells items such as car seats and strollers, is already seeing price increases of about 20% to 30% for strollers from brands such as Britax, Graco, and UPPAbaby.
Meanwhile, Munchkin, the brand that makes kids sippy cups and snack bowls, said it expects to increase prices on about 90% of its baby gear products.
A group of Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison of Minnesota, has also called for exclusions on tariffs of children’s products they called “necessities,” such as kids furniture like high chairs and cribs and safety products such as car seats, which are mandated in all 50 states. The lawmakers issued a letter to the Trump administration on April 1 and pointed to past tariff exclusions for such products seven years ago.
“Notably, the first Trump Administration has previously recognized the necessity of excluding baby safety products from tariffs, when the United States Trade Representative exempted some of these goods from Section 301 tariffs in 2018,” the letter said in part. “We hope that the Administration will take to heart its promise to lower costs for American families by taking similar action to exempt these products from its blanket tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China and invest in American-made baby safety products.”
Tariffs and impact on toys
When it comes to toys, the Toy Association, a leading nonprofit representing the U.S. toy industry, told “Good Morning America” about 80% of toys come from China, and that the association is calling for zero tariffs on toys, which the group called “essential products” for children.
The Toy Association renewed its call for “zero for zero” tariffs on children’s books and toys in late April, emphasizing the industry’s concern ahead of the upcoming 2025 holiday season.
“The Toy Association is currently urging the U.S. government to grant an immediate reprieve from tariffs on toys imported from China, so that toys are available on retail shelves and available for the holiday season,” the group said in a news release. “Beyond this short-term need, The Toy Association is also advocating for a longer-term solution, urging U.S. leaders to secure ‘zero for zero’ tariffs on toys through bilateral negotiations with trading partners.”
ABC News has reached out to the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture for comment.
