A Price Check on Tariffs

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Wirecutter Show – "A Price Check on Tariffs"

Release Date: June 17, 2025

Introduction In this special bonus episode titled "A Price Check on Tariffs," The Wirecutter Show delves into the real-world impact of tariffs on everyday consumer products. Hosts Christine Cyr Clisette and Caira Blackwell, alongside producer Rosie Guerin, engage in an insightful discussion with Wirecutter’s deputy editor, Annemarie Conte, to uncover whether recent price hikes are truly a result of imposed tariffs.

---

Understanding the Current Tariff Landscape Christine begins by providing an essential overview of the current tariff situation, noting the lingering effects since the so-called "Liberation Day" in April. She explains the existing tariffs under the Trump administration:

• Universal Tariff: 10%
• Steel and Aluminum: 50%
• Cars and Auto Parts: 25%
• Goods from China: 30%

Christine Cyr Clisette [00:20]:

"The Trump administration has active tariffs right now, including a 10% universal tariff, 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars and auto parts, and 30% on goods from China."

She emphasizes that despite these steep tariffs, multiple exemptions exist, which could influence price stability.

---

Price Tracking Methodology and Initial Findings Annmarie Conte shares the methodology behind Wirecutter's price tracking initiative. Over 60 days, from April 14th to June 12th, her team monitored 40 Wirecutter-recommended products across three different retailers, including manufacturer websites.

Annmarie Conte [03:56]:

"We wanted a representative sample of everyday products... we picked all of these products, and then every day for 60 days, they tracked the prices on the products over three different retailers."

Surprisingly, the majority of these products did not experience significant price increases due to tariffs.

Christine Cyr Clisette [01:56]:

"Prices really haven't gone up so far."

However, she notes that while most prices remained stable, tariffs are still impactful and could affect future pricing dynamics.

---

Detailed Findings and Specific Examples Annmarie elaborates on the findings, revealing that 37 out of the 40 tracked products maintained steady prices. Some fluctuations were observed, attributed to regular sales and retailer-specific pricing strategies rather than tariffs.

Annmarie Conte [05:26]:

"37 of the 40 products mostly remain the same. We did see some spiking and there were price fluctuations throughout the time."

Case Study: Mattress Pricing A notable exception was found in the mattress category. While the regular Leesa Sapira hybrid mattress price remained unchanged, the Leesa Legend Chill hybrid mattress saw a price increase directly linked to steel tariffs.

Annmarie Conte [06:45]:

"They confirmed directly it's a direct result of tariffs. Because of the steel tariffs, they had to increase the price on the Leesa Legend Chill."

This example underscores how specific materials subjected to high tariffs can influence product pricing.

---

Impact of De Minimis Tax Exemption Removal The conversation shifts to the removal of the de minimis tax exemption for shipments under $800 from China and Hong Kong, effective May 2nd. This policy change results in unexpected import fees for consumers ordering from international retailers.

Annmarie Conte [09:31]:

"The de minimis tax exemption allows for shipments under $800 into the US without additional fees. The Trump administration ended that exemption for China and Hong Kong on May 2."

Ansemarie shares a personal anecdote illustrating the sudden increase in costs due to this policy change:

Annmarie Conte [09:30]:

"We had a ukulele that we were going to make a pick and we ordered it, it was $56. And then we got an import bill for $102.43 making it could no longer be our budget pick because it cost us $158."

This significant price jump highlights the direct financial burden on consumers and small businesses reliant on affordable imports.

---

Strategies for Consumers to Navigate Tariff-Related Price Changes Annmarie offers practical advice for consumers to mitigate unexpected costs:

1. Verify Manufacturing Origins:

   • Check if products are made in China or Hong Kong by searching the product page or contacting customer service.

   Annmarie Conte [12:31]:

   "Check and see if the product has been manufactured in China or Hong Kong. You can search on the product page and you can even ask customer service via email or chat."

2. Monitor Manufacturer Announcements:

   • Stay informed about impending price increases by following manufacturer updates on various platforms like Instagram, Reddit, or official websites.

   Annmarie Conte [16:21]:

   "Sometimes it's an Instagram post, sometimes it's a Reddit thread, sometimes it's on the manufacturer's website itself."

3. Leverage Wirecutter’s Deals Team:

   • Utilize Wirecutter’s deals page for the latest offers and discounts on recommended products.

   Annmarie Conte [17:08]:

   "Our deals team are the heroes of this story and they're the ones that are tracking these prices every day of the year and they're surfacing the Wirecutter recommended products that are on sale and that meet their standards."

4. Consider Purchasing Used or Refurbished Items:

   • Explore the secondhand market or refurbished products to extend the lifespan of existing items and save costs.

---

Future Outlook and Recommendations Looking ahead, Annmarie expresses cautious optimism. She anticipates that most prices will remain stable through the summer, partly due to preemptive stockpiling by larger companies. However, concerns loom for the fall season, particularly around holiday shopping, where reduced overstock could lead to price increases.

Annmarie Conte [13:35]:

"We really think that most prices will remain fairly stable for the time being... But we're not really sure what's going to happen for Black Friday."

She advises consumers to:

• Avoid Panic Buying: Purchase only what is necessary to prevent overspending during uncertain times.

  Annmarie Conte [15:30]:

  "We stand by that. I think Caitlin was dead on. And I think it is really important to not panic buy and to really only purchase if you truly want or need something."

• Opt for Older Models: When possible, choose previous versions of products that are less likely to experience price hikes.

  Annmarie Conte [15:30]:

  "Our headphones experts, for example, are not recommending newer models. They're recommending the older models because they don't think that the price increases."

---

Conclusion The episode wraps up with reaffirmations of the key strategies for navigating the current tariff landscape. Hosts encourage listeners to utilize Wirecutter’s resources, such as their deals page and product guides, to make informed purchasing decisions amidst fluctuating prices. The discussion emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant and adaptable in the face of ongoing economic changes influenced by tariffs.

Christine Cyr Clisette [17:58]:

"Annmarie, this has been great. Thank you so much. And I'm looking forward to seeing you track more of this in the future."

Annmarie Conte [17:58]:

"It's been such a delight. Thank you."

---

Additional Resources For more detailed coverage and updates on tariffs and their impact on consumer goods, listeners are encouraged to visit Wirecutter’s website.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Christine Cyr Clisette [00:20]:
  "The Trump administration has active tariffs right now, including a 10% universal tariff, 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars and auto parts, and 30% on goods from China."

• Annmarie Conte [09:31]:
  "The de minimis tax exemption allows for shipments under $800 into the US without additional fees. The Trump administration ended that exemption for China and Hong Kong on May 2."

• Annmarie Conte [12:31]:
  "Check and see if the product has been manufactured in China or Hong Kong. You can search on the product page and you can even ask customer service via email or chat."

• Annmarie Conte [15:30]:
  "We stand by that. I think Caitlin was dead on. And I think it is really important to not panic buy and to really only purchase if you truly want or need something."

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights shared in the episode, providing listeners with valuable information on how tariffs are affecting consumer prices and offering actionable advice to navigate these changes effectively.

Transcript

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'm Christine Cyr Clisette.

[Rosie Guerin]

I'm Kyra Blackwell. I'm Rosie Guerin and you're listening to the Wirecutter Show.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

This episode is called A Price Check on Tariffs.

[Rosie Guerin]

Hey, it's Rosie and Christine. Today we're bringing you a quick bonus episode about something many folks have been thinking about and discussing over the last few months, how tariffs are affecting prices of everyday products. So if you've seen prices increase on anything in your life lately, you might naturally wonder, is it because of tariffs? Christine, an example. Our car is getting older. We've been seriously considering getting a new one. Before tariffs increase prices. My parents just bought an iPad they'd long been coveting for the same reason. You know, I have friends with young kids who are looking to buy baby gear they know that, that they'll need in the next few months. And then I know folks who are thinking ahead to how tariffs might affect their holiday shopping.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah, I think it's a natural thing to be thinking about right now. I mean, I've heard a lot of people talking about this in my life as well. So in case you need a refresher on what's happening currently with tariffs, because it's been a hot minute since the so called Liberation Day back in April. The Trump administration has active tariffs right now, including a 10% universal tariff, 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars and auto parts, and 30% on goods from China. And there are multiple exemptions to that. So our colleague, wirecutter deputy editor Anne Marie Conte, wanted to find out if prices really are going up because of tariffs. And you know, if you can, you as a consumer can go out and, and see the prices going up right now to get a signal. She and some others on our staff spent 60 days tracking prices on 40 of our recommendations.

[Rosie Guerin]

And the headline, the headline is that.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Prices really haven't gone up so far.

[Rosie Guerin]

Right. So that of course doesn't mean that they won't change in the that other prices haven't changed for other reasons on goods or that tariffs aren't consequential because of course they are. But on this curated selection of Wirecutter picks, not much has changed so far.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So in just a minute, Annemarie is going to join me in the studio to talk about her findings, what we can expect in the future, and how we might want to think about navigating purchases moving forward. We'll be back after the break.

[Kyra Blackwell]

The bestselling dream team, Bill Clinton and James Patterson return with this summer's blockbuster Thrill ride the First Gentleman America has a powerful new president, and her husband is on trial for murder. Bursting with action and authenticity, this courtroom drama has a twist you'll need to read to believe. Bill Clinton and James Patterson's the First Gentleman. Available now in hardcover, ebook, and audio wherever books are sold. This podcast is supported by the Sam Sanders show from kcrw. Should the Oscars even exist? Have streaming apps made music bad? Can pop culture predict a recession? Each week, Sam and his guests ask big questions and offer hot takes about the entertainment we're obsessed with. Join comedians, journalists, and celebrities as they make sense of the zeitgeist. Or at least make fun of it. Catch the Sam Sanders show wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Ann Marie, welcome to the show.

[Annemarie Conte]

Oh, hello. I'm so excited to be here.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

It's great to have you. So you spent the last couple of months tracking the prices of 40 products that Wirecutter recommends. What type of products are these, and how exactly did you track those prices?

[Annemarie Conte]

The first thing we wanted to do was make sure that we had a representative sample. So we wanted everyday products, things like olive oil or retinol serum, dishwasher pods. And then we also wanted bigger purchases, so things like an air purifier or a coffee maker or refrigerator. And we also wanted a mix of big companies and smaller companies and ones that originated in different countries.

[Rosie Guerin]

Okay.

[Annemarie Conte]

So we're really trying to find a broad range of products that would be a representative sample of what people are purchasing and what potentially could be spiked by tariffs.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And then how did you go about tracking the prices?

[Annemarie Conte]

We have the Wirecutter secret weapon is our deals team. So we have seven journalists who literally think about prices on Wirecutter favorite products every day of the year. And they're surfacing only the best deals on them. And so I employed them. I was like, please, can you help me? And they were like, yes, we got it. So we picked all of these products, and then every day for 60 days, they tracked the prices on the products over three different retailers, often the manufacturer's site, and check to see what the pricing was like and how it was changing.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So they're going in daily on these 40 products and sort of tracking the price day by day to keep a log of it for the last two months, or roughly 60 days.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yep, it was April 14th to June 12th.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay, great. So you spend these two months roughly tracking 40 products, but you find that there hasn't been much of a change.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah, we checked in 30 days in, and we're like, oh, nothing's happened.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

What's the story? There's no story.

[Annemarie Conte]

And so 37 of the 40 products mostly remain the same. We did see some spiking and there were price fluctuations throughout the time, which we also expected because the deals team sees this happen often throughout the year. There's sales that happen. Sometimes retailers increase or decrease a price for whatever reason. And so it was just a really interesting thing over the course of those.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

60 days, what do you think is actually happening based on sort of this limited sample size? Have manufacturers just stockpiled all of the goods and they're sitting in warehouses somewhere and we haven't sold through them yet?

[Annemarie Conte]

I think that's dead on. I think the larger companies that could anticipate this and could afford to do it brought a lot of products in before the tariffs took effect. And then they're warehousing them locally. So there's not going to be import fees on things that already exist in the US and there's also a little bit of a game of chicken happening. I think that retailers and manufacturers are loathe to increase prices and to be the first one to increase prices.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Although you didn't see the price rise on most of these products, you did see prices rise on a few. Can you give me an example and what you found out about that?

[Annemarie Conte]

The best example I can give you is from a mattress brand called Lisa. And we were tracking the Leesa Sapira hybrid mattress. It's one of our favorite mattresses. It's one I own. I love it. It didn't go up. So for the price tracking project, it remained the same. But our deals team, because they're price tracking products on lots of wire cutter picks, they noticed that the Leesa Legend Chill hybrid mattress went up. And so we went back to the company and we said, what's going on here? And they confirmed directly it's a direct result of tariffs. Because of the steel tariffs, they had to increase the price on the lease. A Legend Chill. But they're taking a smaller profit margin on the rest of their mattresses because they really don't want to have to raise prices. But with the one with more steel in it, they had to.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay, so beyond these 40 products you saw, most of them didn't rise. Some of them did. But our deals team is tracking, like you mentioned before, kind of looking at products across our catalog, and they did see prices ris on some products over the last two months.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah. And our tech team has particularly been sensitive to this because they knew that so many of the products that they recommend were coming from China. And so they were doing their own price tracking as well. And then we also see it on baby products, also a heavily Chinese manufactured category, as well as things like an outdoor griddle. It's made mostly of steel that increased too.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Right, that makes sense. So in the case of the products that did rise in price, like some of these baby goods, some of the tech goods, the things that have a lot of steel in them, are we sure that it's because of tariffs? You know, I think at this point, anyone who sees prices rise is going to naturally have the question in their mind, oh, maybe it's tariffs.

[Annemarie Conte]

I think there are so many factors and I think there's also like the amorphous market forces. That's what Nintendo said caused the increase in their accessories. Inflation is kind of a related but separate issue. There's also the idea that the exchange rates, sometimes those. Because they're these. A lot of these are global companies. And so they're dealing with not only the US and the raise in tariffs, but other market forces that are existing outside of this too. So unless a company is explicitly saying, yes, this is because of tariffs, you don't really know. And I made sure that the examples that we cited I only attributed to tariffs if the company had confirmed it was due to tariffs.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Are there other instances where we are seeing prices rise right now for products for everyday goods?

[Annemarie Conte]

I think the hardest hit have been these direct to consumer products. Small value imports used to be tax free because of the de minimis tax exemption.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And can you explain what that is?

[Annemarie Conte]

So the de minimis tax exemption allows for shipments under $800 into the US without additional fees. The Trump administration ended that exemption for China and Hong Kong on May 2. So we're seeing all over the place people ordering goods from places like Shein or Temu and getting a giant tariff bill. And they did not realize that it was coming. And that's because the buyer is responsible for paying those import fees. Right.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So we used to not tax that type of good because I would imagine, like if you're ordering from Shein, part of the thing that people love is you can get really cheap products. So you would probably be ordering something under $800 and not being taxed on it, but now that fee is being passed on to the consumer.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah, And Wirecutter experienced this firsthand. So we had a ukulele that we were going to make a pick and we ordered it, it was $56. And then we got an import bill for $102.43 making could no longer be our budget pick because it cost us 158dol.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That is wild. And that could really have an impact. So this is companies like you mentioned, Sheen Teemu, but it's also other direct to consumer brands like, you know, you just did a big piece on quints.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So some of these other brands that are selling direct to consumer and have had their sort of their processes where they're making things in a different country and directly shipping.

[Annemarie Conte]

As I was reporting that story, I asked them about it because their entire business model was predicated on this tax exemption. And that's how partially how they were keeping prices so low for the consumer. And I noticed because I had all of my reporting from when I was reporting in February and March and we compared it and their luggage used to just solely be made in China and now it's also partially made in Indonesia. So it seems like they're moving their manufacturing facilities out of China in order to be able to still use the de minimis tax exemption because the Trump administration only eliminated the exemption for China and Hong Kong.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Oh, that's interesting. Okay, so there are workarounds for some of these companies. And this could also apply to like a small business that you're buying from on a place like Etsy, right?

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah, we're seeing a lot of that. And these small businesses, they don't have the ability to move their manufacturing. They are already operating on such slim margins. It's really tragic to see because people's livelihoods are being affected by this.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Annemarie, if someone is shopping online and they want to make sure that they avoid getting this huge, you know, bill in the mail because the de minimis exemption has been, you know, removed from products from China, is there a way you can easily see that? Is there language you should be looking for on a website? How. How do you determine this?

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah, our colleague Kimber Streams wrote an excellent story on this topic and they had some great advice. So first of all, check and see if the product has been manufactured in China or Hong Kong. You can search on the product page and you can even ask customer service via email or chat and ask where the product is being manufactured. You can't 100% know for sure, so you might still get a surprise bill. But if you know that that product is being manufactured in China or Hong Kong, it's almost guaranteed that you will get a customs bill later.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Right. Especially if this is coming from abroad. Right. If it's still product that's sitting in somebody's warehouse in the United States. It's probably fine.

[Annemarie Conte]

Right. But the bill will come from DHL or FedEx, and it's going to come directly to you.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Wow.

[Annemarie Conte]

Yeah.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay, so we've, we've talked a bit about where we are today. Annmarie, based on your reporting, what do you think people should expect to see with prices over the coming months?

[Annemarie Conte]

We really think that most prices will remain fairly stable for the time being, and that's partially because people did import a lot of products before the tariffs took effect. Also because these tariffs are shifting so much that we can't fully predict the future, but we think prices will be okay through summer. Amazon Prime Day usually happens in mid July. We think Prime Day should be fairly normal. But we're not really sure what's going to happen for Black Friday. And our experts really are concerned that prices will rise and the overstock will diminish by the fall, and that's going to affect holiday shopping, which could be.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

A big concern for people who have already been experiencing, you know, inflation over the last few years. Annemarie, are there any other ways that manufacturers are kind of controlling the prices, keeping the prices from being too inflated for consumers at this point?

[Annemarie Conte]

Absolutely. So I interviewed Ana Swanson, who covers trade and international economics for the Times, for my story, and she was saying that she's hearing from manufacturers that they're going to potentially reduce the quality of their construction. So a shirt, for example, can be made with lower quality materials or the design can be made simpler so that it takes less labor. And so as these companies are trying to figure out how to create more profit, because these tariffs are eating into their profit, they are potentially going to reduce quality across the board.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

We did an episode on tariffs a few months ago with our tech editor, Caitlin McGarry, and at that point our advice was don't rush out and panic. Buy anything. But that if you do need to replace something, like say, your phone, for instance, you might want to consider doing that. Do you agree with that? Based on your reporting, how do you think people should approach their purchases over the next couple months?

[Annemarie Conte]

We stand by that. I think Caitlin was dead on. And I think it is really important to not panic buy and to really only purchase if you truly want or need something. So take a breath, think about it. There are lots of ways that you can approach this. One thing that our headphones experts, for example, is they're not recommending newer models. They're recommending the older models because they don't think that the price increases. And the small upgrades that you would get from a newer model is worth it. So think about the model that you're going to buy. Also replace only if you really need to. You might be able to repair the item. You might be able to get along a little longer with older tech and check to see if the company has announced future price increases. A lot of companies have been doing that where they say, well, we are going to increase prices on August 1st.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And is there a good place to look for that? Do you go directly to the retailer's website to look for that information?

[Annemarie Conte]

It's been various places. Sometimes it's an Instagram post, sometimes it's a Reddit thread, sometimes it's on the manufacturer's website itself. So you do have to do a little poking around. But a lot of these manufacturers are forthcoming about this, which is helpful, right? Because again, they're reticent. They don't really want to increase prices unless they absolutely have to. We also, you know, our deals team are the heroes of this story and they're the ones that are tracking these prices every day of the year and they're surfacing the wirecutter recommended products that are on sale and that meet their standards. So I always rely on them. You know, if I see that they've posted a deal on something, I really trust that it's the best price. And that especially during deal events.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And listeners can go directly to our deals page to see what are the most current deals that we have featured.

[Annemarie Conte]

And you can search, you can search by product, you can search by percent off. There's a lot of ways to filter down that content, too. And then you can also just consider buying used with a lot of these products. There's a robust secondhand market for, say, kids gear.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Right?

[Annemarie Conte]

Right. And so that can really help extend the life of a product that already exists here and can be something that you get many more years out of.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That's great. I love that. And also for, for listeners who are interested in a particular product, many of our guides also include information about buying refurbished because that can be a great way to buy some kinds of, like mechanical gear like blenders or computers or things like that. So, Annemarie, this has been great. Thank you so much. And I'm looking forward to seeing you track more of this in the future.

[Annemarie Conte]

It's been such a delight. Thank you.

[Rosie Guerin]

If you want to find out more about wirecutters coverage or read up on wirecutters reporting on tariffs, visit our website. Or as ever, you can find a link in the show notes. That's it for today. We're back with a brand new episode tomorrow. Thank you so much for listening. The Wirecutter show is executive produced by me, Rosie Guerin, and produced by Abigail Keel. Editing by Abigail Keel. Engineering support from Matty Mazziello and Nick Pittman. Today's episode was mixed by Katherine Anderson. Original music by Dan Powell, Marian Lozano, Alicia Ba Itup and Diane Wong. Wirecutter's deputy publisher is Cliff Levy. Ben Fruman is Wirecutter's editor in chief.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'm Christine Cyrclassette.

[Annemarie Conte]

I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[Rosie Guerin]

And I'm Rosie Guerin. Thank you for listening.