U.S. imports surged to record heights as consumers stocked up ahead of tariffs
Source: USA Today
Published 5:04 a.m. ET April 1, 2025 | Updated 11:10 a.m. ET April 1, 2025
The U.S. imported more goods in January than in any other month since the government started tracking the data as people raced to stock up ahead of President Donald Trumps announced tariffs.
The import surge was driven by sharp increases from the United States three largest trading partners, China, Canada and Mexico, according to a USA TODAY analysis of recently released U.S. Census trade data. Together, those nations provide nearly half of the foreign goods consumed in the U.S., and they are key targets of tariffs that took effect last month. More tariffs, including a 25% tariff on autos and auto parts, are scheduled to begin April 2.
People are trying to get imports into the country before the tariffs go on, said Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.
People were hedging their bets.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/04/01/record-high-imports-trump-tariffs/82671307007/

littlemissmartypants
(27,064 posts)Until they have to sit on all of that inventory because folks either can't or won't buy stuff.
Hope you are having a good day, BRDS.
❤️
BumRushDaShow
(149,922 posts)(assuming any of these tariffs even materialize) but it will hit small businesses - especially tourist ones that sell a lot of cheap stuff.
And am exhausted! Time for me to hit the sack!!!
littlemissmartypants
(27,064 posts)

Mike 03
(18,311 posts)the like.
I think many people thought similarly. Now it will be possible to get through a period without a lot of spending, which will hopefully (if enough people do this) add to the sense that consumers are stopping spending or at least pulling back.
I'm really trying hard not to buy anything except for absolute necessities for as long as possible (though I really wish we would do more coordinated boycott days--I thought that was a great idea and good for morale).