The Price Tag on Trade: How Tariffs Cost Your Family $1,000 Last Year
If your budget felt tighter in 2025, it’s not just your imagination. A recent report from the Tax Foundation confirms that recent trade policies have a direct "kitchen table" cost: $1,000 per average American household. $ESP
The Rapid Breakdown
2025 Impact: An average $1,000 increase in household costs.
2026 Outlook: Projected to rise to $1,300 if current policies continue.
Historical Scale: This is the largest U.S. tax increase as a percentage of GDP since 1993.
Where is the Money Going?
While the government collected roughly $132 billion in net tariff revenue last year, economists warn of long-term trade-offs. The report estimates these tariffs could eventually reduce U.S. GDP by 0.5% and potentially impact over 430,000 full-time jobs. $GUN
The Two-Sided Debate
The Consumer Burden: A New York Fed study found that businesses pass through up to 94% of these costs directly to shoppers.
The Administration’s View: The White House dismisses these concerns as "Panican" (their term for tariff skeptics), arguing the policy is a necessary tool to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and decouple from China. $WLFI
The Bottom Line: Whether you see them as a strategic win for American industry or a "stealth tax" on the middle class, tariffs now represent a significant, permanent line item in the average family budget.