Since the start of 2025, prices of goods varying from groceries to auto parts have risen significantly due to inflation, shortages and the recent implementation of tariffs.
According to the Consumer Price Index for Food (CPI), which accounts for the average change in prices, there has been an overall 0.2 percent increase for food in February in comparison to January. Products such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs have also seen a 1.6 percent increase in February alone. For dairy-related products, prices rose by 0.8 percent while beef costs have increased by 2.4 percent.
“My family and I usually shop at Walmart for our groceries. Just a few weeks ago, the egg prices were around 9 to 10 dollars. This week, they were around 11 to 13. The rapid increase of prices forces us to be more conservative with not only eggs, but other foods as well. We find ourselves buying less and saving more,” sophomore Autumn Ramirez said.
However, an additional 10 percent tariff remains against China, increasing the overall tariff to 20 percent. The tariffs cover larger items, such as appliances, furniture and auto parts imported from China.
On March 12, President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. This marked the first time Trump placed tariffs on all countries rather than just a targeted country. In response, Canada announced a series of retaliatory measures on the same day, taking effect on March 13. Items affected from these tariffs include materials for construction sites, and auto parts for vehicles, increasing the overall price for consumers. As counter-tariffs are fired from both sides, many Americans feel tariff-ied of a potential trade war and unstable about their future.
“[Especially] with the possibility of tariffs [and the general inflation], I think the American people are gonna have a hard time. I’m off to college in a year, and I think the grocery costs are the first things that come to mind– that it’s going to cost more,” junior Matthew Wang said.
