The imposition of successive tariffs and the intermittent nature of trade measures are unsettling businesses globally, while in the United States, several major retailers have already increased prices or cautioned about prospective rises.

In recent months, President Donald Trump imposed novel import taxes on specific sectors and goods from almost all of America's trading partners, prompting retaliatory tariffs, primarily from China, the main target. While many of the steepest tariffs have since been suspended or reduced, a substantial burden remains, continuing to weigh on businesses.

Companies importing foreign-made goods bear the burden of tariffs, the inflated costs of which are typically passed on to consumers; while President Trump posited that these new tariffs would repatriate manufacturing and capital to the United States, economists have long cautioned that such sweeping tariffs would precipitate price hikes across the board, from grocery stores to auto repair shops, given the reliance of many of today's consumer products on global supply chains.

Numerous companies and their clientele are already grappling with this reality, as evidenced by the following major retailers who have recently announced price increases or foreshadowed future hikes amidst the ongoing trade disputes.

Walmart joined the growing list of retailers on Thursday, announcing that tariff-related cost increases would necessitate price hikes.

While Walmart has hedged against some tariff threats by sourcing two-thirds of its merchandise within the United States, it remains vulnerable; according to company executives, price increases began appearing on Walmart shelves in late April and have accelerated this month. The full impact of these price increases, however, is anticipated to become more pronounced in June and July, coinciding with the peak back-to-school shopping season.

John David Rainey, the company's Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the escalating costs of numerous essential goods, citing the price of Costa Rican bananas, which has risen from 50 to 54 cents per pound, and projecting a potential $100 increase in the price of Chinese-manufactured car seats, currently retailing at $350 at Walmart.

"Rainey told the Associated Press that while they were committed to keeping prices down, neither they nor any retailer could absorb the costs indefinitely."

Mattel Inc., the manufacturer of Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, indicated earlier this month that it may need to raise prices, if necessary, to offset the costs of tariffs.

This toy manufacturer produces approximately 40% of its goods in China; although they foreshadowed price increases on May 5th, prior to the US-China agreement for a 90-day temporary reduction of most elevated tariffs, tariffs levied on Chinese goods remain higher than before President Trump initiated tariff escalations last month.

During their recent earnings call, Mattel announced intentions to diversify their manufacturing base, planning to shift production of approximately 500 product lines from Chinese manufacturers to alternative locations this year – a significant increase compared to the 280 products moved in the previous year; furthermore, they indicated a strategy of utilizing multiple factories across different countries for the production of certain high-demand items.

In early May, Microsoft implemented a global increase in the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for Xbox consoles and controllers; for instance, the Xbox Series S, originally launched in 2020 at $299.99 in the US, now starts at $379.99, reflecting an $80 price hike, while the more powerful Xbox Series X has seen its price adjusted upwards from $499.99 to $599.99, a $100 increase.

In a May 1st Xbox support update, Microsoft acknowledged the challenging nature of these changes, citing a broader market environment and increasing development costs, though refraining from explicitly mentioning tariffs.

In addition to the United States, Microsoft has announced Xbox price adjustments in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The company anticipates further local adjustments across all regions and expects select new first-party game releases to retail for $79.99 this holiday season, reflecting increased production costs.

Last month, e-commerce giants Temu and Shein each issued notices announcing price increases, citing "recent changes to global trade regulations and tariffs" as the justification.

The price of numerous goods began to rise from late April, an increase exacerbated by the expiration of the 'de minimis rule' on May 2nd – a long-standing duty-free allowance on small-value Chinese imports frequently leveraged by shopping sites; although subsequent trade between the US and China has offered some mitigation, these products remain subject to tariffs, with Chinese small parcels entering via the US Postal Service currently facing a 54% duty (down from a previous rate of 120%).

Even before this temporary reprieve, Temu appeared to be pivoting away from direct shipments from China, instead drawing upon its existing U.S.-based inventory. The retailer, owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, continues to promote a wide array of goods from local warehouses to American consumers, emphasizing "no import taxes." Meanwhile, Shein, headquartered in Singapore, now explicitly states in its checkout banner: "Duties are included in your payment – no additional charges upon delivery."

Following their April price hikes, tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker has announced further price increases planned between July and September, citing rising tariffs as the driving factor.

In a statement released last month, CEO Donald Allan, Jr. affirmed, "We are expediting supply chain realignments and exploring all available options, carefully balancing business protection with the need to minimize the impact of tariffs on our end users."

Procter & Gamble, the multinational consumer goods corporation behind brands such as Crest, Tide, and Charmin, has indicated that consumers are likely to bear the brunt of increased costs; despite actively pursuing mitigation strategies, including supply chain diversification, to offset tariff-related expenses, P&G has warned that price hikes may be noticeable to consumers as early as July.