It’s official—tariffs are here, and your wallet is about to notice.

The new trade rules have dropped like a ton of bricks on everything from cars to coffee, clothes to electronics. Average U.S. tariffs now sit at a jaw-dropping 18.6%, the highest they’ve been in decades. And before you shrug and think, “That’s politics, not my problem”—let’s be clear: tariffs are basically a hidden tax.

China’s tariffs are no small factor either—some categories have jumped up to 50%, impacting goods that touch almost every part of our lives. From the clothes on our backs to the electronics in our pockets, these increases raise costs for everyday shopping and create even tighter margins for Black-owned small businesses that rely on imported products to serve their customers.

When the government slaps a tariff on imports, companies pass those costs right along to us. That means grocery runs, back-to-school shopping, and even your weekend Target trip are all about to get pricier. We’re talking:

• Clothing prices up nearly 40%
• Cars costing $3,000–$6,000 more
• A typical household shelling out an extra $2,400 a year just to buy the same things you did last year.

And for African Americans, the impact is even more personal.

Why Black America Feels It Harder

The median Black household income sits around $52,860—a full $20K less than the national average. Add in the reality that we often have smaller savings cushions and less access to low-interest credit, and it’s easy to see why higher prices hit faster and harder in our communities.

Here’s where it stings most:

• Food & Essentials: Produce, coffee, nuts, household goods—all going up. For families already stretching a dollar, this is inflation’s little cousin showing up uninvited.
• Auto Industry: Thousands of Black workers are employed in auto manufacturing and sales. Tariffs on imported car parts can mean layoffs, hiring freezes, and higher repair costs for everyday drivers.
• Black-Owned Businesses: Many rely on imported goods—from beauty supply inventory to boutique fashion—and serve price-sensitive customers. Higher costs mean slimmer margins and tougher growth.
• Black Women on the Front Lines: In 2025 alone, Black women have lost over 300,000 jobs—many in sectors like retail, education, healthcare, and manufacturing that are now bracing for even more cuts as tariffs drive costs higher. This hits especially hard because Black women are often the breadwinners in single-parent households. When her paycheck disappears or her grocery bill spikes, it’s not just her that feels it—it’s the kids, the rent, the light bill, and every dream she’s working toward.

The Bigger Picture

Economists warn these tariffs could fuel stagflation—that ugly combo of rising prices and slowing growth.

And the timing? Brutal. Inflation was already making life expensive; now, the “tariff tax” piles on. For Black communities—especially single Black mothers still recovering from pandemic setbacks, job losses, and decades of underinvestment—this is one more obstacle on the road to economic stability.

So What Do We Do?

While we can’t dodge every price increase, we can get intentional:

• Support Black-Owned Businesses—keep our dollars circulating in the community.
• Buy Smart & Local—cut down on imported goods when possible.
• Budget Wisely—tighten spending, track where your money’s going, and look for savings where you can. Small adjustments now can help cushion bigger hits later.