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  "path": "/post/206650/thanks-trump-prices-soaring-again-inflation-cost-of-living-affordability",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-17T16:40:36.000Z",
  "site": "https://newrepublic.com",
  "tags": [
    "Breaking News",
    "Donald Trump",
    "Economy",
    "prices",
    "tariffs",
    "Inflation",
    "_The Wall Street Journal_",
    "initial tariff-driven price spike",
    "expected to issue",
    "ruling on Trump’s disastrous tariff policy",
    "absence of Affordable Care Act subsidies",
    "spike even higher"
  ],
  "textContent": "After staving off major mark-ups during the holiday season, American companies are finally starting to hike prices in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and other policies making business more expensive, _The Wall Street Journal_ reported Tuesday.\n\nThe initial tariff-driven price spike started to dull in October and fell before Black Friday—but it is back for a post-Christmas price reset, according to Alberto Cavallo, a professor at Harvard Business School who tracks online prices of U.S. retailers. Between the end of November and February 10, the prices of most affordable imported goods rose by 2.3 percent, according to Cavallo.\n\nDriven by the rising price of appliances, bedding, computers, electronics, and furniture, online prices posted their largest monthly increase in a dozen years, according to the Adobe digital price index.\n\nAmerican companies aren’t shying away from blaming Trump’s tariffs for the suddenly soaring prices.\n\nAfter delaying price increases on winter goods, Columbia Sportswear said it intended to up the price of spring and fall merchandise by, on average, a high single-digit percent. Speaking on an earnings call earlier this month, Columbia’s chief executive Tim Boyle said that raising prices, and other mitigation measures like renegotiating prices with its factories, was intended to “offset the dollar impact of high tariffs.”\n\nLevi Strauss raised prices in January in response to Trump’s tariffs, and is continuing to mark up price tags in February. The company said it identified more opportunities to boost prices on new, high-end items, while only moderately increasing the price of entry-level products.\n\nMcCormick & Co said that tariff expenses added a whopping $70 million in gross costs last year, and will add $50 million in incremental costs this year. The spice maker initially raised prices in September, and plans to increase prices again this month.\n\nThe Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on Trump’s disastrous tariff policy as early as Friday. But tariffs aren’t the only Trump administration policies making business more expensive.\n\nStructural Systems Repair Group, a Cincinnati-based construction company, was forced to raise prices by 10 to 15 percent after tariffs and health care costs for its 115 employees both increased by 10 percent. In 2026, the absence of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which elapsed under the Trump administration, has caused health insurance premiums to spike even higher.",
  "title": "Thanks, Trump: Prices Are Soaring (Again)"
}