5 Household Items To Stock Up On Now in Case of Tariff-Induced Product Shortages
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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If there’s one buzzword that has surrounded President Donald Trump’s term so far, it’s “tariffs.” After what the president called “Liberation Day” on April 2, he announced 10% reciprocal tariffs on many countries, and higher rates on countries like China, South Korea and Taiwan. Not long after, Trump started rolling back some of the tariffs and put a 90-day pause on some.
Costs from tariffs can be passed down to the consumer. This means shoppers may want to start stocking up on some foreign-made essentials before tariffs increase. Here are some household items experts recommend picking up now.
Cleaning Products
Cleaning sprays, sponges and other bottles under the sink might be more expensive in the coming months. Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana, suggested stocking up right now on the cleaners you use the most while paying attention to how long they’re effective for.
“Lots of chemical ingredients that we use in cleaning products here are imported from other countries, so they could become more expensive. Of course, you do want to pay attention to expiration dates so that you don’t stock up on too many products that you won’t be able to use before they expire, but it could be worthwhile to buy some extra for a preventative measure,” he said.
Electronics and Appliances
If you need to replace items like iPhones and refrigerators, Lucia Lu, senior consultant at business solutions provider Nextpins, recommended doing it before any more tariffs are announced. “Your smartphone, laptops and home products might experience higher prices or even product shortages,” she said.
This suggestion extends to appliance parts as well. “Anything with niche parts, such as filters for air purifiers, vacuum bags or specific printer ink cartridges, could disappear quickly if tariffs are imposed,” said Bernard Meyer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend. “Stores might not stock as many of these because they’re less profitable, and replacement might be tricky.”
Furniture
A lot of the home goods we see in American homes are made overseas, so Lu suggested picking up interior design elements now rather than later.
“If you’ve had your heart set on that new couch, dining group, or bed, you may want to go ahead and buy it now before it becomes more expensive or unavailable,” she said.
Some Groceries
Some of the items that come up on your grocery list every week could see some major price hikes.
“Some household items — particularly those imported overseas, such as coffee, spices or canned goods — may be unavailable or cost more due to tariffs that start to be implemented,” Lu said.
Clothing
If you look closely at the tags on your clothes, you’ll probably notice a lot of them are made in other countries, so it may be wise to refresh your wardrobe soon if needed.
“Imported clothing tariffs might make products more expensive or reduce product variety,” Lu said. “If you need basic clothing goods or shoes, you might consider buying them now before that cost increases.”
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