Being a Dad Is More Expensive in Trump’s America
Being a Dad Is More Expensive in Trump’s America
This Father’s Day weekend, must-haves for kids and household essentials are costing American families more because of Trump’s economic chaos
Dads across the country are feeling squeezed this Father’s Day as Trump’s tariffs are raising prices on everything from golf equipment and grills to tools and lawnmowers. This compounds the increased costs parents are already facing as Trump’s trade war has hiked the cost of essentials for babies and kids like car seats, strollers, toys, and baby clothes. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration continues to ignore working families’ worsening financial situation in favor of pushing through a wildly unpopular bill that will give tax breaks to billionaires and raise costs for everyone else.
BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S PRICE HIKES
Father’s Day Favorites:
- Grills: If your father loves a good barbeque, you can expect to pay as much as 30% more to buy him a new grill, as Ace Hardware stores in Ohio and Georgia warned that Weber grills will be more expensive because of tariffs.
- Golf Equipment: The price of golf equipment is also increasing. Topgolf Callaway Brands, a golf equipment manufacturer that sources some components from China, expects a $5 million hit to its earnings this year due to tariffs. Meanwhile, Amer Sports derives 11% of its $5.1 billion in revenue from products like balls and rackets made in China, so we can likely expect price increases on these products, as China tariffs remain in effect.
- Tools: Planning on giving your dad a new tool kit? Stanley Black & Decker announced price increases on its tools, home, kitchen and outdoor products in April.
- Shoes: Nike recently announced that some of their shoes will increase price by up to $10. Kuru, a brand that sells multi-sport men’s sandals, has also announced price increases.
- Video Game Accessories: Nintendo recently increased the price on Switch 2 accessories. A new Nintendo Switch 2 dock will be $119.99 up from $109.99, while the camera is facing a 10% price increase from $49.99 to $54.99.
- Lawn and Landscape Equipment: Most electric landscaping equipment or their lithium-ion batteries come from China, and prices for electric equipment are currently up 30% – 50%.
- Electronics: Planning on upgrading your father’s TV? Best Buy has increased the price on many of its products and Walmart is also increasing prices.
Parenting Essentials:
- Car seats: Walmart CFO Rainey said that a $350 car seat made in China will cost an extra $100, representing a 29% increase, while announcing general price increases starting at the end of May.
- This is a major challenge for parents, as car seats – which can run over $400 – are required by law in all 50 states and should be bought new due to safety concerns.
- New parents spend, on average, $1,000 on baby safety gear.
- Strollers: To put it in Trump’s words, prices are rising for “the thing that you carry the babies around in.”
- UPPAbaby’s popular Vista stroller just increased from $900 to $1,200. Or, for a cheaper option, Bombi’s flagship stroller now costs $225 instead of $199.
- Few strollers are made in the U.S. Most are made in China, while others come from Italy, Taiwan, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
- Cribs: Since the average parent spends approximately $2,000 on a new nursery, it is terrible news that three-quarters of all baby furniture is made in China. The Consumer Product Safety Commission does not recommend buying used cribs, as unsafe sleep environments are the main cause of injuries and deaths with nursery products.
- Get ready for some sleepless nights: the popular smart bassinet SNOO is manufactured in China and might soon cost more than its current $1,695 price tag.
- Silver Cross Sleep & Go Travel Crib increased in price from $300 to $350.
- High Chairs: The Silver Cross Gourmet High Chair is now costing $300, representing a $50 increase and the Kiskadee Rotating Chair is now costing $500, a $100 increase.
