Tariffs drive up prices of China-made goods on Amazon, outpacing U.S. inflation

Prices for goods made in China and sold on Amazon.com are rising at a pace faster than overall inflation, signalling the growing impact of U.S. tariffs on consumers, a new analysis by retail analytics firm DataWeave reveals.

The study tracked 1,407 products on Amazon explicitly labeled as made in China. It found that from January to mid-June, the median price of these items rose 2.6%, more than double the 1% increase in the U.S. core goods Consumer Price Index (CPI) through May.

The trend suggests that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration are now filtering through to the retail level.

Electronics and Home Goods See Sharpest Increases

Products with the fastest price increases included electronics such as printers and shredders, home and kitchen items like cookware, and school and office supplies. A GreenPan frying pan, for example, more than doubled in price to $31.99 after aluminium-based products were hit with a 50% tariff on 4 June.

Of the items tracked, 475 saw price hikes, 633 remained unchanged, and 299 declined. Some kitchen and home appliances experienced sharp increases, including a Hamilton Beach electric kettle that jumped from $49.99 to $73.21.

Retailers and Sellers Adjust

The price acceleration was especially evident from May onward. Categories such as Home & Furniture and Electronics showed median price increases of 3.5% and 3.1%, respectively. DataWeave CEO Karthik Bettadapura said the price surge in June likely reflects sellers adjusting to higher 'landed costs.'

“Even modest duties can translate quickly when margins are thin and replenishment cycles are fast,” he said.

While Amazon stated it hasn’t observed any broad-based price increases outside typical fluctuations, it acknowledged that individual sellers may adjust pricing due to higher costs.

Consumer Spending Slows as Retailers Hesitate

Retailers such as Walmart, Macy’s, and Nike have already warned of tariff-driven price hikes. But many remain cautious about passing on the full cost due to weakening consumer sentiment and persistent high interest rates. U.S. retail sales and consumer spending both declined in May, raising concerns about the broader economic outlook.

Bank of America Securities economist Claudio Irigoyen noted that businesses are likely delaying price increases to avoid stifling demand.

More Pressure Ahead

Currently, U.S. tariffs include a universal 10% rate, 50% on steel and aluminium, and 25% on auto-related imports. With additional steel tariffs taking effect in late June, analysts expect further upward pressure on household essentials like cookware and small appliances in the coming months.

Trump has defended the tariffs as necessary to “rebalance trade” and stimulate domestic manufacturing, though critics warn of growing burdens on American consumers.

Copied