household-budget

How Trump Tariffs Affect Your Household Budget in 2026: A Complete Breakdown

How Trump Tariffs Affect Your Household Budget in 2026: A Complete Breakdown The average American household will pay an estimated $1,300 to $2,100 per year in higher costs due to 2026 tariffs, according to analyses from the Tax Foundation and the Tax Policy Center. Tariffs function as a hidden consumption tax — they are paid by US importers, but the cost is passed directly to consumers through higher retail prices on everything from groceries to electronics to clothing. Last fall, I sat down with a family earning $65,000 a year who felt like their money was disappearing faster than ever. When we ran the numbers together, we found they were paying roughly $2,100 more per year than they would have without the current tariffs. Their grocery bill had climbed about $18 per week — roughly $940 a year — and clothing for their two kids was costing 15-20% more across...