Recent reporting details how tariffs backed by Trump and Republicans including Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden are driving up costs on more items
MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, recent coverage details how Wisconsin families are feeling the pinch from tariffs backed by President Trump and Republicans in Congress including Reps. Steil and Van Orden as major retailers announce price increases and some families turn to pawn shops for back-to-school shopping.
The impact is hitting Wisconsin families where it hurts most – in their wallets and at the worst possible time. As families prepare for the new school year, tariffs have boosted the prices on some key back-to-school items, with shoes jumping 1.4% in July alone and costs of apparel also on the rise. As families are forced to make difficult choices about spending, new reports detail how pawn shops are seeing increased traffic. Meanwhile, Home Depot announced that some of its prices could be going up because of tariffs.
The pain isn’t limited to consumers. Wisconsin small businesses are struggling with Trump’s tariffs also. Local business owners have been forced to absorb increased costs, threatening their success, or raising prices on their customers.
“Wisconsin families are paying the price for these disastrous tariffs backed by President Trump and Republicans in Congress including Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil. Whether it’s back-to-school shopping, home repairs, or even a cup of coffee, prices are on the rise because of these tariffs” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Instead of looking out for working families, they’re driving up costs for families and small businesses, while giving tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. Wisconsin families are already struggling and these tariffs will only make it harder for them to get ahead.”
Home Depot says it will raise some prices because of tariffs – News 8000, August 20, 2025“For some imported goods, tariff rates are significantly higher today than they were at this time last quarter,” he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that was confirmed by the company to CNN. “So as you would expect, there will be modest price movement in some categories, but it won’t be broad based.”
Despite sales in the quarter jumping 5% from last year, Home Depot’s net income slipped 0.2% over the same time period due to higher operating costs. The company believes its full-year earnings per share will fall 2% as economic uncertainty and high interest rates are keeping many consumers from moving forward with major home renovation plans.Pawn shops: The surprising back-to-school shopping destination – CNN August 18, 2025Americans are back-to-school shopping earlier than previous years due to fears of tariffs raising prices. Families with tighter budgets are finding deals in a less traditional place: pawn shops.
“With the way the economy is right now, people realize that they can go to a pawn shop anywhere in the United States, and they can save tremendous amounts of money,” said Les Gold, owner of the pawn shop American Jewelry and Loan in Detroit.
Tariffs have boosted the prices on some key back-to-school items. The US imports the majority of its clothes and shoes from China, Vietnam and Cambodia — all countries facing tariffs of upwards of 30%. The price of shoes jumped 1.4% in July from the month before, while apparel rose 0.1%, according to July’s Consumer Price Index.Beer, (cold) brew, bikes: How tariffs impact 5 Green Bay, Fox Valley businesses – Green Bay Press-Gazette, August 7, 2025Coffee Wizardz co-owner Sam Brown told Baldwin he didn’t sleep the night before the Allouez-based gourmet coffee roaster in March 2025 notified customers it would gradually increase prices due to climate change and tariffs.
Ultimately, Brown said prices increased 20%. He said small coffee companies, especially ones that change up menus, can’t buy a year’s worth of beans to delay tariffs’ impacts like much larger, national chains can.
Lora Glasel, co-owner of Recyclist Bicycle Co. shop in Kaukauna, said a lot of bikes are made in Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan and thus risk import tariffs. Plus, she said suppliers have already raised prices to account for tariffs, so Recyclist and similar shops felt the impact immediately and had no choice but to raise prices.
Hinterland has not raised prices in three years, but is strongly considering it as costs mount. He noted suppliers have already raised prices, but the brewery needs to give its distributors 60 days’ notice before it can raise prices, meaning Hinterland has to absorb many short-term price fluctuations.
