Washington: A majority of Americans anticipate higher prices on everyday goods following former President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on imports from most countries, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The national online survey, conducted over three days and ending on Sunday, revealed that 73% of respondents expect consumer prices to rise within the next six months as the new tariffs take effect. The tariffs mark the most significant U.S. import tax hike in decades, sparking concerns among economists and investors alike.
Only 4% of those surveyed said they believed prices would fall, while the remaining respondents either anticipated no change or did not answer.
The announcement of the new trade policy caused turbulence on Wall Street, with economists warning the tariff move could not only increase consumer prices but potentially lead to a recession in the U.S. and ripple through global markets.
Opposition to the tariffs is widespread. The poll found that 57% of Americans oppose the new import taxes, including 25% of Republicans, Trump’s own party. Meanwhile, 39% voiced support for the measures.
The Trump administration has defended the policy by arguing that the United States has long been exploited in international trade agreements. “Other countries have been taking advantage of the U.S.,” the administration has asserted. That reasoning resonated with 52% of respondents, who agreed with the sentiment. However, 44% said they disagreed with the notion that such tariffs would lead to a revival in U.S. manufacturing.
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Americans remain sharply divided along party lines over the long-term value of higher tariffs. Half of respondents, including nearly all Republicans surveyed, agreed with the statement that “any short-term economic pain is worth it to make the U.S. stronger in the long term.” The other half, composed largely of Democrats, disagreed.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,027 U.S. adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points.
