Your Memorial Day cookout might be more expensive this year - thanks to tariffs
Share this @internewscast.com

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer, but this year, it may also kick off a season of higher prices.

Small businesses that offer products like beer, fireworks, and other summer essentials have reported to CNN that they are facing increased expenses due to new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration on almost all imported goods to the United States last month.

The cost of buying a new barbecue or grill may stay relatively stable this summer, since many big retailers stockpiled inventory before tariffs hit, said Ernie Tedeschi, the director of economics at The Budget Lab at Yale.

The price of purchasing a new barbecue or grill might not see much change this summer, as numerous major retailers had stocked up on supplies before the tariffs took effect, according to Ernie Tedeschi.

Tomazl/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource

Here’s what you should know.

What could cost more – and what could cost less

Even though many economists anticipate that prices will climb due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, it’s noteworthy that not every product is experiencing price hikes — at least not yet. In fact, inflation in the United States in April slowed down to its lowest level in over four years.

That means some summer products may still be spared from an inflationary squeeze as tariffs work their way through the economy, said Ernie Tedeschi, the former chief economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Biden administration and the director of economics at the Budget Lab at Yale University, which has been tracking the tariff impact on consumers.

But if you’re planning a cookout, tariff-induced price increases could hit your grocery bill sooner than other price hikes.

“Perishable goods like food are the imports that turn over more quickly,” Tedeschi said. “So the price that you see at any given time is more likely to reflect tariffs.”

The cost of buying a new barbecue to grill that food might still be stable, though, he said.

“Where there’s more of a delay on tariffs are things like durable goods, like a barbecue or grill,” Tedeschi said. “The reason is that retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy generally still have a large pre-tariff inventory. They will likely sell through that first before they start selling the tariffed goods that cost more.”

Another key ingredient to most barbecues also hasn’t been spared by tariffs: beer.

In April, President Donald Trump placed a 25% tariff on imported aluminum and steel, including empty aluminum cans and imported canned beer. About 38.5%, or 16.1 million barrels of imported beer, came in cans in 2024, according to the Brewers Association, a trade association for brewers.

Even local, US-based brewers are feeling cost pressures rise. Sheila Malone, a manager at Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead, New York, told CNN that rising expenses have left the future of her business uncertain.

Malone said she’s seen the cost of everything from hops to plastic cups rise over the last few years. Now, she estimates the cost of the aluminum cans her company purchases has risen between 10% and 15% this year.

“Every day we open up our social media and we see another brewery that we follow saying they are closing their doors, and that’s a really scary reality for us,” Malone said.

Long Ireland Beer Company recently raised its prices for the first time in years to keep up, said Malone, who added that the company is searching for lower-cost aluminum suppliers and seeking new ways to grow profits to stay afloat.

Memorial Day weekend also kicks off the busy season for fireworks businesses.

Douglas Burda, the CEO of Red Apple Fireworks, said the majority of fireworks are imported from China, which has been producing fireworks for hundreds of years. There are very few businesses that manufacture fireworks in the United States, Burda noted.

On April 10, tariffs on nearly all Chinese imports, including fireworks, climbed as high as 145% as a tit-for-tat trade conflict between China and the United States escalated. About a month later, the Trump administration announced it would temporarily lower the tax on Chinese imports to 30%.

Burda said he hasn’t had to raise prices yet, since his company has stockpiled enough fireworks to last through the summer in its large warehouse and retail spaces.

However, Americans who buy fireworks at roadside stands will likely face higher prices this summer due to tariffs, Burda said.

“Consumers by and large buy fireworks at the last minute on the side of the road. You’re always going to see higher prices when you do that,” Burda said. “But now, for certain, those already-high prices are going to be even higher.”

However, there may be one place to find savings if you are one of the nearly 40 million Americans traveling by car this Memorial Day.

The national average price of a gallon of gasoline is expected to be $3.08 on Memorial Day, according to projections released Tuesday by fuel savings platform GasBuddy. That is the lowest gas price for Memorial Day weekend since 2021.

American-made

For many Americans, Memorial Day is about more than pool parties and picnics. It is a day dedicated to honoring and remembering the people who died while serving in the US military.

Americans who may be looking to purchase an American flag this holiday weekend will have a harder time finding cheaper flags produced overseas this year, said Reggie VandenBosch, who works at Valley Forge Flag Company, one of the largest American flag manufacturers.

That’s because earlier this month, a major shipping loophole, known as the de minimis exemption, which allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, expired. Now those lower-cost shipments are taxed between 30% and 54%.

Before the loophole was closed, e-commerce sites like Amazon had been flooded with cheaper flags claiming to be American-made.

“Many Americans don’t think of an American flag as being an American flag if it’s made offshore,” VandenBosch said. “Now that the de minimis loophole was eliminated, we’re already starting to see sales return on those platforms back to the domestic players.”

CNN’s Matt Egan contributed to reporting.
The CNN Wire & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Camp Mystic director died while trying to save campers from Texas floods

Camp Mystic Director Loses Life in Attempt to Rescue Campers During Texas Floods

Dick Eastland, known for his long tenure as owner and director of…
How to prepare your pets for when a hurricane makes it rain cats and dogs

Preparing Your Pets for a Hurricane: Essential Tips for Stormy Weather

HOUSTON (AP) — Preparing for a hurricane involves ensuring that your entire…
Chicago NASCAR race today: NASCAR Xfinity Series race The Loop 110 to take off in Grant Park Saturday; Cup Series happening Sunday

Chicago NASCAR Race Update: Xfinity Series ‘The Loop 110’ Hits Grant Park Saturday; Cup Series Scheduled for Sunday

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s third NASCAR Street Race will get underway on…
Tropical Storm Chantal forms off South Carolina coast

Tropical Storm Chantal Develops Near the Coast of South Carolina

On Saturday morning, Tropical Storm Chantal emerged near the coast of South…
Square Roots Festival 2025: Live music festival returns to Lincoln Square, Chicago with bands, craft beers and family fun

Square Roots Festival 2025: Lincoln Square, Chicago Welcomes Back Live Music, Craft Beers, and Family Fun

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Square Roots festival is set to return from…
Body found in search for Brian Tarrence in Turks and Caicos

A Body Discovered During Search for Brian Tarrence in Turks and Caicos

A decomposed body has been discovered amid the search efforts for a…
Delicious: NPR Quietly Forced to Report Major Restaurant Chain Is Ending Egg Surcharge for Customers

Tasty Tidbit: NPR Subtly Reveals Major Restaurant Chain’s Decision to Remove Egg Surcharge

Since President Trump assumed office, the price of eggs has significantly decreased,…
Israel sends negotiating team to Qatar for ceasefire talks

Israel Dispatches Team to Qatar for Ceasefire Discussions

U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for an agreement and will host…
American with 'CIA' credentials and variety of weapons arrested in Mexico

U.S. Citizen Claiming CIA Ties and Armed with Multiple Weapons Arrested in Mexico

An American national with credentials that read “CIA” has been arrested in…
JSO: Woman shot, killed during party on Rover Drive hour after Fourth of July

JSO: Woman Fatally Shot at Rover Drive Party Just After Fourth of July Celebrations

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said five people were detained following the deadly…
Houston-born Heart O' the Hills camp director dies in Kerr County floods

Director of Heart O’ the Hills Camp, a Native Houstonian, Passes Away in Kerr County Flooding

“We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives…
Muddy interior of a flood-damaged cabin with overturned furniture.

Texas Flood Tragedy: 50 Dead Including 15 Children, 27 Girls Missing from Camp Mystic

AT least 50 people including children have been killed in the Texas…