Days of our Tariffs

This Planet Money episode, titled "The Tariff at the Door," investigates the impact of tariffs on American consumers. The episode begins by framing the ongoing tariff situation as a high-stakes soap opera. It then uses the personal experience of Planet Money producer James Sneed, who was surprised by unexpected tariffs and fees on a collectible doll he purchased from Canada, to explore whether regular Americans are feeling the effects of these tariffs. The hosts interview Lenny Feldman, a customs and trade law expert, to explain the complexities of tariffs and fees on imported goods, as well as economist Alberto Cavallo, who uses price data from major retailers to demonstrate that tariffs are indeed raising prices on both imported and domestic goods, with cheaper varieties of imported goods being affected the most. The episode concludes with James receiving his doll, highlighting the real-world impact of tariffs on everyday purchases and broader economic inflation.