Local Small Businesses Feeling the Impacts of Tariffs and Inflation

How Tariffs Are Hurting America's 35 Million Small Businesses

More than 70% of small-business owners say constant shifts in trade policy create a “whiplash effect” that makes it difficult to plan, a recent national survey showed. Unlike larger organizations with teams of analysts to inform their decision-making, small-business owners are often on their own. In an all-hands-on-deck operation, every hour spent focusing on trade policy news or filling out additional paperwork means precious time away from day…

Local small businesses feeling the impacts of tariffs and inflation

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) -- Small business owners across the Wabash Valley are feeling the impacts of fluctuating tariffs and the inflation of goods. "Inflation and tariffs to another extent have really made it difficult and we've really had to make some creative choices," said Wyatt Sons, co-owner of Sons Spice Co. Sons Spice Co. has been opened for a little over four years. What started as a wedding favor, has now bloomed into a storefron…

‘Everything is about to get really expensive’: Small-business owners say Trump tariffs could force them to raise prices

Small-business owners say they are raising the price of their consumer goods by the end of the year to offset the cost of Trump tariffs.

For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard

Imagine it’s April 2025 and you’re the owner of a small but fast-growing e-commerce business. Historically, you’ve sourced products from China, but the president just announced tariffs of 145% on these goods. Do you set up operations in Thailand – requiring new investment and a lot of work – or wait until there’s more clarity on trade? What if waiting too long means you miss your chance to pull it off? This isn’t a hypothetical – it’s a real dil…

For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard

by Peter Boumgarden, Washington University in St. Louis and Dilawar Syed, The University of Texas at Austin, [This article first appeared in The Conversation, republished with permission] Imagine it’s April 2025 and you’re the owner of a small but fast-growing e-commerce business. Historically, you’ve sourced products from China, but the president just announced tariffs of 145% on these goods. Do you set up operations in Thailand – requiring new…