HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – A new wave of tariffs on U.S. imports took effect Thursday, raising them to levels not seen in nearly a century.
President Trump insists this will bring a huge boom to American manufacturing.
Most economists disagree.
In Huntsville, local businesses tell WAFF 48 their plans as prices increase.
The owner of The Deep Comic and Games, Edward Walls, said they have been absorbing multiple price increases over the past few months since the tariffs were announced, but that might have to change.
“Some of the sleeves for trading cards we used to buy them for $1.50 and sell them for $2.99, and now they’re costing us $2.50, and we’re still selling them for $2.99, but we’re not going to be able to do that anymore,” Walls said.
Canadian board games that they sell have also shot up in price.
Walls even said some foreign toy companies they carry have just stopped making items rather than paying tariffs to send them to the U.S.
Right now, this isn’t a situation that threatens to put The Deep out of business, but it might mean higher prices for the customers soon.
“Our cost of entertainment is usually less per hour than what people make. So, I think we’ll be okay, we just may have to tighten the belts a little bit,” Walls said.
The lead technician at Kevins Auto Repair, Kevin Call, said they’ve been absorbing a 20-40% jump in oil prices since early 2024.
However, the biggest challenge he’s facing is getting car computer chips from overseas companies.
His solution is the same as President Trump’s goal: to bring manufacturers back to the U.S.
“We’ve just absorbed the oil increases, but again, you can just do that for so long. I think if we move the manufacturing back to the United States, I think it’ll be more readily available,” Call said.
Call recommends increasing your auto repair budget within the next couple of months, and if you have an older car without the newer technology, to keep it because they are easier and cheaper to repair.
Click Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!
Copyright 2025 WAFF. All rights reserved.