Consumer Spending Amid Economic Worries: The Impact of Tariffs and Wages

The import price index, which keeps track of the price of imports before tariffs are applied, comes out tomorrow. You can tell by looking at it who exactly is paying for tariffs. Prices in certain categories have fallen in recent months — a sign that some foreign exporters are trying to offset the cost of tariffs. But first: The U.S. and China are talking trade, and consumers continue to spend despite economic anxieties.