Marketplace All-in-One Tariff anxiety turns fun splurges into stress purchases
Apr 16, 2025
Mitchell Hartman, a reporter on industrial production and trade war impacts, joins Joshua Costa, the owner of Sleepwell Recycling, who specializes in mattress recycling. They discuss how tariff anxieties influence discretionary spending, prompting impulsive purchases as a coping mechanism in uncertain times. The conversation touches on Bitcoin's potential as a digital safe haven, and highlights the resilience of communities like Altadena recovering from disasters, with a focus on sustainability efforts in the recycling industry.
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Tariffs Cause Manufacturing Fluctuations
- Manufacturing data shows growth led by tariff-driven pre-buying, but the overall industrial sector is slowing.
- Ongoing tariff uncertainty threatens to slow future production as trade war risks escalate.
Tariffs Drive Discretionary Buying
- Tariff anxieties are impacting not just essentials but discretionary spending as consumers rush to buy before price hikes.
- This behavior gives consumers a sense of control in a chaotic economy.
Spices Stocked Up Ahead of Tariffs
- Aaron Weber stocked up on imported spices ahead of tariff increases, spending about $160 under pressure to avoid future price hikes.
- He values having global seasonings available and does not want to lose that access.