

Anna Wong: Empty Shelves Are Coming Soon
132 snips Apr 25, 2025
Anna Wong, Chief US Economist at Bloomberg Economics, sheds light on the looming impact of tariffs on the supply chain and retail landscape. She details how shipping trends from China expose vulnerabilities as major retailers prepare for the holiday season. Wong argues that while economic data seems stable, the real consequences are felt in layoffs and profit margins. Listeners will find her insights into the disconnect between economic indicators and daily life particularly revealing, especially in light of rising household costs and altered consumer behaviors.
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Holiday Tariffs Threaten Inventories
- Tariffs hit during the key holiday merchandise planning and shipping period, disrupting inventories for Halloween and Christmas.
- This timing suggests a high likelihood of empty shelves and reduced product variety in the upcoming holiday season.
Tariffs Not Raising Consumer Prices Yet
- Tariffs fully passed to U.S. importers but only partially to wholesalers; no clear CPI uptick yet.
- Domestic Chinese deflation and competitive pricing reduce tariff impact on consumer prices so far.
Tariffs Squeeze Margins, Slow Economy
- Squeezed profit margins from tariffs hurt investment and hiring, predicting slowed CapEx and rising unemployment.
- Disinflation expected from falling real wages and service sector prices like travel and airfares.