Tariff concerns spur shoppers to accelerate consumer electronics purchases

The situation: Consumers are bracing for price hikes as tariffs on steel, aluminum, and Chinese imports take effect, leading some to make purchases now rather than risk paying more later.

• 17% of US adults have already bought big-ticket items to get ahead of tariff-driven increases, with that number climbing to 21% among millennials and Gen Zers, per a CNET survey.
• Another 11% feel pressured to buy before prices rise but haven’t yet pulled the trigger, with that figure jumping to 24% among millennials and 27% for Gen Zers.

At the same time, a sizable share of consumers are responding in the opposite way, delaying large purchases. Twenty-seven percent are holding off on big-ticket items over $500, while nearly 1 in 5 (18%) who plan to buy major items are waiting for a sale.