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Original headline: US toy prices surge ahead of holiday shopping season as tariffs , Iran war bite
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- Holiday toy prices surge as tariffs , war - driven energy costs squeeze shoppers
U.S. consumers face tighter holiday budgets as tariffs and energy costs push prices up. Toy prices rose 6.6% over the past year and 4.2% from August on a seasonally adjusted basis, faster than other consumer categories in the latest CPI report. China makes most toys sold in the U.S., and many are made with fossil-fuel-based plastics, so changing tariff policies and higher oil prices linked to the Middle East war add to costs. David Silverman of Fitch Ratings said the Iran conflict's impact on commodity and shipping costs will persist for several quarters. Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman said current prices still reflect earlier, higher tariff rates, and that lower tariffs would reduce toy prices over time if other global issues ease.
- Holiday toy prices surge as tariffs , war - driven energy costs squeeze shoppers
Toy prices in the U.S. surged ahead of the holiday season, rising 6.6% over the past year and 4.2% from August on a seasonally adjusted basis, faster than other consumer categories. Causes include tariffs on Chinese goods, since China makes most toys sold in the U.S., and higher oil prices linked to the Middle East war, which raise the cost of fossil-fuel-based plastics and shipping. Tariffs on Chinese goods have fallen from an initial 145% to 30% since May 2025, but a Basic Fun executive says current prices still reflect earlier higher rates and could ease over time if other global issues subside. Mattel and Hasbro have also reported rising costs and margin pressure. A Reuters/Ipsos poll through October 5 found only 21% of voters approved of President Trump's handling of cost-of-living issues.
- Holiday toy prices surge as tariffs , war - driven energy costs squeeze shoppers
U.S. toy prices rose 6.6% over the past year in the latest consumer inflation data, and climbed 4.2% from August on a seasonally adjusted basis. Tariffs and higher energy costs linked to the Middle East war are pushing prices up, since China makes most toys sold in the U.S. and many are made with petroleum-based plastics. Fitch Ratings' David Silverman said the impact of the Iran conflict on commodity and shipping costs will persist for several quarters. Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman said current prices reflect earlier higher tariff rates, and that lower tariffs would reduce toy prices over time if other global issues subside. Mattel and Hasbro cited inflationary pressures and higher input costs.
- Kansas Libertarian Drew Cranmer criticizes Iran war, tariffs and rising costs ahead of midterms: President overstepped his bounds
Drew Cranmer, the Libertarian candidate for Kansas Congressional District 4, spoke with HT.com ahead of the November 3 midterms. He called Flock cameras unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and said they need better guardrails, including inspectable audit logs. On ICE, he said federal agents should target lawbreakers and violent criminals rather than restaurant and grocery workers, while supporting limits on immigration alongside easier processes for long-time residents. He called for audits of the Federal Reserve and the Department of Defense, criticized foreign aid and tariffs hurting Kansas farmers and raising diesel costs, and said President Trump had overstepped his bounds. He positioned the Libertarian Party as an alternative and urged voters to put principles above party.
- 2 Retail Stocks to Buy Before the Holiday Shopping Season
The author sees Amazon and Costco as retail stocks worth owning before the holiday season, with Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 26. Amazon's fourth-quarter 2025 net sales reached $213.4 billion, up 14%, and revenue growth accelerated to 17% in Q1 and 20% in Q2 2026. Amazon shares trade near $254, about 11% below the $284.02 record close on Aug. 3, and at roughly 24 times analysts' 2027 earnings estimates. Costco's fiscal second-quarter 2026 net sales rose 9.1% to $68.2 billion, comparable sales grew 6.7% and accelerated to 7.6% in September, and membership fees of about $5.9 billion equal roughly half of operating income. The author considers Amazon the better buy today, while Costco at around $986, or about 47 times fiscal 2026 earnings, should be bought in pieces rather than as a full stake now.
- Study cites $3 , 000+ hit to El Paso families , pointing to tariffs and Iran war
A minority branch of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), a Democratic congressional group, found that El Paso families have spent over $3,000 more since Trump took office. The study breaks this down as $281 more on housing, $310 more on groceries in Trump's first year, and $853 more per family on energy, with the El Paso area paying $218 million more since the start of the Iran war. Monthly ACA premiums rose over 50 percent on average in 2026 compared with 2025, and deductibles increased by more than $1,000 on average. The study blames what it calls Trump's reckless tariffs and war in Iran, and Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said the policies have had a devastating impact on the local economy. The JEC's Republican branch has not yet responded to a request for comment.
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