Tariffs likely mean higher prices for football season tailgates

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - You will likely see some price increases in the grocery store because of tariffs, impacting fan’s gameday experience.

Before setting up your tailgate tents and firing up the grills, tailgaters need to prepare to spend more money.

“If you are thinking of something as innocent as tailgating, that is a recreational activity,” said UAB assistant professor of economics Ben Meadows. “I know most Alabamians would think no it’s a necessity to life like water and breathing air, but tailgate prices will increase.”

For years inflation has been top of mind, and consumers are now seeing cost increases on items being imported into the U.S. under the Trump Administration.

Companies are having to decide whether to eat their costs – or pass them on to you.

“It could be from groceries to think about like folding chairs and things like that, all those tailgate essentials, if they are imported and subject to these policies they will be more expensive for consumers,” Meadows said.

He says all grocery prices are up 2.9% and you will pay more for items like beef, fresh and frozen chicken, sauces and condiments, and cookies.

If you need a little caffeine for those early morning football games, also expect to pay more for coffee.

“If you think about it the United States is not a tropical country, so we cannot grow coffee, expect for a little section of Hawaii,” Meadows said. “Any coffee we consumer is going to be imported. So, when I tell you coffee is up 14.5% year over year, it’s not hard to think, oh because it’s all getting imported.”

Will these tariffs benefit local, American food suppliers? Meadows says it is possible, but certainly not on all items.

“I think it’s on a case-by-case basis, for instance goods that are tropically made, papaya, pineapple, coffee, I see no ability for the U.S. farming market to catch up there,” he added.

What should you do to save? As far as the prices go, you are limited and cannot control them.

However, Meadows says to prioritize personal finance.

Set a budget, evaluate where you’re spending money, and make any cuts that work with your family’s lifestyle.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.