Toy and game prices rise at the fastest rate on record as Trump's tariffs on China hit industry hard

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 24 June 2025 23:03 EDT


The cost of toys and games is rising at a record rate as the industry begins to feel the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China. While inflation held steady last month at 0.1 percent, the price of toys, games and playground equipment saw a rise of 2.2 percent between April and May, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The latest figures capture the period after Trump unveiled his global reciprocal tariffs in April, and while the full impact is yet to appear in the data, experts say it’s a gloomy indication of what’s to come for the toy industry. After months of back and forth, tariffs on Chinese imports – which at one point rocketed to 145 percent – are currently at 30 percent until mid-August.

Nearly 80 percent of the toys sold in the U.S. are sourced from China, according to The Toy Association, and the industry is bracing itself.

Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA Entertainment, which manufactures brands including Bratz and Little Tikes, told The Washington Post that inflation “is only just starting.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/toys-trump-tariffs-price-increase-b2776377.html

[EYESORE 9001]

1. Merry effin' Christmas, Donnie Dollhands

I got’cher war on Christmas. Right here.

[travelingthrulife]

2. The kids will all have to get guns this year. Those are well protected.

[Silent Type]

3. Better put that one doll people can still afford on lay-a-way in July.

[twodogsbarking]

4. We already have the cause, the effect has yet to be felt and it won't feel good at all.

[cadoman]

5. games are both wildly expensive and more affordable than ever right now

Though they still haven't hit the heights of the most expensive Neo Geo cartridges of the 90s...

But so many bargains are to be had in the realm of used games and Steam. Classics available for a few dollars, that kind of thing.

I can't tell if Nintendo just thought they could raise prices for the new Switch, or the tariffs hit it, or inflation, or maybe all of the above, but it's a pricey system...

[republianmushroom]

6. Were winning aren't we donnie ? donnie ?