New Accountable.US Report Reveals How Trump’s Tariffs Are Hiking Grocery Prices

New research from Accountable.US finds that Trump’s tariffs are being cited as the primary factor for rising grocery costs. Nearly 90% of Americans said in August 2025 they are “stressed about the cost of groceries,” with over 50% calling food prices a “major source of stress.”

This research comes as grocers shift the added costs of Trump’s tariffs onto consumers – while he gives corporations the largest tax cuts in modern history. Food prices are projected to rise by an additional 3% in the short- and near-term due to tariffs, including fresh produce jumping by 7% and processed rice soaring by over 10%.

Here’s what major grocers that provide food to millions of American people are saying about Trump’s tariffs:

• Walmart’s CEO has warned that Trump’s tariffs “will result in higher prices,” has“made it clear that he wasn’t freezing prices,” and has observed “stress behaviors” among consumers—all while grocery sales were a “financial driver” for Walmart.
• Costco has warned that “grocery items will be particularly vulnerable” to Trump’s tariffs, that its food margins were “very tight,” and reported that it saw “inflation as a result of tariffs” for imported fresh foods.
• Kroger’s CEO observed that consumers were stretching their food budgets, while the company projected impact from Trump’s tariffs on its fresh products and planned to shift purchasing processes to mitigate tariff pressure.
• Albertsons’ CEO said the company may “pass the higher cost of goods to customers” due to Trump’s tariffs, while the company warned suppliers it would not accept cost increases, “wielding its market power like a cudgel” over smaller suppliers struggling with tariff price pressures.
• Ahold Delhaize warned Trump’s tariffs “could lead to price increases for American consumers,” cited the tariffs as an example of “geopolitical volatility” the company faced, and warned of “tight” pricing negotiations with suppliers due to tariff and inflation pressures.

“While Trump grants massive tax cuts to massive corporations and the ultra-rich, his reckless tariff policy is wreaking warrantless chaos on our economy, with grocery giants shifting market uncertainty onto consumers – all at a time when 9 in 10 Americans remain gravely concerned about food costs,” said Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone. “It’s only the latest example of how Trump’s reckless trade policy comes at the cost of Americans’ pocketbooks.”

“Grocers are ringing alarm bells because they’re seeing the same shocking food price trends that thousands of Americans are tracking at DontInflateOurPlates.com. Working families are being crushed by Republican tariffs every time they check out at the grocery store,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal.“It’s bad enough that Trump and congressional Republicans’ policies are driving up the cost of seeing your doctor and paying your utility bill. Sadly, Republicans are also deadset on inflicting additional pain at the checkout line – all to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.”

See the full report HERE.