Amazon CEO Says Tariffs Bleeding Into Product Prices

Core Insights - Amazon's CEO, Andy Jassy, indicated that White House tariffs are beginning to affect the prices of certain goods, marking a shift from previous statements where price increases were not observed [3][4]. Group 1: Impact of Tariffs on Pricing - Jassy noted that some sellers are passing on the higher costs from tariffs to consumers, while others are absorbing the costs to maintain demand, indicating a varied response among sellers [3]. - The inventory that Amazon and its third-party sellers had purchased in advance to mitigate tariff impacts has largely been depleted, leading to the current price adjustments [2]. - Jassy emphasized that while Amazon aims to keep prices low, there are instances where price increases are unavoidable due to the tariffs [4]. Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Economic Context - Despite the tariff impacts, consumers are reportedly resilient and continue to spend, although some are opting for less expensive alternatives or delaying larger discretionary purchases [4]. - A significant portion of American households, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck, are feeling the financial strain from modest cost increases, which can quickly affect their budgets [5]. - New data indicates that concerns about tariffs are widespread among consumers, reflecting ongoing financial pressures from inflation and uneven wage growth [6].