TrueValueMetrics ... Impact Accounting for the 21st Century

Date: 2025-08-22 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00028964

US ECONOMY RETAIL PRICES RISING U.S. Retail Check: Trump GONE MAD as COSTCO Doubles Prices on 5 Food Items — Here’s How Costco Hits Back Tariffs PLAY YOUTUBE VIDEO Original article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYh_ZmZgjvI
Trump GONE MAD as COSTCO Doubles Prices on 5 Food Items — Here’s How Costco Hits Back Tariffs U.S. Retail Check Aug 1, 2025 18.7K subscribers ... 43,221 views ... 1.4K likes HOA KỲ Trump GONE MAD as COSTCO Doubles Prices on 5 Food Items — Here’s How Costco Hits Back Tariffs In 2025, COSTCO shoppers across the U.S. are facing a quiet shock: staple items like flour, chicken, coffee, and olive oil have seen prices Doubles Prices — stretching household budgets and raising urgent questions about the effects of ongoing Trump Tariffs. This video dives into how new Tariffs — including a 25% levy on Canadian goods — are forcing COSTCO to change suppliers, rethink sourcing strategies, and pass costs onto consumers. As COSTCO Tariff pressures mount, U.S. households find themselves caught between necessity and affordability. We examine the mechanics of the COSTCO Tariff chain: how rising logistics costs, import restrictions, and Trump Tariffs have doubled prices on items that were once everyday essentials. In some states, a $6.99 bag of flour now costs $13.49; olive oil has surged to over $36. These are no longer isolated shifts — they reflect broader trends driven by Tariffs and a volatile trade landscape. Through firsthand accounts, trade data, and neutral analysis, we show how COSTCO, once a pillar of price stability, is adapting under the weight of Trump Tariffs and retaliatory Tariffs from Canada and Europe. For many families and retirees, this means making daily sacrifices: choosing between vitamins or fresh food, coffee or fuel. Is Trump’s policy helping domestic production—or simply moving the cost burden downstream to the consumer? While we don’t offer conclusions, we aim to inform and spark thought on how COSTCO Tariff shifts affect real lives. #trumptariffs #tariffs #costco #DoublesPrices #COSTCOTariff #Trump #Walmart #USRetail #Canada #canadanews 📌 Disclaimer – URC Channel The thumbnail used in this video is intended for visual engagement purposes only. It is a creative representation designed to attract attention and may not fully reflect the actual content of the video. We appreciate your understanding. This video is created for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While we strive to ensure accuracy and present well-sourced material, the content is primarily based on publicly available sources such as news reports, social media commentary, public forums, editorial analysis, and user-submitted insights. We do not guarantee complete accuracy, nor do we claim to provide official, exhaustive, or professional advice. Viewers are strongly encouraged to verify information independently and consult trusted sources before forming conclusions or making decisions. 📌 This content is not intended to defame, discredit, or cause harm to any individual, group, organization, or nation. Instead, it aims to explore multiple perspectives, raise awareness, and foster respectful dialogue and critical reflection. Please approach all content with an open mind and critical thinking. Thank you for watching and for being a thoughtful part of the URC community. How this content was made Altered or synthetic content Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated. Learn more Peter Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess Transcript 0:02 In July this year, at many Costco warehouses across the United States, the prices of at least five essential items have nearly doubled. It's changed last couple of months. And it seems like things are getting worse. The price has went up, shocking the customers. And of course, many are not happy about it. With the same amount of money as before, consumers now can only purchase about half. What was once considered a safe haven for everyday shoppers is slowly turning into a complex battleground of trade where every change seems to lead directly back to the buyer's wallet. So, what exactly is happening inside this retail giant? And if even Costco is being forced to take the hit, how will everyday people navigate the months ahead? In today's video, we'll peel back the layers of Costco's response and examine how these shifts may be quietly reshaping daily life for millions of 1:00 Americans. Before we begin, please note this video is intended as a social analysis based on publicly available information and a variety of academic perspectives. We do not offer conclusions, nor do we endorse or oppose any organization, policy, or individual. Our goal is to spark thoughtful reflection and allow viewers to form their own opinions. At Costco stores across America, the£10 bag of Kirkland allpurpose flour used to be one of those staples people grabbed without a second thought. Priced at just $6.99, it was enough to make about eight medium loaves of bread or several batches of cookies for the whole family. But as 2025 unfolds, things seem to be changing. At various Costco branches in Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, that same bag of flour has climbed to $1349, 2:02 nearly doubling in less than 6 months. In some locations, premium organic flour now exceeds $29 per£10 bag, a price point that used to be reserved for specialty imports. At today's prices, $1349 only buys £5 of flour instead of 10. With that same amount of money, American shoppers now face a difficult choice. A bag of flour, a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk, or just enough gas for a few days commute. Meanwhile, in Canada, particularly in regions like Alberta and Saskatchewan, the same 10 lb Kirkland flower still holds steady at around 9 to10 Canadian dollar, which is roughly 6.50 to 7.50 USD, hinting at a more stable domestic supply chain and trade policy environment. This growing disparity is raising questions among American consumers. How 3:02 can a basic staple emir produced and distributed on the same continent differ so much in price? Since March 2025, the US government began imposing a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada. In response, Canada restricted exports of wheat and oats, two key ingredients that Costco had relied on in bulk. As northern supplies tightened, Costco was forced to pivot towards suppliers in Europe and Australia. But this shift brought cascading effects. Shipping costs doubled, quality inspections became more rigorous, storage times increased, and preservation costs rose due to longer transit distances. All of which eventually showed up on the price tag. What may have started as a trade decision on paper has now trickled into morning pancakes for working families, 4:00 school lunch sandwiches for children, and even the sourdough loaves retirees bake to give their routines a sense of purpose. For small businesses, especially bakeries across the Midwest that relied on Costco's stable flower prices, the impact seems even more profound. One bakery in Iowa shared that the rise in flour from $7 to $14 per bag added nearly $400 to their monthly expenses, roughly a third of their profit margin. Some bakeries have since cut staff, shortened menus, or closed on certain weekdays just to cope. Still, some American consumers are finding ways to adapt. A few have switched to grinding oats at home or experimenting with rice flour, bean flour, or almond flour. Alternatives with different textures, but often more suitable for special diets or older adults with digestion concerns. Others have formed buying groups to split bulk 10 lb bags. Many are returning to older recipes, 5:01 those with less flour, less sugar, and simpler ingredients. Perhaps the most unsettling part isn't just the price hike itself, but the hesitation it now brings. Should I bake a batch of cookies today or save that money for medication, fuel, or some fresh fruit? When such questions become routine, it seems that baking a simple loaf at home is no longer a given. It's a calculated choice. And it's in these small decisions that we begin to feel the quiet weight of larger shifts slowly making their way into every corner of American life. At many Costco stores across North America, especially near the Ontario New York border, bottles of Kirkland Signature olive oil can be seen neatly lined up next to corn, soybean, and sometimes canola oil. But then one day, the price on the shelf seemed to give 6:01 people pause. That familiar bottle, once a symbol of healthy eating without breaking the bank, has now become a product that makes many hesitate. Is it still worth buying, or has it become time to change habits? Not long ago, a two bottle of Kirkland extra virgin olive oil sold at US Costco stores for around 17 to $18. A price that held steady for years. But by Q1 of 2025, prices in areas like Arizona, Michigan, and even Los Angeles have surged past $36, nearly double from a year earlier. In some stores, prices have reached nearly $40, despite no significant change in packaging, origin, or size. For those living on fixed retirement incomes, an $18 difference is far from minor. That amount could cover two 10 lb bags of flour, nearly a gallon 7:02 of canola oil, or simply help offset a few days worth of gas. As one shopper put it, the price of olive oil these days could easily cover dinner for two. Interestingly, prices in Canada don't seem to have spiked in the same way. At Costco stores in Toronto, Calgary, or Vancouver, the same bottle of olive oil still sells for around 24 to 26 Canadians, which is roughly 18 to19. This pricing gap likely stems from differing trade policies between the two nations. Since early 2025, the US government has imposed a 25 to 35% import tariff on olive oil from Spain and Italy, two of Costco's main suppliers. Meanwhile, Canada has maintained stable trade ties with the EU through the CTA agreement, allowing Canadian consumers to access olive oil at more predictable prices. In contrast, US consumers are now absorbing much of that added tariff cost, leading to noticeably higher retail prices. 8:08 Sources suggest that Costco itself has limited alternatives. Domestic olive oil production in California, once seen as a promising source, is now struggling under the combined pressure of prolonged drought and rising labor costs. In Central Valley, irrigation water is reportedly three times more expensive than in 2023. At the same time, minimum wages for farm workers have been raised to over $16 per hour, significantly pushing up production costs. In such a scenario, keeping olive oil affordable, even for a retail giant like Costco, may have become an uphill battle. What's the outcome? For many older Americans who have long rely on olive oil for 9:00 health reasons, the price surge has put them in a difficult position. Some have switched to soybean or corn oil. Cheaper alternatives, though higher in omega6, which some experts suggest may contribute to chronic inflammation over time. Still, adaptation is possible. Flax seed oil, while less common, is rich in omega-3s and suitable for salads or cold preparations. Canola oil, when sourced carefully, also offers a relatively stable and affordable alternative. Yet, a broader question still lingers. When a once affordable health product becomes a luxury, is it merely a temporary fluctuation or a sign that a healthy lifestyle is quietly drifting out of reach for the middle class and retirees? Not long ago, a4.4 lb bag of frozen chicken at Costco typically cost between $8 and $9. That amount could easily stretch into three to four family meals, 10:01 grilled, stewed, or pan fried. But by mid 2025, that same bag is now priced above $16. And in some areas like Nevada or Texas, it's approaching $18. What's striking is that this increase didn't happen overnight. It crept in week by week, month by month. A gradual shift that most shoppers didn't notice right away. But by the end of the month, that food bill at the checkout counter suddenly feels heavier. An extra $30 to $40 tacked onto monthly grocery costs, mostly from essentials like meat, eggs, and dairy. Even alternatives like chicken sausages, often used for breakfast by older adults or busy families, have seen similar hikes. Shoppers in Calgary reported that a 2.2 lb pack of Kirkland chicken sausages used to cost under 12 Canadian. Now it's over $18 Canadian, making a proteinrich diet harder to sustain. What puzzles many is that chicken doesn't 11:01 appear to be in short supply. Poultry farms in Alberta, Manitoba, and US states like Arkansas and Georgia are still running steadily. Supermarkets haven't reported surging demand either. So why the spike? The answer may lie in the hidden costs behind the packaging. Unlike fresh meat, frozen chicken requires strict cold chain logistics. From aluminumcoated plastic wraps, refrigerated trucks to industrial-grade freezer storage. These processes are deeply affected by energy prices, labor shortages, and import tariffs on industrial materials like aluminum and steel. According to internal retail data, operating cold storage chains in the first quarter of 2025 cost over 22% more than the same period last year. In other words, consumers aren't just paying for chicken. They're carrying the 12:00 cost of the entire logistical ecosystem behind it. The impact for fixed income households, especially seniors, and retirees. The question isn't just whether to buy or not. It becomes chicken or rice, protein or milk. At one suburban Detroit store, a single mother shared how she had to choose between a pack of chicken sausages or two gallons of milk for her kids because together they would exceed her weekly grocery budget. So the real question is what's shifting when the cheapest protein on the shelf is no longer a given? It seems what's disappearing isn't just a few dollars, but the sense of stability. the belief that a humble home-cooked meal can still be complete every day. For many, coffee isn't just a drink. It's the breath that starts the day, a small piece of control in an 13:00 evershifting world. Perhaps that's why when coffee prices began to rise, people didn't just feel a financial burden, they felt like something small had quietly slipped away. Not long ago, a three lb bag of whole bean Kirkland coffee roasted by Starbucks cost around 11 to 12. It wasn't the cheapest on the market, but it was what some called a reasonable luxury, something people gave themselves weekly without guilt. By mid 2025, however, that same bag now sells for over 21 USD in areas like New York, Ohio, and even Toronto. In some places, prices are creeping toward $24 Canadian. That's nearly a 90% jump in just 6 months. This isn't a minor change anymore. A morning cup of coffee, once a small unconditional joy, is slowly becoming a decision weighed with hesitation. 14:00 But the issue likely isn't a shortage of beans. Major exporters like Colombia, Guatemala, and Ethiopia seem to be maintaining their output. Nor has consumer demand shown signs of decline. Instead, the disruption may lie in less obvious places. Transportation, warehousing, and new tariff policies. Since early 2025, the cost of container shipping, especially from South America, has surged due to changes in indirect taxes and fuel prices. Ports like New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Halifax have all reported delays, higher storage fees, and labor shortages. Starbucks, the primary roster for Kirkland's coffee line, was forced to renegotiate sourcing contracts in Q2, and the result, according to industry analysts, is clear. Retail prices now reflect the real cost of a supply chain under pressure. So, how do people adapt? 15:00 Some have passed along small tips, especially among older adults. Choose light roast. It has more caffeine, so you can use less. Or buy whole beans and grind them at home, often a few dollars cheaper than pregrown. Others have begun to buy in groups, splitting three lb bags among neighbors or friends. Small acts, yes, but meaningful attempts to preserve a habit not easily given up. And if even coffee becomes a question of budget, what's next? What happens when shortages and rising costs don't just affect mood, but begin to touch health, well-being, and the very rhythm of our daily lives? Some things once felt so essential to daily life that no one ever imagined giving them up. For many older adults in North America, vitamins used to be just that, a quiet, comforting routine as familiar as a morning cup of tea or an evening walk through the garden. 16:01 But in recent months, that simple habit seems to be slipping out of reach. Not long ago, a bottle of multivitamins, enough to last 3 months, cost around $12. Specific supplements like D3, omega3, or CoQ10 typically range from $14 to $16. Affordable, routine, and backed by doctor's recommendations. Yet now, many consumers report prices exceeding $25 with some CoQ10 bottles approaching the $30 mark. For high-income households, that may seem insignificant. But for retirees or fixed income seniors, this new price point becomes a barrier not easily crossed. Interestingly, the spike isn't due to a shortage in ingredients. supplies of fish oil, minerals, or B complex vitamins from exporters like Peru or Germany remain relatively 17:00 stable. Instead, the rise seems tied to a series of indirect pressures. Newly imposed domestic taxes on plastic packaging, retaliatory tariffs on Canadian bilingual labeling, and stricter post-pandemic quality inspections in large distribution hubs like California and Texas. Each adds a layer of cost. quietly, persistently, pushing retail prices upward without much visible change. That's part of the challenge. Consumers don't see the difference. The tablets look the same. The bottles feel the same. The ingredient lists haven't changed. But the cost isn't just in the content. It's in the system behind the scenes. A system where the most basic forms of self-care are becoming quietly out of reach. Plastic containers essential for preserving supplements now face domestic protectionist tariffs. Labels produced in Canada with English French text formats are reportedly subject to retaliatory duties of up to 18:02 40% as trade tensions remain unresolved. At the same time, warehousing and inspection costs in key states have surged due to labor shortages and heightened health regulations. All of this adds up, creating a slow, steady increase in product prices that most shoppers barely notice until one day they do. And the impact is starting to show. Some seniors are spacing out doses, having tablets, or simply stopping altogether. Others have switched to cheaper, unverified brands, risking lower efficacy and potential health issues. These adjustments might seem small at first, but their cumulative effect can be dangerous. Vitamin D deficiency lowers bone density and increases hip fracture risk. Lack of omega-3 may affect memory and heart health. Stopping CoQ10 while on statin medication can lead to chronic fatigue, quietly eroding 19:02 quality of life. One retired man put it best. I had to choose between buying fresh food for the weekend or keeping my CoQ10. I need both. But my budget said otherwise. In that moment, it becomes clear this isn't just about vitamins. It's about what happens when protecting your health becomes a luxury and the quiet, invisible toll it takes on those simply trying to hold on. Since March 2025, the North American trade landscape seems to have entered a new phase, one marked by tension, unpredictability, and quiet recalibration. With the United States imposing new tariffs, 20% on goods from East Asia, and 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, many companies have had no choice but to rethink their strategies. 20:00 Costco with its expansive warehouse system and high volume import model has not been immune. Roughly a quarter of Costco's inventory consists of non-food items many of which originate in tariff affected countries and the impact of this shift seems to go far beyond simple cost increases rippling into consumer behavior, community sentiment and the survival calculations of global suppliers. According to several reports, Costco has asked some international suppliers to lower their prices in order to offset the newly imposed tariffs. On paper, this appears to be a strategic move to protect consumers from abrupt price hikes. However, the effects don't seem to be evenly distributed. Larger suppliers may be able to absorb an extra 5% or even 10% as part of their pricing structure. But for smaller businesses, particularly subcontractors in parts manufacturing, homegoods, or textiles, such a demand might feel like 21:00 an existential threat. Walmart, Costco's direct competitor, has reportedly adopted a similar approach, which has triggered backlash from several suppliers who view these tactics as disruptive to global trade norms. This raises an unsettling question for North American retailers. Is shifting the pressure downstream a sustainable solution or merely a way of delaying consequences that will eventually circle back to the very customers they aim to protect? In an attempt to contain risks, Costco has begun trimming some lower performing product lines. Items once beloved by regulars, imported baked goods, European bread machines, or Japanese ceramic mugs have quietly vanished from the shelves. In parallel, Costco has revised its inventory strategy, showing more caution in ordering products from countries subject to volatile tariff conditions. While this may serve as a financial safeguard, it also results in a more 22:01 limited and less diverse shopping experience. As part of its adjustment strategy, Costco has also started sourcing alternatives from outside East Asia and Mexico. Products such as flour, dried spices, and kitchen wear are reportedly now being sourced from manufacturers in Thailand, India, and Australia. While this may offer a short-term workaround for tariff barriers, it also introduces new complications. Longer shipping times, higher logistics costs, and the potential for supply chain instability in less predictable regions all contribute to a more fragile equation. For years, Costco was seen as a safe zone, a place where shoppers could count on stability, consistency, and value. But in 2025, even a giant like Costco seems to be pulling back, adapting to forces beyond its control. Perhaps now is the time to ask, in this 23:01 new reality, where exactly is the line between corporate adaptability and consumer loss? And if even Costco, long regarded as a fortress of retail stability, is having to bend, what might be next for everyday shoppers just trying to hold on? For many Americans, especially those who've come to see Costco as part of their weekly rhythm, grocery shopping used to be a simple and even enjoyable experience, a weekend ritual, a chance to pick up fresh produce, chat with familiar faces, and occasionally stumble upon a good deal on a household item. But in recent months, that familiar experience seems to be shifting. Not long ago, a three pound bag of Kirkland roasted coffee was just $11.99. A bottle of multivitamins for a 3-mon supply hovered around $11 to $12.6 of frozen chicken could be had for under 24:00 $10. Even a 40 pack of bottled water cost less than $4. With roughly $100, shoppers could fill a cart with a range of essentials. Fresh food, dry goods, and even have enough left for a few small indulgences. But that picture seems to be changing. The same bag of coffee now sells for over $21. Multivitamins, especially those formulated for seniors or with specialized ingredients like CoQ10 or D3, have reached prices of $25 to nearly $30 in many areas. Frozen chicken no longer stays under the $10 mark, but hovers between $17 and $18. Alongside these bottled water, eggs, cereals, and other basic items appear to be inching upward quietly until the final bill at checkout catches many by surprise. Many are now weighing the line 25:01 between what they should buy and what they must buy. Some have turned to lower priced brands, even if the effectiveness or origin remains unclear just to keep certain health routines going. Others have started cutting back on dosage, reducing frequency, or simply letting go of certain products altogether. And that's where the bigger question quietly emerges. Are we giving up more than we realize just to keep a supply chain intact? Perhaps what weighs most heavily on people's minds isn't just how much the price of vitamins has gone up, but the feeling that something once so small, so routine, like a morning supplement, has suddenly become something to be weighed and second-guessed. For many, a bottle of vitamins used to represent a small act of self-care, a quiet commitment to well-being. 26:01 But now it's become a choice met with hesitation, reconsideration, or simply left behind. And within those seemingly silent decisions may lie much larger stories. Stories about shifting life priorities, about quiet sacrifices made to balance a tight budget, and about a new reality that many are slowly adjusting to one step at a time. Are retailers, policy makers, and our communities doing enough to ensure basic access to essential health care products? Is this merely a temporary phase or a signal of a deeper shift in how we live? Do these changes resonate with what you're seeing around you? Share your story in the comments below. Because sometimes it's the personal experiences that speak the loudest about a society quietly transforming before our

SITE COUNT