Michigan families who already faced elevated costs during Thanksgiving are now navigating higher prices as the holiday season continues, with tariffs driving up prices on toys, gifts, travel, and Christmas essentials. The compounding effect of these increased costs is making the holidays more expensive than many families can afford.
Toys are way more expensive this year, with tariff rates reaching over 20%. Clothing and accessories face tariff-driven price hikes averaging $82 per shopper, while electronics—another popular gift category—see the largest impact at an additional $186 per shopper. Overall, analysis found that tariffs translate into an average price hike of $132 per shopper this holiday season.
"The holiday season should be a time of joy and celebration, but many Michigan families are feeling the financial weight from every direction," said Michael Howard, Macomb County Commissioner and owner of Howard Family Designs. "Thanksgiving was expensive, and now families are looking at higher costs for gifts, decorations, travel, and Christmas dinner. Tariffs are adding hundreds more to people’s Christmas list, and really souring the holiday season. For families already working within tight budgets, these increases mean scaling back celebrations, or going into debt to provide for their children during the holidays."
The economic challenges facing families this holiday season come as the Republican Tax Law—which both Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) and Congressman John James (MI-10) voted for—prioritized tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy while allowing policies that have contributed to rising costs for working families. The law delivered $4 trillion in tax cuts primarily benefiting billionaires and large corporations, even as families face increasing financial pressure from tariffs, rising food costs, and other economic challenges.
Michigan Families for Fair Care has been committed to holding our representatives accountable to their votes which is why we’ve been running an ad campaign to inform all Michiganders about who is really looking out for our interests.
