"As the U.S. intensifies its trade disputes, Rowan University students are grappling with the tangible effects of tariffs, the taxes on imported products from other countries on their daily expenses. From groceries to clothing, the financial strain is becoming increasingly evident." - Graphic made via Canva.
A scoop of ice cream doesn’t usually cost seven dollars, but for Rosa Salvaterria, a 21-year-old senior studying radio, television, and film (RTF) at Rowan University, that sticker shock is becoming all too common. As the price of everyday goods quietly creeps up, she and many other students at the college are feeling the economic squeeze in places they least expected.
“I’ve especially noticed food prices rising steadily. It’s been a little mind-boggling to see how much less a certain amount of money can get,” said Salvatierra. She’s not alone in noticing the shift.
Just a week ago President Trump sent the global stock market tumbling after declaring a 10 percent baseline tax on imports from all countries. While other countries have higher tariff rates such as the 145 percent rate imposed on China.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning China struck back with a 125 percent rate on all American goods sold within the country. This came along with an exemption on tariffs from Trump on products such as smartphones, laptops, and other electronics from his reciprocal tariffs.
As the U.S. intensifies its trade disputes, Rowan University students are grappling with the tangible effects of tariffs, the taxes on imported products from other countries on their daily expenses. From groceries to clothing, the financial strain is becoming increasingly evident.
A tariff is essentially taxes that are imposed on important products from across the world. These often lead to higher prices for consumers. They are often used to protect domestic industries by making foreign goods more expensive, thereby encouraging consumers to buy American-made products.
However when other countries respond with retaliatory tariffs, like China for example, then taxes on American goods in return, it can escalate into what is known as a trade war, therefore disrupting global markets and causing costs to rise across the board.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, U.S. tariffs have cost American households an average of $1,277 per year, an added burden not just felt globally, but by students already struggling to balance tight budgets.
“When things get a little tight you have to make sacrifices. You always have to be mindful of your budget, at the end of the day it’s about staying hopeful and being informed. If that means cutting back on a latte or a subscription, that’s what you’ll do. You have to adjust and keep your needs in mind. We have to be good stewards of what we have. Just be mindful and disciplined with your own budget,” said Jose Velez, associate director of financial aid at Rowan.
That mindset of mindful spending resonates with many students including Salvatierra, who’s felt the strain of rising costs in her day-to-day life.
Among them is Hanna Duran, 20, a writing arts major, who has also felt the sting at the checkout line. She explained that routine grocery runs have started to feel more like luxury spending. As a way to cut back on spending, Duran has whipped out the cutting board and frying pan to begin cooking at home in comparison to spending it at a restaurant.
”I feel like I go to the store and end up spending nearly $100 dollars on a couple of things. Food is essential, and it sucks how expensive it has gotten. It all adds up quickly,” said Duran.
For her these rising costs aren’t just inconvenient, they’re a threat to the delicate balance of student life.
“Adding money increases on top of that will make it even harder and stressful for [students] to support themselves,” said Duran.
While food costs weigh heavily on some students, others are noticing the economic strain in different areas of daily life. Daniel Terifay, 21, a radio, television, and film and sports communication and media major, pointed to the rising price of clothing as a key concern.
“I feel clothes have been the most impacted with a lot of imports coming from overseas,” said Terifay.
With fewer deals advertised from his preferred brands and rising prices, the impact has started to show up in his everyday wardrobe.
“Sales have been scarce, and dress clothes for interviews are more expensive now,” said Terifay.
Though these price hikes haven’t drastically altered his budget, Terifay has made significant changes by choosing to avoid U.S. companies to steer clear of tariffs.
But like others, Terifay is thinking long-term.
“I feel as though the cost of living will go up so much that it will be impossible to live off a salary less than $75 to $80k a year,” Terifay said. Terifay believes that the rise in the cost of living will only cause students to pay more for college since he predicts the demand will also rise for higher education.
That growing awareness of financial trade-offs is something Emily Klassen, 21, a writing arts and studio arts double major, knows all too well. She’s seen the impact not only in her grocery bill but in her art studio. As an artist, Klassen’s also watching supply costs spike.
“In my art community, a lot of people are being hit by their business supply costs spiking, since things like glass beads are imported,” Klassen said. She’s taking action by choosing to shop for local artists who hand-make their pieces. The cost of oil paints or canvases isn’t the only thing affected, her grocery store receipt has also seen a hit.
“I’ve also noticed baking supplies, stuff like spices or vanilla, are going up. Also things in the international aisle,” said Klassen.
While she understands why prices are rising, that doesn’t make the financial burden any lighter. Living on campus without a car, Klassen has to coordinate grocery trips, making her even more mindful of what and where she shops.
“It’s not just about only getting certain items any more. It’s figuring out the cheapest brand, being aware of whether or not I’m shopping from an ethical company. Money has power, and I’m realizing that a lot more now,” said Klassen.
While tariffs may be crafted in distant political chambers at the federal level, their effects are being felt in the checkout lines of Glassboro. And for many Rowan students, the cost isn’t just financial. It’s personal, and it’s shaping the world they’re preparing to enter.
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