Name: U.S. toy prices rise as tariffs push up costs ahead of Christmas
Uploaded: 2025-12-23T23:54:13.537Z
Duration: 2 min 25 s
Description: U.S. shoppers are feeling the impact of tariffs as toy prices rise ahead of the holidays. Imports from China still dominate the U.S. toy market, worth around $41 billion.

U.S. shoppers are feeling the impact of tariffs as toy prices rise ahead of the holidays. Imports from China still dominate the U.S. toy market, worth around $41 billion.

Alexandria

Donald Trump has signed an order to impose tariffs imports into the U.S. from countries including China, Mexico and Canada.

Global Tariffs

Toy prices in the United States have increased significantly ahead of Christmas, largely due to a 20 percent tariff on imports, most of which come from China. Examples include popular toys such as the Jingle Bell Express train set, which rose from $160 to $200, and the Grocery store Barbie, which increased from $20 to $30 in a year.

Polling indicates that two-thirds of American voters are stressed about affording holiday expenses, with 40 percent of families reducing the number of gifts they buy. Three in four voters hold President Donald Trump responsible for the higher prices, a sentiment that could impact the White House during the holiday season.

U.S. toy prices rise as tariffs push up costs ahead of Christmas

The holiday season in the U.S., it's also the season to spend, spend, spend, and there is no escaping just how expensive Christmas has become. And I'm sorry, kids, especially the toys. Pippin Toy Co. in Alexandria, Virginia, has higher prices, much to the distress of the store's owner and head elf. Santa's all about goodwill and giving and kindness and children and joy and, you know, sort of suck the life out of you, all the joy. Eighty percent of toys sold in the U.S. are shipped in ports, the vast majority from China. They're being tariffed at 20 percent, and prices are taking off to match. For example, the Jingle Bell Express sold on Amazon last year for $160. Now it's $200. Grocery store Barbie last year was $20. Now she's $30. In this game of Scrabble, last Christmas cost $17. Now it's $27, and that spells pricey. Polling shows two-thirds of American voters are stressed about affording these holidays. And to cope, 40 percent of families are buying fewer gifts. These kids say they've been good all year, and so they have high expectations. I want a dress table to do my makeup. A cotton candy machine. Maybe I'll ask him for a s'more machine. Or a pet. And maybe, like, a toy, like, dog. So all those toys are made in other countries, and it's harder for Santa to bring them to the U.S. this year. So what if you guys just got toys made in the U.S., like a slinky? Or like a crayon box. Crayon boxes? I gotta get something way cooler than that. You want something cooler than that? Yeah. With so few toys made in the U.S., President Donald Trump has a suggestion for those pocket bear parents. You don't need $37 for your daughter. Two or three is nice. Three in four American voters say they hold Trump responsible for the high holiday prices. And that could be delivered like a lump of coal to the White House. Heidi Jocastro, Al Jazeera, Alexandria, Virginia.

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U.S. toy prices rise as tariffs push up costs ahead of Christmas

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