Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Trump tariffs: Case study of GOP incompetence

 
House photo by Retiring Guy
Headline:  Brookings, 10/3/2025

Elena Patel, Robert McClelland, and John Wong report:
The U.S. faces a housing shortage measured in the millions of units, and families are struggling with historically high rents and home prices. The Trump administration has expressed a goal to reduce the cost of living and make housing more affordable, and may declare a national housing emergency. But it is also imposing new or elevated tariffs on lumber, gypsum, steel, and now, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and other related products, the very materials that builders need to construct new homes. 
These taxes raise costs across the board—whether for new construction, renovations, or affordable housing development. Using TPC’s tariff model, we calculated that current tariffs, including those just announced, will add roughly $30 billion to the costs of investment in residential structures. Our calculations show that about 90% of the costs to residential investment will fall on construction of new homes, including apartments. [emphasis added]
They will also affect homeowners renovating their homes or doing normal maintenance.
 
Related posts:
October 202

June-August 2025

May 2025

April 2025

GET ME REWRITE: Unhinged Donald Trump doubles down on tariffs.  (4/9)

March 2025
Hire a clown, expect a circus:  Trump Treasury secretary Scott Bessent (net worth: $521 million) sez “access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream"   (3/31)
Trump lackey Peter Navarro sez, "Trust in Trump."  Best not to take any advice from this clown..  (3/31)
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