Analysis from DataWeave, a research company exclusively working with Reuters, shows that the prices of Chinese-manufactured goods sold on Amazon have increased more than the overall inflation level in the United States under the impact of tariffs.
According to a report by Reuters on June 30, the analysis indicates that the rate of price increase for these Chinese products has accelerated since May, indicating the effects of the Trump administration’s tariff measures. From January to mid-June, the median prices of over 1400 Chinese products sold on Amazon to American buyers have risen by 2.6%, surpassing the latest core consumer goods inflation rate in the US (which was only up to May).
The price increases vary depending on the products, and some goods have seen price decreases as well.
Over the six months up to May, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for core goods (excluding services) rose by 1%, equivalent to an annual rate of 2%. Data from the federal government and DataWeave’s research both show that as tariffs begin to exert pressure on prices, the cost of goods has been on the rise in recent months.
DataWeave analyzed over 25,000 products, focusing on 1407 items sold on Amazon that were explicitly labeled as originating from China. The company used median prices instead of averages, as average prices can be influenced by short-term price spikes or unusually high or low prices.
The basket of Chinese-manufactured goods includes products sold by both Amazon and third-party sellers. Third-party sellers account for 62% of all Amazon products.
The fastest-rising prices were seen in categories such as school and office supplies, electronic products like printers and shredders, blank media products like CDs and DVDs, as well as home goods like furniture and cookware. China exported goods worth $438.9 billion to the US last year and is a major global supplier in all these categories.
In the 1407 tracked products by DataWeave from January to June 17, 475 items saw price increases, 633 remained unchanged, and 299 experienced price decreases. For example, the median price of Hamilton Beach brand electric kettles increased from $49.99 to $73.21, while the price of GreenPan frying pans more than doubled to $31.99.
Until April, the price increases for these products remained moderate. The price hikes were more significant in May and accelerated in June, particularly in categories like furniture and electronics, with median price increases of 3.5% and 3.1%, respectively, during the survey period.
Karthik Bettadapura, co-founder and CEO of DataWeave, mentioned that while seasonal factors may play a role, the timing and tariff rates indicate that cost impacts are affecting the entire retail supply chain.
However, Amazon stated that, apart from typical fluctuations, there hasn’t been a noticeable overall increase or decrease in average product prices. A spokesperson for Amazon said in a statement, “Comparing a few products does not paint a comprehensive picture of the prices of hundreds of millions of products on Amazon.”
Nevertheless, many consumer goods companies have warned that tariffs will lead to price increases, including the largest US retailer Walmart. Department store chain Macy’s stated that they are selectively raising prices to offset tariff impacts. Nike, which recently relaunched on Amazon, announced price increases for multiple products effective from June 1.
Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, mentioned in May that the company has been working with sellers to move orders to the US before tariffs take effect and is committed to maintaining low prices. At that time, he stated that the average selling prices had not significantly increased.
The Trump administration has stated that tariffs are aimed at tackling unfair trade practices and encouraging manufacturing to return to the US.