How Much Did Tariffs Cost Your Family?
Enter your household income. We'll estimate your annual tariff burden using Yale Budget Lab quintile data.
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How Tariffs Connect to Financial Distress
Tariffs are a consumption tax. They raise the price of imported goods — from electronics and clothing to auto parts and building materials. Unlike income taxes, tariff costs are regressive: households earning under $32,000 pay roughly 3% of their income, while households above $140,000 pay under 1%.
The 2025 tariff escalation more than doubled the average household burden from 0.72% (2019) to 1.72%. For a family earning $50,000, that's the equivalent of an extra $1,150 per year in costs — money that otherwise would go to savings, debt payments, or essentials.
This is why American Default Research tracks the tariff burden indicator as an upstream cost signal alongside the American Distress Index. When household costs rise faster than wages, the savings cushion erodes. When the cushion is gone, missed payments follow. The ADI currently reads 44.6, in its Typical band. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005. See all cost-of-living data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my tariff cost calculated?
We use quintile-level burden rates from Yale Budget Lab's "Where We Stand: Tariff Rates" research. Your household income determines which quintile you fall into, and the corresponding burden rate is applied. The dollar estimate is your income multiplied by your quintile's tariff burden rate.
Why do lower-income households pay a higher rate?
Tariffs are consumption taxes on imported goods. Lower-income households spend a larger share of their income on goods (vs. services, investments, or savings). Since tariffs raise the price of goods, the burden falls disproportionately on households that spend more of their budget on them.
What tariffs are included in this estimate?
The estimate includes all U.S. tariffs in effect as of April 2025, including the "Liberation Day" tariff package, China-specific tariffs (145%), and all pre-existing Section 201, 232, and 301 tariffs. It reflects the tariff schedule as analyzed by Yale Budget Lab.
Is my data collected or shared?
No. This calculator runs entirely in your browser. Your income is never sent to any server, stored in any database, or shared with anyone. You can verify this in your browser's network tab.
How does this connect to the American Distress Index?
Tariffs raise the cost of household goods. When those costs rise, they reduce disposable income and drain the savings cushion households hold against a bad quarter — pressure the American Distress Index tracks through its Safety Net & Buffer domain. The ADI currently reads 44.6, in its Typical band. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005.