President Donald Trump imposed several new prices this year, and more online on Wednesday. Most American adults do not wait for the complete effects of potential price increases to prices. Instead, they buy big ticket items like Tech Now, a new CNET survey revealed.
In the past two months, the administration has promulgated 20% prices on imports from China, a move that already increases prices for imported technology such as laptops, televisions and game systems. When prices are implemented, the importer pays the tax. This higher cost is often recovered by increasing the prices of products.
“If there is a 10% rate on smartphones, this means that US companies have to pay 10% more to obtain products abroad,” said Patti BrennanA certified financial planner. “This additional 10% must come somewhere, and I suspect that most companies will transmit it to the consumer – what they have done in the past.”
With prices ready to increase, some buyers are affected and have purchased to get ahead of potential price increases. The CNET survey revealed that more than 33% of American adults feel in a hurry to buy in anticipation of price increases related to prices. Almost one in five American adults (17%) made a purchase before potential cost increases that may arise.
Here’s how the latest fees have an impact on the purchase habits of American adults and the advice for obtaining the best offer on technology while waiting.
- American adults feel the most in a hurry to buy electronics, including smartphones, laptops and household appliances, for fear that prices cause price increases.
- 38% of buyers felt pressure to make purchases before prices increased prices.
- One out of 10 buyers made big tickets purchases at the end of last year or at the start of this year to try to avoid price jumps induced by prices. Another in 10 said they have probably made big purchases as soon as possible.
- 27% of buyers delay large purchases of more than $ 500. On the other hand, 18% plan to buy sales this year.
The young generations feel more pressure to make purchases now
Compared to generation X and baby boomers, the younger generations feel more pressure: 48% of the Zers generation and 45% of millennials said they felt pressure to make purchases to avoid price increases related to the price.
But more than 60% of generation X and baby boomers did not feel the same pressure to make purchases. Usha HaleyProfessor at the Barton School of Business of Wichita State University, said the younger generations may be more likely to pressure peer or fear of failing than older generations.
Most American adults adjust their budgets to prepare for possible price increases
Most American adults make (or plan to do) change to their budgets To prepare for price changes related to prices. Consumers also reduce non -essential spending, such as eating and traveling (40%), and saving more than each pay check (19%).
The threat of price price increases
Most of the buyers who are concerned about prices increasing the cost of technological products planned to buy before prices or bought electronic devices at the end of last year or at the start of this year. Smartphones and laptops are at the top of this list.
According to figures, 48% of American adults plan to buy or have already bought smartphones, and 42% have done the same for laptops. The other best technological items that are concerned about buyers include household appliances, televisions and intelligent house devices.
Some American adults delay the biggest purchases
He does not surprise experts that some American adults delay large purchases of more than $ 500 (27%). Almost one in five (18%) which plan to make large purchases will benefit from major sales throughout the year, which could be a big money savingman if the prices increase prices. In addition, the survey revealed that 11% of American adults have already purchased before the prices at the end of last year and earlier this year to avoid higher prices.
If you worry about increasing prices and money has already saved, it may be better to buy items that you are planning for the moment.
“If you think it will be more expensive in the future, it would be logical to go ahead and buy it now,” said Coon. “But just as the Pandemic showed us supply and demand constraints, if everyone buys it now, the article becomes more expensive anyway.”
If you need to make a big purchase or if you are already planning, you can always save money. Coon recommends comparing prices to get the best offer. The few more minutes of the comparison of retailers’ offers could save you a few hundred dollars.
Should you buy new technology now or wait?
This is the big question to which everyone wants to answer – is it better to spend money on electronics now to avoid potential price jumps induced by prices?
If you already have funds reserved for a purchase, then shopping now or during a next shopping event, like an upcoming Amazon to come, could help you save money and offer you peace of mind. But if you don’t have the money already saved, experts do not recommend funding it.
Brennan has accepted, adding that if you have the money to buy a new electronic or technological gadget, go ahead-just make sure you need it.
“Do not buy it in anticipation of the price increase, because we do not know what the ultimate result will be,” said Brennan.
Above all, experts say that to make sure you go around to find the best offer on technology.
“You could spend an additional 15 to 20 minutes to search on the internet, but you end up saving a few hundred dollars,” said Coon. “It’s really worth the time to look for the best good deal.”
Advice to save money on technology
Buying a new electronics concerns the moment and knowledge of expert strategies to find the best offers. I questioned CNET experts about the best offers on laptops, televisions and smartphones to find out when it is better to buy and what we need to know about the prices for the new models that come out this year.
When to score laptops at low prices
Whether you buy a new laptop now or wait depends on your needs and your budget, said Josh Goldman, a publisher and one of the CNET laptop reviewers.
“Prices are certainly not going to improve if the United States is involved in a trade war, so if someone needs a new laptop and can afford to buy now, I would not wait to see,” said Goldman. “With Easter and spring sales, dads and graduates, sales of the Memorial Day and the start of the school year, we are heading for the best time to buy a new laptop at a reduced price outside Black Friday.”
If you don’t have enough money saved to buy a new laptop, but you need it, Goldman recommends looking for a renovated At a reduced price – which should not be also affected by prices. He recommends that Apple, Best Buy, Backmarket and Ebay refurbished for offers on used laptops with guarantees.
It’s now time to buy television models from last year
If you are on the market for a new television, David Katzmaier, senior editorial director and CNET TV critic, recommends buying the model from last year now. You will find televisions from 2024 at their lowest price, because retailers get rid of the inventory last year.
With the release of TVs 2025, expect prices to remain high on new models until the holidays, Katzmaier said. But if you don’t need a TV, you don’t have to rush into a purchase.
“TVs last a long time, and if you don’t need to buy one now, my advice is to wait until you do it,” said Katzmaier. “Yes, prices could increase prices later in the year, but if they will affect television prices around sales times – think of Black Friday and later in November and December – is an open question.”
Smartphone offers are there, but not as easy to find
Before buying a new phone, take a step back to assess whether you need it or not, said Patrick Holland, CNET publisher and smartphone critic. Most smartphones usually last between three and five years before starting to have problems. But you may be able to solve some of these material problems for cheaper than get a new phone.
Smartphones usually last a few years and we may not even buy it until we really need a replacement. It can therefore be difficult to know when buying a new phone – even without prices.
How much the next series of popular smartphones, such as the iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10, will not be announced that later this year, but these prices are not as volatile as the essential elements of everyday like the grocery store, Holland said.
“If your battery does not hold a load as before but everything else on your phone is good, it would be much easier and cheaper to replace the battery than to buy a entirely new phone – prices or not,” said Holland.
If you need a new phone, search for offers. Some retailers and operators offer exchange offers to exchange your old phone for a discount on the new phone. However, Holland stressed that if you are counting on your phone operator to finance the upgrade of your smartphone, this can make the search for an agreement even more difficult.
Methodology
All figures, unless otherwise indicated, come from Yougov Plc. The total size of the sample was 2,305 adults. The field work was undertaken from March 3 to 5, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all American adults (aged 18 and over).
