New wave of tariffs expected to rock US retail

Analysts predict higher prices for consumers, lower margins for chains

President Donald Trump accelerated a global trade war this week in a move that`s expected to dramatically disrupt the U.S. retail industry, a major user of commercial real estate.

Wall Street overall didn`t react well to the "Liberation Day" news that Trump announced Wednesday. The stock market plunged, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping Thursday nearly 1,700 points. It was no secret that the president was going to increase the tariffs he imposed on China and Canada in February, but the scope of the new round and their size — and immediacy of their impact — left some in the retail industry surprised and two industry trade groups spoke out against the new policy.

In a live earnings call Wednesday, the CEO of furniture retailer RH, formerly Restoration Hardware, uttered an expletive when he saw how his chain`s stock tumbled after Trump`s announcement. RH`s shares were down about 40% end-of-day Thursday, the top loser among U.S. stocks. Also among the day`s worst performing stocks were VF Corp., the footwear maker behind such brands as Vans and Timberland, as well as home furnishings retailer Wayfair and apparel firm Gap...

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RSK: Read until the end. Walmart has the best attitude and understanding on this whole tariff situation.