This Week in Tariffs - May 1, 2025

Introducing our new data snapshot for a quick pulse on the market as tariffs take effect—breaking down the latest shifts and what they mean for brands.

Starting this Friday, a major loophole in U.S. trade policy, known as the de minimis rule, is set to close, sending ripples through ecommerce. Prices are expected to rise significantly with new “import charges” added to the price. Shein reported prices could go up as high as 377% on select items.

PriceSpider data shows that consumers are still spending with Purchase Rate up 4.3% YoY. However, there are signals that we may start to see more caution in spending. Our data shows the Purchase Intent Rate is climbing higher as Purchase Rate levels week-over-week, meaning shoppers are increasing their browsing with less follow-through.

This Week’s Key Ecommerce Dates

Data Highlights

Average Order Value

The Average Order Value (AOV) in March was up 4.7% from February. In lead up to ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2, AOV jumped the week of March 31 before dropping 7% to normal levels the week of April 7.

Trend of the Week

The average purchase rate for Best Buy increased by 47% since March, signaling a significant lift in sales as shoppers look for electronics ahead of potential price hikes.

Biggest Headlines

Temu Adds Import Charge: Temu is adding ‘import charges’ of about 145% due to tariffs, more than doubling the price of many items. Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/3RDE1iF

• PriceSpider Take: Closing the De Minimus loop will level the playing field for U.S. retailers. Temu prices will likely be more aligned with Amazon, Walmart and Target. Expect to see some shifts across retailers over the next few weeks.

Delivery Times May Slow: The De Minimus loop closing will create friction across ecommerce, particularly logistics, as shipping companies will now have to verify the value of many more packages, leading to potential delays. Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3Gq11PJ

• PriceSpider Take: Shoppers expect speed and convenience. If delivery lags, they’ll turn to retailers offering in-stock products with fast shipping or in-store pickup.

Tariffs May Impact Prime Day: Some third-party merchants are planning to sit out of Prime Day this year or reducing the amount of discounted merchandise they offer. Read full article here: https://bit.ly/42STZL9

• PriceSpider Take: It's more important than ever for brands to use promos strategically. SKU rationalization will be critical while also looking at hero products, bundling and exclusive packs. And it's about focusing on the objective - volume, market share, new to brand, new to category, loyalty, etc. Brands well positioned can use this shift to capture market share from impacted newer or emerging brands.