Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor and former “Shark Tank” star, is sounding the alarm. After being part of the hit reality TV show for over 15 seasons, Cuban made his final appearance during the Season 16 finale on May 16.
But even after leaving the show, he’s staying vocal—this time about rising prices in the United States. Cuban recently warned that the new global reciprocal tariffs announced by former President Donald Trump in April could make many daily items more expensive.
Cuban’s Advice: Stock Up Before Prices Rise
Just one day after Trump’s announcement, Cuban posted on the social media platform Bluesky, urging Americans to stock up on daily-use items.
He wrote, “It’s not a bad idea to go to the local Walmart or big box retailer and buy lots of consumables now. From toothpaste to soap—anything you can find storage space for, buy.”
Even if some of these items are made in the US, Cuban believes their prices will still rise, as companies may blame the tariffs for any increase.
Tariffs and Trade Tensions
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, a new trade war between the US and China started heating up. At one point, the US imposed tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods. However, a temporary 90-day pause on tariffs was granted for most countries, except Canada and Mexico.
More recently, President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping agreed on a 30% tariff—still a significant amount.
But even this reduced tariff is creating stress for retailers and consumers. According to Cuban, many importers are holding goods at Chinese ports, waiting to ship them all at once. This would raise transport costs, which could lead to more inflation.
Tariffs Are Not Just Political—They Affect Your Wallet
While some business leaders, like Bob Nardelli (former CEO of Home Depot), say the panic is an overreaction, others are more cautious. Several companies have already released cost estimates. For example, Sony said the new tariffs could cost them $680 million, as per The Economic Times.
Cuban believes consumers should prepare now, especially for five essential items, although he didn’t list them specifically. One item, however, is getting a lot of attention—coffee.
Coffee Prices Likely to Rise in 2025
Experts say that coffee may see one of the biggest price jumps in 2025. Why? Because the US hardly produces any coffee on its own. The only major local source is Hawaii, which isn’t enough to meet the huge national demand.
Kona Haque, research head at commodity trader ED&F Man, explained to The Financial Times that the US is the largest coffee importer in the world and is known as the “ultimate nation of coffee drinkers.”
Countries like Ecuador and the Ivory Coast, which produce large amounts of coffee and cocoa, are now facing new US tariffs. For example, Ivory Coast faces a 21% tariff after the 90-day pause expires.
Lucrezia Colgliati, a commodities expert at Fitch Solutions, added that since the US produces only 0.2% of its coffee, the new tariffs will directly impact prices. She also pointed out that higher tariffs will not increase local production, so the cost will be passed on to consumers.
As the global tariff situation continues to unfold, Americans are being warned to expect rising prices on essential items like soap, toothpaste, and especially coffee. Mark Cuban’s advice to stock up now may prove wise in the coming months.
With tariffs affecting products from around the world, many companies are preparing for higher costs, and experts say consumers will feel the impact directly. While some people believe the concerns are exaggerated, the numbers and predictions tell a different story—be ready for price hikes in 2025.