Will tariffs drive more people to shop secondhand? It's a mixed bag, experts say

Amid tariffs, trade wars and general economic uncertainty, many Americans are thinking extra carefully about how to spend and save their money.

Consumer confidence tumbled in March, with the Conference Board‘s Expectations Index — based on consumers’ short-term outlook on business, income and the labor market — dropping to 65.2 out of 100, the lowest in 12 years.

And that was before President Trump announced a new round of sweeping tariffs, prompting retaliatory taxes from multiple countries — including China and the European Union — and fueling concerns about a possible recession. While he announced a 90-day delay this week, a 10% baseline tariff remains in effect on goods from all countries.