Price Patrol: What a 100-item price check reveals about inflation six months later

A six-month price tracking initiative in Northeast Ohio, launched following new tariff announcements, indicates that costs for many household staples, electronics, and appliances have notably increased, reflecting broader inflationary pressures. While the study observed significant price hikes in categories like coffee, sugar, and laptops, the overall picture is mixed, with some items remaining stable or even decreasing, such as eggs and baby formula. This uneven price movement suggests varied impacts of trade policies and inflation on consumer goods, warranting close observation for retail sector performance and consumer spending trends.

Analysis

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Six months after cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer began tracking the prices of 100 everyday household items, Northeast Ohio shoppers are seeing costs inch higher on many staples, from coffee and laundry detergent to laptops and lumber. The project, launched in April after President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs, set baseline prices at Walmart, Giant Eagle, Lowe’s and Amazon. Cleveland.com compiled a list of 100 common household items to monitor, with help from readers who subscribe to Chris Quinn’s From the Editor text message. Readers suggestions on what prices we should keep tabs on were wide-ranging. We pledged to revisit those items over time to see how trade policies and inflation filter down to the checkout line. The first major update shows a mixed picture. Some pantry items, like sugar and orange juice, have climbed. Electronics and appliances are noticeably more expensive. Many basics remain exactly the same. But not everything is rising — eggs at Giant Eagle are down a dollar. Enfamil baby formula dropped $5 at Walmart, offering some relief to parents. At Lowe’s, Roundup weed killer fell 50 cents. A number of personal care and household products across all three stores stayed the same. Cleveland.com will continue checking back on the same 100 items as tariffs expand and as families head into the holiday shopping season. Here’s what we found on our latest shopping trip. The first number reflects April’s baseline price; the second shows the current cost. Walmart Health & Personal Care - Dove shampoo (28 oz.): $8.84 → $8.84 - Revlon ColorStay makeup: $12.48 → $12.48 - One A Day Women’s multivitamins, 100-count: $10.98 → $10.98 - Tylenol Extra Strength, 24 capsules: $4.47 → $4.47 - Band-Aids, 100-count: $8.48 → $8.48 - Equate vinyl gloves, 100-count: $10.08 → $9.97 - Crest Pro-Health toothpaste: $3.97 → $4.97 Baby & Maternity - Huggies wipes, 56-count: $3.33 → $3.33 - Pampers size 4 diapers, 92-count: $28.22 → $28.22 - Enfamil baby formula, 23 oz.: $48.97 → $44.86 - Monbebe stroller: $349 → $349 Home & Kitchen - Chefman air fryer: $79 → $99.99 - Hamilton Beach microwave: $69.94 → $80 - Clorox four-pack: $16.62 → $16.62 - Reynolds Wrap foil, 75 sq. ft.: $4.67 → $4.97 - Folgers Classic Roast coffee, 12 oz.: $10.84 → $12.84 Electronics - Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: $59.88 → $59 - LG 50-inch 4K TV: $298 → $318 - HP 16-inch laptop: $649 → $799 - Anker 6-foot USB cord: $9.88 → $8.99 - Energizer AAA batteries: $19.97 → $19.98 - Nintendo Switch Lite: $199 → $200 Toys & Games - Nurse Barbie: $10.97 → $11.07 - LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set: $80 → $79.95 Clothing - Lee bootcut jeans: $24.98 → $24.98 - Hanes men’s boxers, 3-pack: $16.48 → $17 - TredSafe men’s slip-resistant shoes: $44.98 → $46.98 Mobility Aids - Equate foldable walker: $57 → $57 Automotive - Goodyear Reliant tire: $85 → $99.27 Giant Eagle Produce & Meat - Bagged avocados: $4.99 → $4.99 - Jumbo raw shrimp, 1.5 lb.: $19.48 → $20.98 Dairy & Refrigerated - Giant Eagle milk, gallon: $2.99 → $2.99 - Kerrygold butter, 2 sticks: $5.99 → $6.59 - Crystal Springs eggs, dozen: $4.99 → $3.99 - Chihuahua shredded cheese: $8.99 → $8.99 Pantry - Giant Eagle sugar, 4 lb.: $2.99 → $3.99 - Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup: $3.29 → $2.99 - Chicken of the Sea tuna, 5 oz.: $1.69 → $1.69 - Lipton tea bags, 20-count: $1.89 → $1.99 - Pearl Milling syrup, 24 oz.: $4.19 → $4.19 - Kikkoman soy sauce, 10 oz.: $3.69 → $3.99 Beverages - Minute Maid orange juice: $4.49 → $4.99 - Settesoli Nero d’Avola wine: $17.99 → $17.99 - Laphroaig Scotch: $62.99 → $62.99 - Corona Extra, 6-pack: $10.99 → $10.99 Pet Supplies - Iams dog food, 15 lb.: $33.99 → $33.99 Personal Care - BIC razors, 2-pack: $6.49 → $6.49 - Aquaphor ointment, 7 oz.: $14.99 → $14.99 - Tampax tampons, 34-count: $9.99 → $9.99 - Coppertone sunscreen: $11.99 → $11.99 School & Office Supplies - Crayola markers, 10-count: $4.89 → $4.89 Toiletries & Paper Goods - Charmin Ultra Soft, 12 mega rolls: $17.49 → $17.49 Lowe’s Appliances - Frigidaire refrigerator: $549 → $699 - Whirlpool washer: $498 → $528 - Bissell vacuum: $33.99 → $33.99 Lawn & Garden - Scotts Green Max Lawn Food: $65.98 → $65.98 - Craftsman mower: $299 → $299 - Roundup Weed Killer: $15.48 → $14.98 - Tiki citronella candle: $5.98 → $5.98 - Neverkink hose, 50 ft.: $29.98 → $29.98 Home Improvement & Tools - Interfor 2x4 board: $3.65 → $3.75 - PVC pipe, 10 ft.: $35.92 → $35.92 - Gorilla duct tape: $9.98 → $11.28 - Liquid Nails adhesive: $3.58 → $4.58 - EGO string trimmer: $329 → $349 Paint & Lighting - Valspar paint, gallon: $39.98 → $42.98 - GE daylight bulbs, 16-pack: $24.98 → $24.98 Cleaning & Household - Tide detergent, 132 oz.: $20.05 → $22.48 - Fabuloso cleaner: $4.48 → $4.48 - Splash de-icer fluid: $3.98 → $3.98 Fans & Cooling - Utilitech box fan: $24.99 → $24.99 - Harbor Breeze ceiling fan: $149.98 → $159.98 Automotive - Mobil 1 motor oil, quart: $10.98 → $10.98 Amazon Clothing & Accessories - Amazon Essentials men’s T-shirts, 2-pack: $16.60 → $13.70 - Disney 6-piece pajama set, size 2T: $23.12 → $29.99 - Nike women’s flip-flop: $47.68 → $35.99 - CelerSport men’s ankle socks, 6-pack: $14.09 → $14.99 Personal Care - ChapStick 3-pack: $3.88 → $3.88 - Neutrogena Ultra Gentle cleanser, 16 oz.: $11.87 → $9.97 - Q-tips, 625 count (2-pack): $9 → $11.98 - Touchland Glow Mist sanitizer: $16 → $16 Household Essentials - Amazon Basics paper plates, 100-count: $6.92 → $5.36 - Ziploc gallon bags, 42-count: $6.29 → $6.29 - Hefty trash bags, 80-count: $11.97 → $11.97 - Cascade dishwasher pods, 47-count: $19.94 → $19.94 - Scotch-Brite sponges, 6-pack: $5.97 → $4.97 - Ajax cleanser, 14 oz.: $5.50 → $3.89 - Drano Max Gel, 32 oz.: $5.17 → $5.17 - Command strips, 16 pairs: $11.99 → $13.99 - Scotch Magic Tape, 1 roll: $3.24 → $3.34 - HUANCHAIN extension cord, 25 ft.: $13.99 → $12.99 - Utopia Towels 8-piece set: $23.70 → $34.99 - Hammermill printer paper, 3-pack: $23.71 → $22.99 - Ticonderoga pencils, 30-count: $5.99 → $5.99 - Hallmark wrapping paper, 3-pack: $12.99 → $12.99 Food & Beverages - Optimum Nutrition whey protein, 2 lb.: $35.99 → $37.32 - Frito-Lay Classic Mix, 28-count: $15.49 → $15.49 Pet Supplies - Pup-Peroni dog treats, 22.5 oz.: $11.48 → $11.48 Miscellaneous - Disposable plastic cups, 50-pack: $9.98 → $9.98 - Retrospec kids’ bike: $179.99 → $297.99 - AND1 Fantom basketball, size 7: $12.99 → $11.30 - Bare Home fleece throw blanket: $33.99 → $29.99 Stories by Molly Walsh - Lake County autism nonprofit needs $10K to stay open, asks community for support - New temple in Independence offers hope amid tragedy for Church of Latter-day Saints in Northeast Ohio - Geauga County’s Apple Butter Festival returns - Firefighters rescue unconscious woman trapped in Painesville Township house fire - I-90 rest areas in Lake County to close Oct. 14. Here’s why: A six-month price tracking study across retailers including Walmart (WMT), Lowe's (LOW), and Amazon (AMZN) highlights a fragmented inflationary landscape, rather than uniform price hikes. Significant price increases are concentrated in specific categories, particularly large-ticket electronics and appliances, such as a $150 jump on an HP (HPQ) laptop and a Frigidaire refrigerator. Cost inflation is also evident in staples like Goodyear (GT) tires (up $14.27) and Folgers coffee (up $2.00), suggesting that rising input costs and trade policies are being passed through to consumers on select goods. However, this is counterbalanced by price stability in many personal care products and notable price reductions in items like Enfamil baby formula (down $4.11 at WMT) and eggs (down $1.00 at Giant Eagle). This mixed pricing behavior indicates that retailers and manufacturers are employing strategic pricing, potentially absorbing costs on certain competitive items to maintain volume while exercising pricing power on less elastic or high-demand goods. The data underscores that the impact of inflation and tariffs is not monolithic, necessitating a granular, category-level view to assess margin pressure and consumer spending patterns accurately.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors should scrutinize the upcoming quarterly reports of retailers like WMT, LOW, and AMZN for gross margin performance by product category, as the data suggests they are selectively absorbing cost pressures rather than applying broad price increases.
• Consider that manufacturers of durable goods and electronics, such as HPQ and Whirlpool (WHR), are successfully passing on significant costs, but this may expose them to risks of demand destruction if consumer budgets tighten.
• The price stability in many personal care and staple goods, despite an inflationary environment, suggests intense competition and limited pricing power, indicating potential margin compression for undifferentiated brands in these sectors.
• The divergent pricing trends support a long/short strategy, favoring companies with demonstrated pricing power in non-discretionary or high-demand categories while being cautious on firms in highly competitive segments with flat or declining prices.