The traditional type of sale advertising that retailers publish compares today's sale price to the store's higher regular price. And that so-called "regular" price is often exaggerated to make the sale price look like a bigger bargain. But with the propect of up to 145% tariffs more than doubling the price of many goods in the future, or even "just" a 30% increase, might retail advertising be turned on its head?

In particular, might we see retailers encourage people to buy the remaining current stock of goods at today's lower prices compared to what the price of newly arrived goods are expected to sell for after the tariff costs are factored in?

If so, this is what ads in the not-too-distant future could look like.

We could see the end of inflated regular price comparisons and instead stores might advertise inflated future prices to convince you to buy now before the price skyrockets.

Scary... but something to think about.

May 12, 2025