SEATTLE — American families already know the cost of having children is high and continues to rise with inflation, but there’s a new element making it even more expensive: tariffs.
Economists now estimate that the Trump administration tariffs will cost families an additional $4,000-$5,000 a year, the largest tax increase in decades.
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According to data analysts, the average cost of giving birth in the U.S. is currently about $18,865, with costs rising to over $26,000 for a C-section. Even with insurance, families typically pay nearly $3,000 out of pocket under large group health plans.
Washington Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said President Donald Trump’s chaotic trade war is raising costs on moms and families across the state and the country. Murray is making a point of putting this information out ahead of Mother’s Day as more evidence emerges on the higher expense of raising kids, at a time when household budgets are already strained.
Murray’s office said tariffs have already pushed up prices of car seats, strollers, high chairs, kids’ clothing, and cribs.
This, coincidentally, comes at a time when the president has become a powerful ally in the push for families have more children.
Earlier in May, Trump proposed a $5,000 “baby bonus” for mothers as part of an initiative to address the United States’ declining birthrate. However, if the predicted $5,000 family expense increase due to tariffs manifests, this bonus would be effectively neutralized.
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KOMO News is talking with local families about this and asking local officials what they plan to do to help families cope financially.
