UK consumers plan to “buy British” as Trump’s bites in a trade war, the poll shows

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The vast majority of UK consumers plan to “buy British” on concern that imported products will increase in price after sweeping Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to data emphasizing the impact of the US president’s trade war.

About 71 percent of people said they wanted to support British business by buying more items that were “made in Britain” after Trump This month imposed a 10 percent tax on British imports, Barclays said on Tuesday.

About two -thirds of consumers were concerned that imported products would be more expensive, according to a poll conducted on behalf of Barclays Opinium Research, and two were already searched for alternatives made in the UK.

The UK’s products are subject to 10 percent import tariffs in the US, with steel and cars that came out for 25 percent charge. Tariffs are charged by 10 percent on EU goods during the current 90-day pause at “return” tariffs and reach 145 percent for products from China.

The Bank’s Bank’s politicians and economists have warned that tariffs that resolved the uprising in the financial markets and caused fear of global recession will be in the UK growth. But their influence on inflation remains unclear, given the uncertainty about how other countries can respond.

Chancellor Rachel Rivz, who is looking at the global role in the creation of trade alliances after the tariffs, refused to refuse to “buy a British company” last week.

“In terms of” buying British “, I think everyone will make their own decisions. What we don’t want to see is a trade war, and Britain becomes an internal look,” she said to the House of Commons.

When “every country in the world decided that they just wanted to buy things made in their country, it is not a good way,” Reivz said, adding that the UK “has benefited from access to world markets, and continuing to do it in” our national interest “.

The uncertainty around the effects of tariffs can affect the growth of consumer expenses since the beginning of this year. Barclays data on Tuesday showed that, despite the fact that Easter fall in March last year, and in April this year, consumer costs increased by 0.5 percent in March, decreasing from 1 percent in February.

Last month’s increase was caused by an increase in impassable costs by 2.2 percent, including jumping to garden centers 13.4 percent and 11 percent of health and beauty.

Karen Johnson, Head of the Barclays retailers department, said consumers feel pressure on the rise in bills and “remembering the impact of the last world events on their finances.” However, she noted the “green shoots” as warm weather and longer evenings, encouraged consumers to invest time and money in gardening and independently. ”

The official data, published on Friday, showed the results in the services that came to consumers, such as restaurants and shops, increased by 0.6 percent three months before February, the fastest pace per year.

The figures offered to bounce costs after the 2024 disappointment, despite the rigid wage growth.

Separate data published on Tuesday by the British retail consortium, the trade authority, showed that in March retail sales increased by an annual rate of 1.1 percent. It was above 12-month average of 0.6 percent, despite the fact that sales were depressed at the end of Easter.