Report: Tariffs Raised Costs in Illinois

A new study says tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration in 2025 cost the average Illinois household about 2,200 dollars. The report comes from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Researchers say the added costs hit families through higher prices on goods affected by the tariffs. The report also suggests states could respond by strengthening unemployment benefits and reclaiming tax incentives or tax cuts from companies that lay off workers. Supporters say those steps could help protect households and workers as trade-related costs ripple through the economy.