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Toys Are Getting Pricier As Tariffs Kick In

More than 75 percent of toys sold in the United States come from China, making the sector one of the most vulnerable to President Donald Trump’s trade war. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Toy prices are rising at their fastest pace on record, the result of stiff new tariffs in an industry where 3 out of 4 items come from China — one of the first examples of just how quickly new trade policies are raising prices for Americans.

Although the full effect of President Donald Trump’s new import taxes has yet to show up in economic data, analysts say the toy industry — which relies on a steady flow of relatively low-priced imports — offers clues into how higher costs could soon ripple through the economy.

The price of toys, games and playground equipment rose a record 2.2 percent between April and May, far outpacing the 0.1 percent inflation rate for all items that month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists expect those increases to pick up in the coming months, as more manufacturers and retailers are forced to pass on higher costs.

“Prices have gone up, there’s no doubt about it,” said Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA Entertainment, the toy giant behind L.O.L. Surprise, Little Tikes and Bratz. “But the inflation is just starting. There’s going to be a domino effect: You’re going to see prices go even higher. You’re going to see empty shelves and a lack of innovation.”

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