American consumers and businesses bore the brunt of significant economic burdens in 2025, according to recent reports, including the impact of tariffs and rising costs associated with the data center and AI boom. Meanwhile, retailers offered discounts on electronics for Presidents Day, and The Verge released its 2026 Valentine's Day gift guide.
A Federal Reserve Bank of New York report, released Thursday, revealed that Americans paid for nearly 90% of tariffs in 2025. The report, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Foreign Trade Statistics through November 2025, found that Americans paid for 94% of the levies from January to August, 92% from September to October, and 86% in November. "Our results show that the bulk of the tariff incidence continues to fall on U.S. firms and consumers," the economists wrote.
Simultaneously, middle-class Americans faced increasing financial strain due to the rising costs of powering data centers. Data center deals exceeded $61 billion in 2025 as companies expanded their computational power for the AI race, according to Goldman Sachs. Analysts Manuel Abecasis and Hongcen Wei forecasted that consumer electricity inflation would jump 6% from 2026 to 2027 before decelerating to 3% the following year. This increase is expected to impact the prices of food, transportation, and clothing, putting additional pressure on already cash-strapped Americans.
In other news, retailers offered significant discounts on electronics for Presidents Day. Multiple news sources reported deals on items like TVs, earbuds, and smart home devices, with most promotions ending on February 17th.
As Valentine's Day approached, The Verge released its 2026 gift guide, offering 32 creative gift ideas for men. Curated by Brandon Widder and Cameron Faulkner, the guide provided a selection of tech and lifestyle gifts, reflecting evolving consumer preferences.
In a related topic, experts offered advice on office etiquette for Valentine's Day. Niraj Kapur, LinkedIn trainer, TEDx speaker, and author of "Business Growth: Lessons Learned From Divorce, Dating, and Falling in Love Again," discussed the appropriate amount of personal sharing at work.
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