After accounting for their impact on consumer behavior, higher tariffs collected in 2023 cost the average American household around 300 U.S. dollars. This was a slight decrease from 2022, when tariffs raised the average household costs by about 376 U.S. dollars. This includes total taxes collected under Section 201, Section 232, and Section 301 trade war tariffs.

This data package includes the underlying data files to replicate the data, tables, and charts presented in Why Trump’s tariff proposals would harm working Americans, PIIE Policy Brief 24-1.

If you use the data, please cite as: Clausing, Kimberly, and Mary E. Lovely. 2024. Why Trump’s tariff proposals would harm working Americans. PIIE Policy Brief 24-1. Washington, DC: Peterson Institute for International Economics.

In the United States, Hawaii was the state with the most expensive housing, with the typical value of single-family homes in the 35th to 65th percentile range exceeding 981,000 U.S. dollars. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii also ranked top as the state with the highest cost of living. Meanwhile, a property was the least expensive in West Virginia, where it cost under 167,000 U.S. dollars to buy the typical single-family home. Single-family home prices increased across most states in the United States between December 2023 and December 2024, except in Louisiana, Florida, and the District of Colombia. According to the Federal Housing Association, house appreciation in 13 states exceeded nine percent in 2023.

The number of home sales in the United States peaked in 2021 at almost seven million after steadily rising since 2018. Nevertheless, the market contracted in the following year, with transaction volumes falling to 4.8 million. Home sales remained muted in 2024, with a mild increase expected in 2025 and 2026. A major factor driving this trend is the unprecedented increase in mortgage interest rates due to high inflation. How have U.S. home prices developed over time? The average sales price of new homes has also been rising since 2011. Buyer confidence seems to have recovered after the property crash, which has increased demand for homes and also the prices sellers are demanding for homes. At the same time, the affordability of U.S. homes has decreased. Both the number of existing and newly built homes sold has declined since the housing market boom during the coronavirus pandemic. Challenges in housing supply The number of housing units in the U.S. rose steadily between 1975 and 2005 but has remained fairly stable since then. Construction increased notably in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of construction starts steadily rising, before plummeting amid the infamous housing market crash. Housing starts slowly started to pick up in 2011, mirroring the economic recovery. In 2022, the supply of newly built homes plummeted again, as supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs on essential construction materials such as steel and lumber led to prices soaring.

An average U.S. family of four pays about 72.93 U.S. dollars for water every month as of 2019, if each person used about 100 gallons per day. The price index of water and sewage maintenance have increased in recent years as infrastructure continues to age across the United States.

Setting water rates

Cities that have increased prices in water, generally use the increased rate to improve infrastructure. Families generally pay a fixed charge every month which is independent of water consumption, and a variable charge which is related to the amount of water used. Higher fixed charges are more commonly used to ensure revenue stability due to increased pipe repair costs, however, it reduces the incentive to conserve water and may punish households that use less water.

Water prices worldwide

Water prices vary across the countries and cities due to the various processes that are used to assign a price. Utilities generally set a water rate or tariff based on costs of water treatment, water storage, transport, wastewater treatment and collection, and other administrative operations. On the other hand, direct abstraction of water from sources such as lakes, is usually not charged, however, some countries require payment based on volume or abstraction rights.

Global electricity prices for households averaged some 18 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour as of 2016. Europe and North America had the highest average prices, while households in sub-Saharan Africa paid the least for electricity. Germany has one of the highest electricity prices in the world at about 33 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour; in comparison, the price of electricity in the United States averaged 13 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour. As Germany transitions from fossil fuels to renewable sources through the country’s Renewable Electricity Energy Sources Act (EEG or Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz), electricity prices have increased via taxes and levies on commercial and residential consumers. Prices are very different across the world and can also vary within municipalities in many countries.

Determining electricity rates Electricity prices (also called electricity tariffs) depend on a variety of factors such as price of primary power generation sources, government taxes, and grid infrastructure. A large portion of electricity prices are based on wholesale electricity costs. Tariffs will also differ based on customer groups, usually categorized by residential, commercial, and industrial customers. For example, prices for industrial customers tend to be very close to the wholesale price of electricity as they tend to consume more power at higher voltages which is more efficient, and thus, cheaper. Customers tend to be differentiated by load size and usage profiles – how much the customer contributes to the peak load is also important in determining rate class.

Germany, Belgium, and Ireland had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of June 2024. At the time, German households were charged around 0.39 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Belgium, the price stood at 0.37 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Qatar, residents paid more than 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations. The top importers of natural gas in Europe in 2023 were Germany and Italy, where this energy source constitutes a relevant share of the power mix.

The average retail price of electricity for households has risen steadily in the United States, reaching a peak of around 15.98 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. In the U.S., electricity prices tend to reflect base overnight costs for power plants, their maintenance, fuel costs, and the operation of power grids. How electricity rates differ across states in the U.S. The price of electricity varies widely across states. Hawaii has continuously had one of the highest rates and Washington one of the lowest. In Hawaii, the power sector is largely reliant on petroleum and diesel generators. Crude oil is a comparatively expensive fuel and prices tend to be volatile, driving up overall electricity prices. Meanwhile, electricity prices are low in states which use hydropower as the main source of electricity, as Washington. In the U.S., costs of electricity are greatly shaped by the primary power source used per state. Maintaining the power grid In addition to primary fuel purchases, the costs required to operate and maintain transmission and distribution systems also impact the prices that a household pays. In 2022, power utilities reported a peak in grid operating expenses, with transmission-related costs reaching 15.9 billion U.S. dollars and almost six billion U.S. dollars invested in distribution networks.

The U.S. housing market continues to evolve, with the median home price forecast to reach 426,000 U.S. dollars by the second quarter of 2026. This projection comes after a period of significant growth and recent fluctuations, reflecting the complex interplay of economic factors affecting the real estate sector. The rising costs have not only impacted home prices, but also down payments, with the median down payment more than doubling since 2012. Regional variations in housing costs Home prices and down payments vary dramatically across the United States. While the national median down payment stood at approximately 26,700 U.S. dollars in early 2024, homebuyers in states like California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii faced down payments exceeding 74,000 U.S. dollars. This disparity highlights the challenges of homeownership in high-cost markets and underscores the importance of location in determining housing affordability. Market dynamics and future outlook The housing market has shown signs of cooling after years of rapid growth, with more modest price increases of 4.8 percent in 2022 and 6.5 percent in 2023. This slowdown can be attributed in part to rising mortgage rates, which have tempered demand. Despite these challenges, most states continued to see year-over-year price growth in the fourth quarter of 2023, with Rhode Island and Vermont leading the pack at over 13 percent appreciation. As the market adjusts to new economic realities, potential homebuyers and investors alike will be watching closely for signs of stabilization or renewed growth in the coming years.

The retail price for electricity in the United States stood at an average of 12.72 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. This is the highest figure reported in the indicated period. Nevertheless, the U.S. still has one of the lowest electricity prices worldwide. As a major producer of primary energy, energy prices are lower than in countries that are more reliant on imports or impose higher taxes. Electricity prices in the U.S. by consumer group On average, retail electricity prices in the U.S. grew by over 85 percent since the beginning of the century. However, not every sector has been affected equally by the said price increase. U.S. electricity prices for residential customers saw a much steeper increase in the period, while transportation prices increased by approximately 50 percent. Reasons for increases in electricity prices The rising prices are justified by the costs of power production and power grid maintenance. Although the production cost of electricity generated from coal, natural gas, and nuclear sources remained relatively stable, the integration of renewable energy sources, investments in smart grid technologies, growing peak demand, power blackouts caused by natural disasters, and the global energy crisis in 2022 continued to trouble the electric utility industry in recent years. Average U.S. electricity prices per state can also vary widely, with Hawaii residents experiencing some of the highest rates in the country.

Household electricity prices in China amounted to 7.5 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in June 2024. Residential electricity prices increased steadily in the country from September 2020 to September 2021, when it reached 9.3 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour, and decreased to less than eight U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in the following months. Growing demand for affordable electricity Through China’s decades of industrialization, increasing power demand has been a constant factor, and policymakers and utility companies have had to balance it with affordability for a population with a relatively low per capita income. Keeping residential electricity prices at a low level is vital, given that many depend on air conditioning in China’s harsh summer months. However, with China’s ongoing electrification of private and public transportation, the demand for electricity will only increase. From black coal to sustainable green The history of the electricity industry is one of constant change and adaptation. Despite its size, China is not rich in energy resources. With coal being the only available fuel, it has supplied electricity to 1.4 billion people and an economy that has undergone incredible growth in the past four decades. However, the reliance on coal has left behind a black legacy of high carbon emissions and severe air pollution. With the highest investments in renewables worldwide, China attempts to transform its energy industry into a sustainable future.

In March 2024, industrial electricity prices in the European countries of Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom were among the highest in the world, at over 0.40 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Singapore was the Asian country with the highest electricity bill worldwide at that time. Lowest electricity prices in the world The average retail electricity price in the United States was considerably lower than in most of Europe. Iceland was the European country with one of the lowest electricity bills for enterprises that month. At the bottom of the ranking were also Russia, Iraq, Qatar, Argentina, and Libya. In these countries, commercial electricity prices amounted to less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Household electricity prices In addition, European countries had the highest household electricity prices worldwide that month, with Italy at the top of the ranking. By comparison, Iran and Ethiopia had the lowest residential electricity prices in the world.

Industrial consumers of electricity in the United States paid an average of 8.06 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. This figure marked a decrease compared to the previous year, when prices peaked at 8.3 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour.

Cabo Verde recorded the highest electricity price for households in Africa. As of June 2024, one kilowatt-hour costs around 0.35 U.S. dollars in the country. Kenya and Sierra Leone followed, with households paying 0.26 and 0.25 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Mail, Burkina Faso, and Gabon also recorded relatively higher prices for electricity on the continent. On the other hand, Egypt, Zambia, Angola, and Libya registered the lowest prices for electric energy in Africa. Countries usually retain high prices for household and business electricity In Africa, countries with high electricity prices for households also tend to have higher prices for businesses. For instance, Cabo Verde, Burkina Faso, and Kenya’s energy prices for companies placed them among the most expensive four countries on the continent. As of late 2023, the electricity prices stood at around 0.2, 0.2, and 0.19 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Electricity access and reliability vary across the continent A significant share of Africans still live with no access to electricity. Although almost all of North Africa's population had access to electricity, the other regions had lower electricity access in 2021. Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa had just over 50 percent of their citizens living in electrified areas, while in Central Africa it stood at around 31 percent. Nevertheless, according to a survey, two Eastern African countries ranked highest with the most reliable electricity supply on the continent. Between 2021 and 2023, some 99 percent of Mauritians and 96 percent of Seychellois reported having a supply that worked most or all the time.

As of March 2024, Australia had the highest electricity price for households in the Asia-Pacific region, at about 0.26 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Singapore had the second-highest electricity price, with households paying around 0.24 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour.

Building materials made of copper had some of the highest price growth rates in the U.S. in December 2024 in comparison to the previous year. The growth rate of the cost of many construction materials was much lower than in 2023. It is important to note, though, that the figures provided are Producer Price Indices, which cover production within the United States, but do not include imports or tariffs. This might matter for lumber, as Canada's wood production is normally large enough that the U.S. can import it from its neighboring country. Construction material prices in the United Kingdom Similarly to the inflation trends in the U.S. at that time, the price growth rate of construction materials in the UK were generally lower 2023 than in 2022. Nevertheless, the cost of some construction materials in the UK still soared that year, with several of those items reaching price growth rates of over 10 or even of over 14 percent. Considering that those materials make up a very big share of the costs incurred for a construction project, those developments may also have affected the average construction output price in the UK. Construction material shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there often were supply problems and material shortages, which created instability in the construction market. According to a survey among construction contractors, the construction materials most affected by shortages in the U.S. during most of 2021 were steel and lumber. This was also a problem on the other side of the Atlantic: The share of building construction companies experiencing shortages in Germany soared between March and June 2021, staying at high levels for over a year. Meanwhile, the shortage of material or equipment was one of the main factors limiting the building activity in France in June 2022.

The house price for Ontario is forecast to increase slightly in 2024, after declining by six percent in 2023. From roughly 872,312 Canadian dollars, the average house price in Canada's second most expensive province for housing is expected to rise to 876,410 Canadian dollars in 2024. After British Columbia, Ontario is Canada's most expensive province for housing. Ontario Ontario is the most populated province in Canada, located on the eastern-central side of the country. It is an English speaking province. To the south, it borders American states Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Its provincial capital and largest city is Toronto. It is also home to Canada’s national capital, Ottawa. Furthermore, a large part of Ontario’s economy comes from manufacturing, as it is the leading manufacturing province in Canada. The population of Ontario has been steadily increasing since 2000. The population in 2018 was an estimated 14.3 million people. The median total family income in 2021 came to 100,000 Canadian dollars. Ontario housing market The number of housing units sold in Ontario is projected to rise until 2024. Additionally, the average home prices in Ontario have significantly increased since 2007.

Electricity prices for businesses amounted to 8.7 cents per kilowatt-hour on the U.S. dollar in China in June 2024. Business electricity prices decreased in the country from over 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in June 2020. Household electricity in China was cheaper, amounting to 7.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in March 2024. Overhauling price calculation Since its liberalization of the state electricity market, the National Development and Reform Commission introduced an overhaul of the electricity pricing model in mid-2023. Based on the premise of “cost plus reasonable profit” the reforms were aimed at introducing fairer and more transparent rates while also promoting more efficient utilization of the electricity grid. In the new system, businesses enjoy lower electricity rates if they use higher voltages, reflecting a more accurate distribution of grid utilization costs. Competition in industrial policy For many years, the Chinese government has been accused of using subsidized electricity prices to give domestic companies an advantage on the world market. In the EV race, they come up again. To accelerate the industrialization of the country, policymakers have set up ambitious development goals and created the necessary framework to achieve them. For instance, electric battery manufacturers could utilize significant government support. However, often, subsidies like preferential electricity prices are difficult to prove, and in response to European and American accusations, Beijing points to the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. and similar subsidy programs in the European Union.

European countries have some of the highest natural gas prices for households worldwide. Natural gas prices for households vary greatly around the world, depending on governmental levies, taxes, as well as local production. In Sweden, prices averaged 0.24 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in December 2023, whilst prices in Canada, a producer of natural gas, were just 0.04 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour.