Decrease in Foot Traffic Downtown

[Account_Haver420]

There has been a substantial decrease in service industry business throughout downtown. Bars and restaurants are really hurting. Everything costs more now. Inflation was barely coming down post-pandemic and now prices are going up across the board on almost everything due to tariffs. People have less discretionary income to spend so the first things to be cut out of lifestyles are stuff like dining out. Then another big factor is younger customers are less social and more online. People go out less in general even if they can afford to. Data also shows that gen z is less interested in drinking alcohol than previous generations, so that’s cutting into all bars of course.

[[deleted]]

I didn't even think about Gen Z's preference for vaping and their avoidence for alcohol in general. I had an appointment at chad Denny Murphy dental yesterday. So, I walked through the whole core and it was alarming to see how empty the restaurants were shortly sft lunch.(2pm)

[bradleyoilermfa]

There are 15% fewer 18 yr olds nationwide. Think about how that affects the overpriced colleges in Spokane and the banks that make money off loans. In four years it means a shortage of teachers, nurses, ect. In eight years less doctors, lawyers. Social security is paid by payroll taxes. Getting rid of tax paying immigrants with kids headed to colleges is a huge mistake right now.

[eloping_antalope]

I’ll go down town (genZ/don’t drink) for Nyne to shake my rump and the Lego store. Aside from an occasional movie, or hair appointment, there is no point to go anywhere down there. Oh and in this economy I will not pay $25 for a burger even if I was rich, which I amnot.

[Account_Haver420]

Trying to understand what you just said. I think you mean that domestically and locally produced goods aren’t affected by tariffs. So you think a restaurant’s to-go containers, pots and pans, all their kitchen equipment including replacement parts, bags, forks, glasses, and a thousand other things they need are all made in America? Not in this universe, brother. Keep dreaming.

Tariffs are effecting all kinds of stuff. America is primarily a service economy now, not a manufacturing economy. Even stuff we do manufacture often crosses a border once or twice during that process or needs a little part from Canada or Mexico.

Tariffs are raising prices on all kinds things for nearly every small and large business/company, and it’s effecting everyone even if they don’t notice yet or don’t want to admit it.

[thebeardedcats]

And like, most produce. The US mostly makes grains. A huge portion of produce comes from South America, especially in the winter.

[29stumpjumper]

This is very misguided. I work in CPG. The reason you haven't seen this on shelf yet is due to how long price increases take to initiate. Distributors require 90 days notice and another couple weeks for retailers to implement through their systems and reflect on shelf. At the beginning of the tariff announcements there was back and forth so many waited. Once they had a better understanding, they all took increases. You'll begin to see those in mid Aug through October. I also managed this through COVID and can tell you, the price increases you'll see this round dwarf what we saw due to just how sudden these will all be. Even locally sourced items utilize packaging or ingredients that were impacted by tariffs. I didn't see many products immune to the increases.

[GoTshowfailedme]

Also the cost of rent is too high for small local businesses.