North Carolina
‘New economic reality’: NC consumers face tariff-driven inflation
Rising inflation is starting to show up on North Carolina grocery receipts and in the state’s factories, economists and executives say.
Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs push up the cost of everything from groceries and clothes to furniture and appliances.
Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after rising just 0.1% the previous month.
The Consumer Price Index tracks the year-over-year changes in the cost of goods and services such as groceries, clothing and medical expenses.
The CPI shows grocery prices are up about 17.2% since January 2022. It means a $100 grocery bill back then would cost about $117 today.
John Coleman, professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, said the trend of higher costs is not going away.
“If you had to make some cutbacks or some adjustments in terms of what you had to buy, what you wanted to buy, you’re going to have to continue to do that for quite some time,” Coleman said. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s just the new economic reality that we’re faced with.”
In the same timeframe, clothing has also gone up about 5.5%.
Medical costs have also increased, government data shows. Physician services are up 4.9%, for instance.
Also, it’s 6.5% more for vehicles since January 2022.
There are many factors contributing to rising costs, including consumer spending habits, supply and demand and, increasingly, tariffs passed along to consumers.
“You are starting to see scattered bits of the tariff inflation regime filter in,” said Eric Winograd, chief economist at asset management firm AllianceBernstein, who added that the cost of long-lasting goods rose last month, compared with a year ago, for the first time in about three years.
Winograd also noted that housing costs, a big inflation driver since the pandemic, have continued to cool, actually holding down broader inflation. The cost of rent rose 3.8% in June compared with a year ago, the smallest yearly increase since late 2021.
The cost of gasoline rose 1% just from May to June, while grocery prices increased 0.3%.
“About three-fourths of firms locally, in the New York area, were intending to pass some of the tariff-related costs onto consumers,” said Keenan Institute of Private Enterprise research economist Sarah Dickerson.
Retailers such as Target, Walmart and Home Depot have said they’ll pass the cost of tariffs onto their shoppers.
Trump has said the goal of the tariffs is to increase American-made manufacturing, but it will take time.
Some items got cheaper last month, including new and used cars, hotel rooms, and airfares. Travel prices have generally declined in recent months as fewer international tourists visit the U.S.
Tariffs already having an effect on NC’s economy
Daimler Truck told state officials last week that the company could temporarily lay off 573 workers at a plant near Charlotte because orders for its trucks are down. The company makes vehicles that companies like UPS use to deliver goods.
Daimler Truck executives said last week that its customers are buying fewer trucks because of uncertainty over economic policy, including tariffs.
The Trump administration has been talking about tariffs for months now. But many of them have been delayed. So far, tariffs don’t seem to have had much impact on the state’s economy.
Daimler’s layoffs could be an indicator that that’s about to change, North Carolina economist Mike Walden said.
“Whenever there’s economic uncertainty, that is not good for business,” said Walden, an N.C. State University professor emeritus.
So far, many businesses have been trying to absorb the costs of tariffs. However, the latest uptick in the inflation rate means some are beginning to pass along those costs to consumers, Walden said.
“Businesses have been trying to not do that, but they have a breaking point,” he said. “I think we’re beginning to see that breaking point.”
It also means companies may decide not to invest in business infrastructure like delivery trucks.
UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton says a lot of the goods on our roads come from China, either directly or shipped through other countries such as Vietnam and Mexico. He said tariffs are starting to slow the flow of those products.
“One thing’s for absolute certain, and that’s going to be there’s going to be a dramatic shift in the amount of trade that we do with China, and that has been driving to a great extent the trucking industry over the past decade or two,” Connaughton told WRAL in an interview.
Coleman, the Duke professor, said demand for durable goods such as trucks is already down, and the continuing uncertainty about even more tariffs isn’t helping.
“These are things that lead people to have a wait-and-see attitude,” Coleman said. “And the wait-and-see attitude is going to affect people like Daimler in trying to sell trucks. And then it goes down from there. I mean, it’s not just trucks.”
The economists that WRAL News spoke with on Tuesday agreed that North Carolina is likely to weather the economic uncertainty better than a lot of other states because the state is not overly reliant on manufacturing, which is where tariffs are hitting the hardest, and because the state’s economy and labor market continue to be very strong.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
North Carolina
North Carolina Democrats, Republicans share takes on deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina political leaders disagree heavily on what happened during a deadly-ICE involved shooting in Minnesota and what should happen next.
Several videos immediately circulated depicting the moment when Renee Good was shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent. Democrats and Republicans dispute what the video actually shows.
“I’m horrified and I’m disgusted,” Democratic state Sen. Sophia Chitlik said.
Chitlik represents Durham where immigration enforcement agents had a large presence a few weeks ago. She stated the video shows why she and some of her constituents don’t want the agents back.
“Get out,” she said. “We do not want ICE and CBP in our community. Not only do citizens and constituents not want them here, law enforcement doesn’t want them here. Our sheriff’s office, our police department, is very focused on keeping people safe, which is why crime is down. We manage public safety here.”
Matt Mercer, the communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, stated the video shows the ICE agent acting in self-defense.
“I think what you see is the video speaks for itself,” Mercer said. “You had a federal agent acting in self-defense after potentially being rammed by someone in a vehicle, which is unfortunate. You just hate to see what happened.”
Chitlik disputes the notion that the ICE agent acted in self-defense, saying, “It’s not true. The video shows that it’s not true. [Good] was trying to back up, not move forward, trying to leave the situation. They aggressively pursued her.”
Republicans continue to back the federal agents in Minnesota and across the country, arguing it’s what millions of Americans voted for.
“It’s already shown a lot of progress,” Mercer said. “You’ve had over two million illegals deported or self-deported from our country, which is exactly what President [Donald] Trump campaigned on.”
Some Democrats say immigration enforcement agents don’t make communities safer and instead incite violence fear.
“ICE is not here to keep us safe,” Chitlik said. “ICE is here to police us. ICE is here as an agent of fascism in our cities. They are not welcome here.”
Republicans say the immigration agents aren’t the ones raising tensions.
“Anytime you see people using an iPhone app and saying there’s ICE [in the area], it’s intentionally provoking and stoking tensions,” Mercer said. “You’d like to see people using their right to protest in a way that’s not obstructing the mission these hardworking officers are doing every day.”
CBS 17 has not heard of any plans for the immigration agents to return to North Carolina.
This offseason has been a complete quarterback carousel for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Following the debacle of last season, it was obvious that North Carolina needed to make significant changes at quarterback.
In Bill Belichick’s first year as the head coach, the Tar Heels compiled a 4-8 record and failed to qualify for bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. There were several factors that led to the lackluster season, but the production and effectiveness from the quarterback position may take the cake, in terms of who should be blamed the most for North Carolina’s failure of a season.
In 11 games, Gio Lopez threw for only 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while attempting 6.7 yards per pass. If you don’t possess a quarterback who can operate at a competent level, it is virtually impossible to compete with that player leading the offense.
As mentioned, it was apparent that the front office had to venture out in the transfer portal to potentially find their next quarterback. The Tar Heels did land 2026 four-star quarterback recruit Travis Burgess, but it was not yet known that both Max Johnson and Bryce Baker would enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Not to mention, after recently announcing that he will return to Chapel Hill in 2026, Lopez became the latest quarterback to leave the program, making his intentions of entering the portal known on Monday. On Wednesday, Lopez officially signed with Wake Forest.
Here is what general manager Michael Lombardi and North Carolina’s front office orchestrated to add depth to the quarterback room, and how those moves affect that position.
Assessing the Tar Heels’ Quarterback Situation
With three total quarterbacks leaving the program, North Carolina needed to orchestrate multiple moves to improve the depth at the position. While the Tar Heels landed Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles O’Neill, those two additions do not instill a ton of confidence in a room lacking experience and proven production.
In four years, Edwards Jr. has one year of starting, while O’Neill has eight appearances over the last two seasons. The Texas A&M transfer possesses more potential than Edwards Jr., as he still has three years of eligibility remaining. There is more room to grow for O’Neill. We already know what Edwards Jr is: a backup quarterback who could play here and there as a starter.
Meanwhile, Au’Tori Newkirk played sparingly during his freshman season in 2025, and Burgess will be a true freshman in 2026. None of these quarterbacks provide both high potential and experience. They possess one or the other, which could become problematic if no one establishes themselves as the clear-cut starter.
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is responding to the most recent measles cases and a spike in respiratory illnesses in North Carolina.
In a meeting hosted by NCDHHS, health officials stressed the importance of staying up to date on vaccines.
Those officials were also asked about the vaccination status of the three kids who tested positive for measles in Buncombe County.
“The three cases in Buncombe County, all three of them, had at least one dose of MMR vaccine,” said Dr. Erica Wilson with NCDHHS.
News 13 reported on Tuesday that the three siblings contracted measles after visiting Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where there’s currently a large measles outbreak.
3 BUNCOMBE COUNTY CHILDREN CONTRACT MEASLES AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA VISIT, NCDHHS REPORTS
The Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room in Asheville was listed as a possible measles exposure location on Sunday, Jan. 4, between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Mission Health sent News 13 a statement, saying in part, “Our hospitals work with state and federal health officials on proactive preparedness, and we are following guidance provided by the CDC.”
The hospital provided state health officials with a list of 26 people who may have been exposed to measles on Jan. 4, according to Mission Health.
It’s not just Buncombe County that has reported measles in North Carolina recently.
“One in Polk County and three in Buncombe County. Additionally, there was a measles exposure alert we released in Gaston County. All are connected to an ongoing measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, South Carolina,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple with NCDHHS. “About 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed will become infected.”
POLK COUNTY CHILD CONTRACTS MEASLES AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA VISIT, NCDHHS REPORTS
In the meeting, health officials also addressed the increase in respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and influenza.
“Whether it’s the childhood immunizations for things like measles, mumps, and rubella, or even the seasonal immunizations for things like RSV, COVID, and flu, vaccines are a critical and important part of remaining healthy and having healthy communities,” said NCDHHS secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai.
Additionally, as News 13 previously reported, there was a chickenpox outbreak in Buncombe County, with four cases confirmed at Fairview Elementary as of Jan. 6.
Health officials are reminding people that it’s not too late to get their seasonal vaccines. There are also additional preventative actions to protect oneself against respiratory viruses.
FLU CASES SURGE IN NC, STRAINING HOSPITALS AND INCREASING DEATH TOLL
“This includes regularly washing your hands with soap and water,” said Kimple.
Kimple suggests avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. She also said to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces that may be contaminated.
“Cover those coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly. Stay home when sick, except to seek medical care or testing, and take steps to avoid spreading infection to others in your home,” said Kimple.
NCDHHS also has helpful resources on its website, like a measles immunity checker, information about vaccines, and a program that helps eligible families get free vaccines.
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