Here's something worth chewing on from this week's economic data drop.

So the big tariff push was supposed to accomplish two things, right? First, jack up import prices domestically to protect local industries. Second, squeeze foreign exporters so hard that they'd have no choice but to absorb part of the tariff hit themselves—basically forcing them to "eat" the cost at the border.

But here's where it gets interesting: US import prices actually climbed at the border. Which... wasn't exactly the plan. The whole strategy banked on foreign suppliers cutting their prices to stay competitive in the American market. Instead, prices ticked up before goods even crossed into US territory.

Part one of the tariff playbook worked as advertised—domestic import costs rose. But part two? That's where the theory and reality started parting ways. The assumption that exporters would just swallow margin losses to maintain market share didn't quite pan out the way policy architects expected.

Worth watching how this plays out for global supply chains and purchasing power down the line.