States like North Dakota could see unique effects under President Donald Trump's approach to tariffs.

Uncertainty lies ahead, but one expert said consumers should be prepared. Going into this week, prospects were raised about the U.S. imposing tariffs on goods from counties like Canada and Mexico. The plans were paused for a month.

Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics of the Budget Lab at Yale University, said people should expect more of the president's rhetoric and know how to protect their wallets. If tariffs against Canada come back into play, the ripple effect on household budgets could be noticed in certain ways, especially in this part of the United States.

"We import a great deal of crude oil and natural gas from Canada, particularly in the Midwest," Tedeschi pointed out. "There's a heating bill effect. There's also a gasoline bill effect."

A significant percentage of fruits and vegetables come from Mexico but he cautioned against stockpiling them because they will likely expire before they're eaten, wasting your money. Groups like AARP said one way to prepare for possible changes is to find deals on dining out, with restaurants offering more discounts these days.

Lumber imports could become more expensive, with added pressure to rebuild homes lost in the Los Angeles wildfires. Tedeschi recommended if you're considering a home renovation project, it is something to keep in mind. He added if you feel you cannot hold off on a big-ticket purchase, like an appliance, there still could be wiggle room in the short term.

"Electronic stores, for example, get through their nontariff stock before they get to the tariff stock," Tedeschi noted.

Those prices might not escalate as quickly under a rapidly changing trade war if the local company has a big inventory ahead of time.

For durable goods, he emphasized it is all about doing the research to make sure the financial sting is not so bad. Cars are another example.

"Even if you think you're buying an American brand, remember that a lot of American brands are assembled in Mexico and Canada, and would be subject to tariffs," Tedeschi observed. "Or least some parts of them would be subject to tariffs."

While pauses were announced for Canada and Mexico, new tariffs for China were on the table this week.

Florida Power & Light's request for a nearly $9 billion rate hike, possibly the largest in state history, has sparked concern about the potential burden on people already struggling with high energy costs.

The Florida Public Service Commission is reviewing the proposal, which the utility said is needed for grid resilience, population growth and storm recovery. If approved, the hike would raise the average residential bill by at least $200 a year by 2027, in addition to a $150 "storm recovery fee" already on bills this year.

Maria Claudia Schubert-Fontes, climate justice program manager for the advocacy group Catalyst Miami, warned the effects on low-income households could be devastating.

"Energy burden is the percentage of income that's spent on home energy bills and also is considered 'energy burdened' if it's at 6%," Schubert-Fontes explained. "So, 12% is way above that threshold and folks are spending a large portion of their income just to keep the lights on every month."

Florida Power & Light, which serves about 12 million people, has said the increase is necessary to continue providing reliable service as Florida grows. In 2024, it reported more than $4.5 billion in earnings, while its parent company NextEra Energy posted nearly $7 billion in profit.

Schubert-Fontes argued customers are already being squeezed and pointed out the proposal includes a return on equity far exceeding industry norms.

"Part of FPL's proposal is that there's an 11.9% return on equity, which is far higher than the industry standard, which sits around, like, 9%," Schubert-Fontes noted. "This is money that goes directly into the pockets of shareholders."

The Public Service Commission has completed a series of in-person hearings. Local groups urged regulators to prioritize consumers, particularly vulnerable households and fixed-income seniors. A final decision is expected later this year.


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Optimism is falling and pessimism is rising among businesses getting a read on the U.S. economy, according to a new national survey.

The findings are from the Center for Audit Quality, which gathered feedback from the nation's leading public company audit firms. The firms serve clients in a wide range of industries, from retail to mining. The spring survey showed pessimism about the U.S. economy surged to 44%, compared to just 10% last fall. Meanwhile, optimism fell to 15%.

Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the center, said there are a handful of key factors behind the sentiments.

"Concern about a recession, ongoing geopolitical instability, and tariff uncertainty," Lindsay outlined. "Those are the top three areas where audit partners are seeing companies concerned over the next 12 months."

The Trump administration said it remains undeterred in applying broad-based tariffs in pursuit of fair trade. Financial analysts said the approach creates less predictability for businesses with the potential for layoffs, adding some of the tariff polices have resulted in legal setbacks. White House officials hope tariffs lead to more domestic manufacturing but experts cautioned it could take years.

Among respondents, 54% said companies in their sectors are reducing employee headcounts in the current economic landscape but nearly half also are making an effort to boost the skills of existing staff. Lindsay added artificial intelligence has major appeal right now.

"The companies in the industries that they audit are mainly pursuing the use of AI to enhance customer experiences, services and support, as well as automate some work processes," Lindsay explained.

Despite the Trump administration's interest in cryptocurrency, survey results show American companies feel the situation is not right yet to jump into those markets. Of those surveyed, 96% said their clients are not having talks right now about such investments.


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As eastern Kentucky communities attempt to bounce back from a string of natural disasters, more small businesses are struggling to get back on their feet.

An upcoming series of workshops led by the nonprofit Mountain Association and AppalReD Legal Aid this month aims to help small businesses in the region better prepare for emergencies.

Jessica Epperson, Mountain Association disaster recovery coordinator, said if businesses can get up and running as quickly as possible after catastrophe, communities benefit.

"They're going to cover the topics such as the death of a business owner, legal considerations, by-sale arrangements, key-person insurance, estate planning, just to help businesses really prepare for the other side of a disaster," Epperson outlined.

Workshop participants can sign up for free one-on-one meetings with an attorney. Workshops will be held in Hazard on Wednesday, London on Thursday, Ashland on June 17 and Prestonsburg on June 18.

Epperson pointed out while many businesses receive immediate funds in the aftermath of disaster, many are unable to navigate long-term challenges.

"We're hoping that businesses will be able to learn from each other, as well as find opportunities to improve disaster recovery," Epperson explained.

Epperson stressed Appalachian Kentucky's economic stability depends on local business owners.

"By having small businesses, it's ensuring the livelihood of our communities," Epperson added. "It's a dual way of being able to support both the people and the businesses within a certain area."

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, between March 2022 and March 2023, more than 16,000 small businesses opened in Kentucky, and around 9,500 shut their doors. As of 2024, more than 380,000 small businesses operated across the Commonwealth, employing more than 685,000 people.