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Mark Cuban Issues Grim 4-Word Warning to Consumers.

Mark Cuban Issues Grim 4-Word Warning to Consumers.

The billionaire entrepreneur says consumers should brace for empty shelves, sky-high costs, and another brutal round of inflation driven by tariffs.

By Rachel DillinMay 11, 2025 10:05 PM EDT.

Mark Cuban is sounding the alarm—and he’s not sugarcoating it. The billionaire investor and entrepreneur behind Cost Plus Drugs has taken to social media to warn Americans that we may be on the brink of a major consumer crisis.

According to Cuban, aggressive trade policies—especially the renewed push for tariffs—are going to hit everyday Americans where it hurts most: the checkout line. In a series of posts on Bluesky, Cuban predicted a combination of supply chain disruptions, rising transportation costs, and inflation that could leave store shelves empty and wallets thinner than ever.

“Importers are leaving inventory in China ports, waiting for tariffs to be lowered,” Cuban wrote. “If they are lowered enough, there will be a crush to ship them here and transport them when they get here. That will drive transportation costs way up.”

His four words—"more inflation, post tariffs."

This isn’t the first time Cuban has issued a warning. Not too long ago, he urged consumers to start stockpiling essentials like toothpaste and soap—a grim indicator of how severe he believes the economic fallout could be.

"It's not a bad idea to go to the local Walmart or big box retailer and buy lots of consumables now. From toothpaste to soap, anything you can find storage space for, buy before they have to replenish inventory. Even if it's made in the USA , they will jack up the price and blame it on tariffs," Cuban posted on Bluesky.

And while some claim prices are falling, experts aren’t convinced. Analysts at Deloitte and Capital Economics have echoed Cuban’s concerns, noting that tariffs often raise prices without boosting domestic production—making them inflationary by nature. “Tariffs are simply inflation,” economist Bradley Saunders put it bluntly.

As Cuban sees it, the consequences are already taking shape. Layoffs, slower economic growth, and rate-cut delays from the Fed could all follow. There may be little opposition left to counter the tariffs approach.

Whether Cuban’s predictions play out in full or not, his message is clear: brace yourself. The next phase of this trade war may be fought in your local grocery aisle.


Rachel Dillin is a trending news writer for Men's Journal. She's a lifelong journalist who covers entertainment and celebrity news.
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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
It's more than just good will that will be lost. Inflation never goes down over all, once it has gone up over all.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer Small business is always hit hardest. And service businesses. But those Chinese people who make widgets for GM and Ford also make stuff for 20 other global companies. GM cant manufacture until they can source those components elsewhere. Thats going to take months and cost more, raising the prices into a tough market. Meanwhile; back at the ranch, people are losing their jobs and even pizza delivery isnt what it used to be with spending on non essentials tight as inflation and unemployment grows..Christmas is going to be tight this year..😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Some of it is already going to India, yet you're right it won't be in time for Christmas.

Northwest was saying the ports in Portland Oregon were empty. He should know.
@DeWayfarer tRump's original explanation for tariffs - they'll bring manufacturing back the the US - is dead.

What we're left with is a national sales tax - a big tax increase completely out of the hands of Congress. Tariffs aren't high enough to enable American manufacturing; just enough to make a big tax revenue increase that, I expect, will hit the middle class the most.

And I still expect tRump to use the revenue increase as an excuse to pass a giant tax cut for the top 1% rather than attempting to reduce the deficit.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer The empty ports are likely to be temporary, with the ninety day suspension of tariffs causing a rush and attempts to stockpile needed product..But even this is a boom/bust cycle in logistics and will put unit costs up as people bid up on loading space..A smooth "Just in time" delivery cycle is something that takes careful organisation.😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@ElwoodBlues Congress already working on a tax cut for the wealthy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5296015-gop-tax-bill-salt-trump-priorities/

A drop of nearly 10%
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman no, 30% tariff still applies.
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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer Right now, I am surprised that the Chinese were so gracious about all this.. If I were ready to take on the US at its moment of weakness I would have a bad of tricks up my sleeve to turn the screws on America in the next ninety days..Maybe even delays getting ordered goods shipped. Leaving the US in a hole 90 days deeper than they were. Dont forget Chinese is a centralised economy. Nothing happens unless the government agrees..😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman They are hurting internally big time is the reason. Everyone looks at how great Chinese exports are yet rarely look at the internal situation.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer I am aware of the massive real estate frauds that have been unravelling for the few years now and the energy crisis. But they run trade surpluses with just about every nation and now they have cracked the $US trade club and can trade in their own currency they can hold the riens on trade as America has since the middle of last century. And they can keep a lid on their internal economy through central control.. While is is quite true that neither economy is strong right now. China are in a much better position to weather the storm..😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Again you're not looking at the real internal situation. That real estate situation is on the middle and upper class. The managers and corporate heads.

The real internal situation with the poor is the biggest problem. They are not going to manufacturer anything if the poor are dead.

There is a limit to Chinese control.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer I agree completely. But the threshold of control the American government has over its citizens is much lower..If not, January 6 would have ended more like Tiananmen Square. 😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Have you ever looked at manufacturing production verses quality of life charts?

The Chinese are cognizant of the principles. Even at their high tolerances there is a breaking line.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer Again we agree. I am in no way supporting the human rights "issues" that the Chinese practice routinely. Or the "special measures" they adopt to minorities or in situations like the pandemic. What I am saying from a purely economic perspective is that the Chinese government can push the population further than the American government can get away with, for a longer time. Americans will rebel and have the means to do so. Chinese society is more about conforming to the rules..😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman And I am saying they are already at their limits. Anything more the product drops off. And actually worse. The s*icide rate is increasing among the poor.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer I get that your prioroty is the humanity and on a personal level you are of course right.. Its a matter of perspective. The Chinese have been fighting WW3 in an economic theatre for almost two decades now and they have the US on the ropes. They will not back off now.😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman The only advantage they have is their monstrous population.

If AI really gets into manufacturing it's all over for China. The advantage goes to the USA. They can't compete with a hundred to one advantage.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer Maybe. But thats not how i see it. With that monsterous population China will be best places to drive down costs and continue competing on the world stage way into the forseeable future. Of course, some seismic event could clear the board and start a whole new game. No one can know for sure.. But empires so far have always been unstable in the long term. Usually becoming victims of their own weaknesses..😷
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Think about this. The advantage is their population. If their advantage drops and the population is dropping. Then they are out of the game.

It's why the manufacturing is going to India BTW. India's population has surpassed China and is still increasing slightly.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@DeWayfarer We agree that India will be the next big thing and they do have several advantages..Both are following similar paths..😷