The holiday shopping season in New York is painting a grim picture. While decorations light up the streets, shoppers are struggling with skyrocketing costs. "Inflation has gotten out of hand," one visitor complained. "These prices are absolutely brutal," another added. Behind the sticker shock lies a critical culprit: U.S. tariffs continuing to cascade through the economy, pushing inflation higher and squeezing consumer spending power. For those tracking macro trends, this consumer-level pain reflects broader economic pressures reshaping purchasing behavior and market sentiment.