President Trump’s U.S. import tariffs spur iPhone sales rush

iPhone 16 Pro
The Trump administration’s newly imposed U.S. import tariffs have shaken Apple’s stock price, yet they’ve also delivered a nice side benefit: a surge of customers flocking to retail stores to snap up iPhones. Staff at various Apple outlets nationwide reported bustling crowds over the weekend, with shoppers voicing worries about steep price hikes once the tariffs take effect.
Bloomberg News:
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“People are just rushing in worried and asking questions,” one said, adding that the company hasn’t provided guidance to stores on how to handle such inquiries.
The frenzy has translated to more purchases. Apple’s U.S. retail stores saw higher sales over this past weekend than in prior years in at least some major markets, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Apple’s flagship retail store on Fifth Avenue in New York was busy Monday afternoon. Analysts and industry watchers have been trying to gauge the impact of a 54% China tariff on prices, with some speculating that iPhones could soon cost thousands of dollars apiece.

MacDailyNews Take: Abject silliness, pitiful stupidity, and/or outright fomenting. iPhones are not going to “cost thousands of dollars apiece” (until the foldable iPhone finally appears, and that cost won’t be due to tariffs).
Bloomberg continues:
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One employee at the store said he wouldn’t be surprised to see the rush continue at stores over the next few days. Another worker noted that this is typically considered the off-peak season — new iPhones are released in September — but many customers are upgrading now.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple will report its fiscal second-quarter results after the closing bell on May 1st. With this (yes, rather silly*) iPhone sales rush, Apple’s third quarter earnings report – the sales rush came too late for the Q2 report – could provide a nice upside surprise.
Note: Traditionally, the company provides an annual update to its buyback program and new dividend for the year with its Q2 results.
*Apple has reportedly been stocking up on inventory ahead of tariff increases and has enough product already imported into America to weather the tariff negotiations with myriad countries, keeping iPhone prices unchanged for several months.

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