Grocery price expert shares how to shop low prices amid tariff volatility

EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Stoler, certified health coach and social media wellness educator, is offering advice on how he shops low prices even in volatile economic climates

With President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda struck down by the Supreme Court, shoppers may be wondering how this will affect prices going forward.

Though inflation has decreased over the last few months, Americans are still feeling higher prices at the grocery store. The price of food has remained elevated at 2.9% over last year, with grocery prices 2.1% higher and take-away food prices 4% higher, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index report.

With Trump’s sweeping tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act blocked, shoppers may be hoping to see some relief in the grocery aisle. But how prices will be affected by the change in tariffs remains uncertain.

Will grocery prices go down without tariffs?

Following the Supreme Court ruling, economists have split opinions on how it will impact inflation. Forbes reported the base-case expectation is that inflation will stabilize or slightly decline with the removal of sweeping tariffs.

And Trump reinstated a 15% tariff across the board under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act.

Though it’s unclear how prices will be impacted, Hunter Stoler, certified health coach and social media wellness educator, is offering advice on how he shops low prices even in volatile economic climates.

Stoler saved more than $11,000 in one year by changing how he shops and what he buys, and he did so while focusing on his health and losing over 50 pounds. Now, he shares what he’s learned with his 535,000 followers on Instagram and over 421,000 followers on TikTok.

“Consumers and grocery store shoppers need to take a slight step back and realize that just because there might be tariffs on imports, doesn’t mean that prices are going to drastically change right away,” Stoler said.

For those feeling anxiety about affordability, Stoler suggests focusing on things you can control, and that includes how you grocery shop.

Grocery shopping tips to avoid high prices

To ensure you aren’t over spending at the grocery store, Stoler said it’s important to go in with a plan the-mirror-icon_lifestyle_shopping_shopping.

“Always go into the grocery store with a grocery list so that you know what you’re buying,” Stoler said.

“You could even cross compare different markets, say Target and Whole Foods and Costco. You could look up the same products and find the current prices and shop each store or order pickup or deliver to make your life easier.”

One staple that Stoler frequently reaches for is frozen fruit and vegetables, as they can offer comparable nutrients and last longer in your home.

He said frozen fruits and vegetables are put in the freezer at their peak ripeness, meaning they have more amounts of nutrients than even some fresh fruits and vegetables that are before and past their peak.

“Of course, fresh fruit is not bad, but when you can buy more fruit at lower prices that tastes delicious, that’s a huge win.”

A common dining practice that Stoler advises to avoid is ordering too much food through delivery services. He said he learned that the hard way, as those costs add up significantly, with taxes, fees and more.

“I didn’t realize how much money I was spending on Uber Eats and DoorDash,” he said. “I was paying basically double for food, plus delivery tips, tax and fees, all the stuff. It was insane how much money I was spending.”

“It might require a little more effort and motivation, but you don’t understand that your health is your wealth, and by making these swaps, I’m honestly reducing the amount of money I’m spending, and I’m eating so much more higher quality food that tastes even better.”