Mark Cuban Says Inflation Is About to Get Worse—Here’s Why

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. 

Related: Tough Economy Forces Americans to Rethink Mother’s Day Spending

"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.

Related: Warren Buffett Isn't Completely Retiring—Here's His New Job

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 tarriffs 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.

Related: Dozens of U.S. Companies Announce Layoffs in May Amid Economic Pressures