American Businesses Struggle Amid Rising Costs and Tariffs

WHO:

CNBC - Allen Eden, owner and president of Original Saw Co. in Britt, Iowa.

CNN - Jeff Vojta, CEO of Dilworth Coffee in Raleigh, North Carolina.

CNN - Jack Buffington, director of the supply chain program at the University of Denver.

CNBC - Mark Costa, CEO of Eastman Chemical.

CNBC - Mary Buchzeiger, CEO of Lucerne International.

CNN - Sean Brownlee, CEO of Ravenox.

CNN - Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport.

CNN - Speaker Mike Johnson.

WHAT:

CNBC - A "little bracket" used for saw motors at Original Saw Co. increased in price from $42 to $87.

CNN - Diesel prices have doubled since March.

CNN - Grupo Antolin filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in July.

CNN - The earnings before interest and taxes for the top 100 auto suppliers fell to 4.2%, down from more than 6% in 2021.

CNN - The supply chain disruptions are causing sales volumes to fluctuate by as much as 20%.

WHERE:

CNBC - Britt, Iowa, where Original Saw Co. is located.

CNN - Raleigh, North Carolina, where Dilworth Coffee is based.

CNN - Suburban Detroit, where Lucerne International is located.

CNN - The Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route affected by the Iran war.

CNN - Shanghai, China, where the port was closed due to typhoons.

WHEN:

CNN - The Iran war started in 2026.

CNN - The Super El Niño occurred in 2026.

CNN - The ISM survey was conducted earlier in the month.

CNN - The Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection for Grupo Antolin was filed in July 2026.

WHY:

CNBC - Tariffs imposed under Trump’s trade policies are making raw materials and goods more expensive.

CNN - The Brazilian coffee crop in 2024 was poor, leading to higher coffee prices.

CNN - The Iran war and shipping disruptions are causing unprecedented uncertainty for businesses.

HOW:

CNBC - Businesses are holding onto extra inventory due to uncertainty about future availability.

CNN - Shipping companies are rerouting vessels around Africa to avoid attacks, reducing global shipping capacity by 15%.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 15:57 UTC)

In a significant development, the price of a "little bracket" used for saw motors at Original Saw Co. in Britt, Iowa, has surged from $42 to $87, reflecting broader economic pressures. Diesel prices have doubled since March, and Grupo Antolin filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in July, amid supply chain disruptions that are causing sales volumes to fluctuate by as much as 20%. These challenges are compounded by tariffs imposed under Trump’s trade policies, which are driving up costs for raw materials and goods, while shipping companies are rerouting vessels around Africa to avoid attacks, reducing global shipping capacity by 15%.