Americans’ plans to buy washing machines plunged by the most on record in January, the same month President Donald Trump announced tariffs on those made outside the U.S.
Just 5.3 percent of consumers said they plan to buy washers in the next six months, down from 9.5 percent in December, Conference Board data showed Tuesday. That marked the biggest decline since the group began keeping regular monthly records in May 2009. It led an overall decrease in the share planning to purchase any type of major appliance in the coming months.