U.S. consumers are rushing to buy big-ticket items before President Donald Trump’s tariffs kick in. Consumers who were considering big purchases told The Associated Press that they hurried in recent days to lease cars and buy products such as laptops in anticipation of the tariffs. Economists say the tariffs are expected to increase prices for everyday items, warning of potentially weakened U.S. economic growth. The White House hopes the tariffs prod countries to open their economies to more American exports, leading to negotiations that could reduce tariffs, or that companies increase their production in the U.S. to avoid higher import taxes.