Nov 4 (Reuters) - U.S. shoppers could lose up to $78

billion in annual spending power annually if presidential

candidate Donald Trump's new tariffs proposal on imports are

implemented, a study from the National Retail Federation (NRF)

showed on Monday.

The study said the proposed tariffs would impact consumer

product categories such as apparel, toys, furniture, appliances,

footwear, and travel goods, particularly affecting items where

China is a major supplier.

Consumers have turned frugal over the past couple of

years and have been increasingly looking to limit expenses by

curbing non-essential spending, which has in turn hit sales at

retailers and consumer goods companies in the United States.

"Retailers rely heavily on imported products and

manufacturing components so that they can offer their customers

a variety of products at affordable prices," said Jonathan Gold,

NRF's vice president of supply chain and customs policy.

However, if the import tariff is implemented it would

further worsen the impact on low-income families, as the tariff

which is a tax paid by the U.S. importer ultimately comes out of

consumers' pocket through higher prices, the report said.

Last month, NRF forecast holiday sales in America to

grow as much as 3.5% to $989 billion from November to December,

which is slowest in six years.

Trump floated the idea of a 10% universal tariff on

imports from all foreign countries in an interview with the

Washington Post in August last year, and said in February that

there would be an additional 60% to 100% tariff on imports from

China.