Prices for key furniture categories have risen since the pandemic, even as they trail overall inflation. Fresh U.S. tariffs on wood products and broad import duties could push costs higher, industry figures and federal data indicate.
• What changed since 2020
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by NPR, prices for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture are up about 25% since February 2020, while bedroom furniture is up roughly 11%. Overall consumer prices have risen nearly 26% over the same period, and furniture prices have eased from a 2022 peak. Industry executives also note lingering cost pressures from utilities, insurance and wages, compounded by pandemic-era spikes in demand and shipping.
• Competition kept a lid on some prices
“The barriers to entry are very, very low, and the furniture business is incredibly fragmented,” said Bill McLoughlin, editor in chief of Furniture Today. “Manufacturing follows low‑cost labor. That has been true for 60 years.” Even in U.S. hubs such as Mississippi and North Carolina, many components — fabrics, hardware and electronics like recliner power modules — are still sourced from abroad, largely China, NPR reported.
David Koehler, who runs the Delaware-based Johnny Janosik Furniture chain, said the market still accommodates aggressively priced items despite rising costs: “You could buy a $399 sofa in 1984, and you could still buy a $399 sofa today.” Consumers often tell retailers they want American‑made goods, he added, but many ultimately choose lower‑priced imports when faced with big price gaps.
• Tariffs and trade shifts
Tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s first term increased costs on Chinese imports and accelerated a sourcing shift to Vietnam rather than a large-scale return to U.S. production, trade data and industry reporting show. This year, the administration announced broad import duties and, separately, new sector‑specific tariffs on wood products. Reuters reports a 10% tariff on lumber and a 25% duty on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture took effect Oct. 14, with higher rates possible in 2026 for some countries. Parts of the broader tariff program face ongoing court challenges, and appeals are pending.
Companies have begun to respond. In June, Ashley Furniture Industries notified dealers it would add surcharges on most product categories — including import case goods and upholstery — citing tariff-related costs, according to Furniture Today. The Home Furnishings Association has warned that additional duties would raise costs for retailers and shoppers and be difficult to avoid given the industry’s global supply chains.
• What shoppers are seeing
Some consumers are deferring purchases. Erin Cummins of Connecticut told NPR she keeps eyeing replacements for her well‑worn couches but walks away at checkout because of “sticker shock,” with insurance and other essentials straining her budget.
• The outlook
If the new tariffs remain in place, retailers and manufacturers say they expect continued price pressure — though the market’s breadth, from entry‑level imports to domestic, higher‑end goods, means not every category will move in lockstep. For now, furniture inflation since 2020 remains below the overall rise in consumer prices, even as the industry braces for higher costs tied to trade policy and inputs.
