Rising tariffs are kicking up the biggest fuss in footwear. As US shoe companies exhaust their tariff-free stockpile, the sector just experienced the effect of the biggest price hike in 17 months. To make matters worse, insiders believe this is just the beginning of the long road ahead:

• Footwear prices climbed 1.4% year-over-year in August — with women’s shoes jumping 2.8% as brands couldn’t predict and stash the fast-changing styles.
• With import duties surging ~109% from last year, industry economists say tariffs hit shoes especially hard because 98%+ of US-sold pairs are imported.

What it means for you: As tariffs pile on pressure, shoe companies’ margins are already squeezed by 15 to 20%, but industry leaders warn that climbing prices will eventually scare off shoppers. FDRA CEO Matt Priest says, “If those trends continue, as prices go up, [demand] will go down.” While some in the industry pin their hopes on tariff relief from the courts, most are preparing for higher costs. If this squeeze sticks, shoe lovers also could see emptier shelves — so better grab those favorite kicks while you can before sticker shock becomes the new normal.