May 12, 2026 Press Release

FDRA’s Statement on April CPI Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Matt Priest, President and CEO of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), released the following statement:

“Families are feeling a significant strain right now, and the footwear industry sees it firsthand. While much of the current conversation focuses on how rising oil prices drive inflation, the reality for footwear is that tariffs are driving inflation more than oil right now. The latest data shows these pressures are not easing, as footwear prices rose 4.2 percent in April—the fastest increase in nearly 4 years. This is a direct result of tariff impacts more than higher transit costs, which is evidenced by the fact that footwear prices climbed faster than overall inflation across men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes.

“While oil prices are a growing concern, shoes with historic tariffs are already on the shelves, meaning these higher costs are now fully baked in. Shoes are a basic necessity, not a luxury. Our industry is doing everything possible to manage costs, but the burden continues to build. Import costs are already up nearly 14 percent, and as the government pushes forward with more tariffs in this environment, there is a limit to what companies can absorb.

“If policymakers are serious about helping families deal with rising costs, they must address one of the most punitive factors: footwear tariffs. Reducing these tariffs is the most direct and immediate step available to ease the pressure. Without action, these government-imposed costs will continue to escalate, and families will keep paying the price.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with Matt Priest, please contact fdracomms@cgagroup.com.

Read full release here.

About FDRA: FDRA is governed and directed by footwear executives and is the only trade organization focused solely on the footwear industry. Serving the full footwear supply chain, it boosts its members’ bottom lines through innovative products, training, consulting on footwear design and development, sourcing and compliance, trade and customs, advocacy, and consumer and sales trend analysis for shoe retailers around the world. FDRA supports 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 98% of the total U.S. footwear industry.

To schedule an interview with Matt Priest on the state of the footwear industry, please email fdracomms@cgagroup.com.