After rising the most in three years in May with a 4.1 percent hike, overall inflation in the U.S. footwear category decelerated slightly in June, up 3.5 percent, according to the latest analysis from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). May marked the sharpest advance within the footwear category in 45 months. 

By target market in June: 

  • Men’s footwear prices rose 3.4 percent. In May, men’s shoe prices increased 5.4 percent, the highest rate in 54 months. 
  • Women’s prices rose by 4.3 percent. In May, women’s shoe prices climbed 6.2 percent, the most in 45 months. 
  • Children’s footwear prices accelerated from a 3 percent increase in May by climbing 4.7 percent year-over-year in June, representing the fastest increase in nearly four years. 

Gary Raines, chief economist at FDRA, told SGB Media, “This latest read on retail footwear prices pegs footwear prices through the first half of the year up 3.2 percent, supporting our earlier outlook for full-year footwear prices to rise at the third-fastest rate in 34 years.  This latest read also supports our earlier caution that price pressure would continue to permeate the footwear supply chain to store shelves and into less confident footwear shoppers’ pockets in 2026.” 

The release of FDRA’s second-quarter 2026 Shoe Executive Business Outlook Survey earlier this month found that over half of footwear brands and retailers’ execs surveyed see their landed costs rising by as much as 10 percent this year, a record-high share. Reflecting these inflationary pressures, about one in three sees their retail prices rise by up to 5 percent this year, also a record-high share. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday, July 14, that consumer prices posted their biggest decline in more than six years during June as a sharp drop in energy prices provided at least temporary relief from this year’s inflation surge. 

The consumer price index declined 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, in June, bringing the annual inflation rate down to 3.5 percent. Wall Street expected a 0.2 percent monthly decline and a 3.8 percent annual decline. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, was flat on the month, putting the 12-month rate at 2.6 percent. The consensus forecast was for increases of 0.2 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. 

In May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index rose 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted, putting the annual inflation rate at 4.2 percent, the fastest pace in three years. 

Image courtesy Foot Locker