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FOX Business contributor Katrina Campins comments on affordability, real estate and retail on “The Big Money Show.”
Consumers should stock up on essential products, especially in the home goods category, because these items should be “standout” price increases early 2026, according to Wells Fargo.
Retailers “largely tried to hold or modestly increase prices this holiday season across categories, with many offering targeted promotions and even deeper discounts on select items,” according to Lauren Murphy, managing director of Wells Fargo Retail Finance.
At the beginning of 2025, many retailers “strategically anticipated inventory purchases” before facing additional customs duties.
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Consumers should stock up on essential products, especially in the home goods category, as these items are expected to see “notable” price increases in early 2026, according to Wells Fargo. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
These duties are expected to increase the cost of new shipments, which retailers will likely pass on to consumers in 2026, Murphy warned.
From May to September, retailers increased the quantity of products they had on hand by 14%. But by the start of 2026, the amount of inventory still in transit from overseas suppliers is expected to increase by 62%.
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Home goods retailers, in particular, rely heavily on imports, leaving them with little room to absorb rising tariff costs. (Rober Solsona/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Home goods retailers in particular rely heavily on imports, leaving little room to absorb rising tariff costs, so price increases hit more quickly than in categories like clothing. Home retailers have already begun implementing strategic price increases, meaning consumers could expect to see even higher prices in the coming months, Murphy said.
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Murphy said clothing could still see increases, but its lower base price softens the impact. By comparison, even a 10% increase on big-ticket items can drive up shoppers’ prices, she warned.
A customer purchases furniture at an IKEA store on September 26, 2025 in Emeryville, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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She urged buyers considering things like major furniture purchases to do them now, as it could mean “significant savings before prices rise in early 2026”.
