U.S. Toy Prices Jump 6.6% From a Year Earlier Ahead of the Holiday Season, Up 4.2% in September Alone
WASHINGTON — U.S. toy prices rose 4.2% in September on a seasonally adjusted basis and were up 6.6% from a year earlier, among the largest gains in major consumer categories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest Consumer Price Index. Reuters reported on October 15 that toys are showing some of the sharpest price increases as Americans begin holiday gift planning.
Overall, the CPI rose 0.6% in September and 3.7% over the year, up from a 3.4% annual pace in August, with energy costs including gasoline a major contributor to the monthly gain. Apparel and footwear prices also rose in September, though by less than toys.
Reuters reported that most toys sold in the United States are manufactured in China, leaving the industry exposed to shifting tariff policy, and that toys are largely made from fossil-fuel-based plastics, meaning higher energy and shipping costs can feed into shelf prices. David Silverman, a senior director at Fitch Ratings covering retail and consumer companies, told Reuters the dual pressures are showing up in pricing and that the cost impact could persist for several quarters.
The report also noted that President Donald Trump acknowledged in April 2025 that his tariff policies might raise consumer prices. A Reuters/Ipsos poll through October 5 found 21% of voters approved of the president's handling of cost-of-living issues, while 67% disapproved.
(Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics September Consumer Price Index; reporting by Reuters, October 15)
Source: 美国劳工统计局9月消费者价格指数
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：纽约洛克菲勒广场的FAO Schwarz玩具店门前，家长与孩子排队进店（资料照片）。Nielsoncaetanosalmeron摄，CC BY 4.0，取自维基共享资源。File photo of the FAO Schwarz toy store at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Photo by Nielsoncaetanosalmeron, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
