Capitol News

Michigan residents may soon see higher prices when shopping for furniture, according to a recent report by the Detroit Free Press. The increase is linked to tariffs supported by former GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

Rogers has faced criticism for downplaying concerns about rising costs in Michigan. He was reported at a campaign event “making fun of those who worry about higher costs” and argued that such concerns are “worth the financial strife being put on the American people.” Rogers also claimed there is no inflation and said “working families [are] not paying more” because of the tariffs he supports.

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that prices for bedroom furniture in the United States rose 4% between January and September. Living room, kitchen, and dining furniture saw a 3% increase, while other categories like entertainment centers and desks increased by 5%. Economists and executives say these increases are partly due to new country-specific tariffs.

Some retailers have warned customers about upcoming price hikes. Home Depot announced during its August earnings call that it expects modest price increases on imported goods facing higher tariff rates than previously anticipated.

Jennifer King, a resident of White Lake, has noticed these changes firsthand while searching for a new dining room table. She said, “Prices have gone up but quality has gone down.”

The effects extend beyond consumers to manufacturers as well. Despite efforts to boost local production through tariffs, job cuts in Michigan’s furniture manufacturing sector have continued. Howard Miller, a Grand Rapids-based company known for handcrafted clocks, recently announced it will close its manufacturing operations. The company cited tariffs, a weak housing market, and inflation as reasons for shutting down.

Howard Miller President and CEO Howard “Buzz” Miller stated in a news release: “Our business has been directly impacted by tariffs that have increased the cost of essential components unavailable domestically and driven specialty suppliers out of business, making it unsustainable for us to continue our operations.” He also noted that tariffs on steel and aluminum have made setting up factories more expensive.

Jonathan Moray, CEO of Gorman’s furniture store, explained that manufacturers initially shared some tariff-related price increases with retailers but this practice has largely ended. Drake, Gorman’s merchandising director, added that manufacturer-suggested retail prices have risen over the past three months: “so our prices have to then reflect the manufacturer’s pricing.”