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US: price sensitivity dampens holidays shoe shopping outlook

Oct 10, 2025 United States

Although Deloitte is forecasting an increase in holiday retail sales of between 2.9% and 3.4% this year, the rise in shoe prices is expected to slow footwear spending

According to Deloitte, holiday retail sales are expected to rise by between 2.9% and 3.4% this year, totalling between 1.61 and 1.62 trillion US dollars between November and January. This compares with holiday sales growth of 4.2% in the same period in 2024. However, the projections for the footwear sector alone are not so optimistic.

In early September, PwC disclosed the results of its 2025 holiday survey, which projects a year-on-year decline in footwear spending of between 7 and 10% this holiday season due to rising prices. For instance, data from the Competitoor intelligence platform shows that the average price of footwear increased by 15% year-on-year for the year ending on the 5^th of September.

Data from the FDRA (Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America) revealed that 75% of consumers had noticed higher shoe prices over the past year, and 76% of respondents expected prices to rise further in the coming months. Concern was particularly high among those earning less than 50,000 thousand US dollars per year, with 80% of those aged 50 and over citing tariffs as a major contributor to inflation.

“This survey makes it clear: consumers are feeling the pinch, and they know tariffs are part of the problem,” FDRA president and CEO Matt Priest said. “With the holidays approaching, families are making tough choices – and shoes are increasingly being left off the list”.

Source: wwd.com

Image Credits: fashiondive.com

United States FDRA Footwear Prices Shoes