Producer, import and retail indexes

Shoe prices from factory to store

BLS measures footwear prices at three points: when a U.S. plant sells, when an imported pair crosses the border, and on the store shelf. They rarely move together.

Since 2005

+76% / +20% / +19%

Factory gate / import border / store shelf, 2005–2025. U.S. factory prices outran the shelf by 57.2 points.

Last 12 months

+3.1% / +1.9% / +3.4%

Same three stages, September 2026.

Three stages of shoe prices, 2005 = 100

U.S. factory gate
Import border
Store shelf (CPI)

Annual averages of BLS series WPU159F2 (PPI footwear), EIUIR40040 (import prices, footwear) and CUUR0000SEAE (CPI footwear).

Producer price indexFactory-gate footwear prices

+3.1% in 12 months · series WPU159F2 since 1947

Producer price indexMen’s shoes at the factory gate

+3.7% in 12 months · series PCU3162103162102 since 1993

Producer price indexWomen’s shoes at the factory gate

+1.2% in 12 months · series PCU3162103162105 since 1993

Producer price indexAthletic, rubber and plastic shoes at the factory gate

+1.2% in 12 months · series PCU3162103162101 since 1980

Producer price index for retail tradeShoe store margins

−41.3% in 12 months · series PCU458210458210 since 2002

Import price indexImported footwear prices

+1.9% in 12 months · series EIUIR40040 since 1984

Import price indexImported leather-upper footwear

+1.2% in 12 months · series EIUIP6403 since 1992

Import price index by originFootwear imported from China

+4.0% in 12 months · series EIUCOCHNZ3162 since 2012

Import price indexes exclude U.S. duties. Producer price indexes cover domestic production. The shoe retailer index measures margins, not shelf prices. How we calculate