Nike is set to increase prices on a wide array of its adult apparel, footwear, and equipment as soon as this week, according to sources. The price hike follows the retail industry’s preparation for the headwinds in earnings due to rising tariffs on imports from China and Vietnam.
Increases will range by category: adult gear and clothing will increase by US $ 2 to US $ 10; footwear in the US $ 100 to US $ 150 range will boost by US $ 5; and sneakers above US $ 150 will surge by US $ 10. The increases, scheduled to happen by 1st June, may be on store shelves in a few days.
The price changes will be applied to a large chunk of Nike’s product portfolio, with many products unaltered. Children’s products and products under US $ 100 are exempt, a sign of the company’s awareness of consumers’ price sensitivity during the impending back-to-school period.
Nike’s icon Air Force 1 sneakers will also see no movement to US $ 115. The source stated that it’s a shoe that people in the office wear, and it’s comfortable and affordable. While Jordan brand clothing and accessories will remain unaffected, price increases are scheduled for Jordan shoes.
Nike said in a statement that they regularly review their business and make price changes as part of our seasonal planning, without directly attributing the move to tariffs.
Nevertheless, the bigger picture is a different one. With almost half of Nike’s footwear manufacturing concentrated in China and Vietnam—both under new US tariffs—the moves to raise prices are a straightforward reaction to escalating import costs. Chinese products now incur a 30 per cent tariff, while Vietnamese imports have a 10 per cent duty after a recent temporary cut from 46 per cent.
The added expense arrives at a moment when Nike is already managing a protracted turnaround, characterised by tighter margins and greater dependence on promotions to clear inventory. Increasing manufacturer-suggested retail prices (MSRPs) represents an option for maintaining profitability without mentioning the political context directly.
Nike has informed wholesale partners of the new prices, however, how or when those new prices will appear in big-box retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods or Foot Locker is still unclear.
