Are Appliance Prices Going Up in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire? Here’s What’s Really Happening

What a mess.

Last week, the Supreme Court struck down key tariffs on appliance components. A few hours later, new and higher tariffs were announced.

Manufacturers said prices would go up. Retailers started suing.

So what does that mean for you?

If you’re budgeting a kitchen in Boston, Newport, or Portsmouth, the real question is simple:

Should you buy now or wait?

If You Read Nothing Else, Know This

• Most major price increases already happened.

• Inventory is still healthy in many categories right now.

• Promotions remain strong in mass-market brands.

• Later in 2026, availability could be an issue, and prices are more likely to rise.

What’s Actually Moving Appliance Prices Right Now

Why Aren’t Appliance Prices Suddenly Going Up?

⚡ Quick Answer: Because most price increases already happened, and two forces are limiting further hikes in today’s market: excess inventory and slower housing demand. Tariffs add uncertainty, but they have not translated into sudden across-the-board increases.

Here’s what’s driving that.

Reason Number One: Most Major Price Increases Already Happened

I’ve been at Yale since 1986.

From 1986 through 2020, appliance pricing was remarkably stable: washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers. Very little movement year to year.

Luxury brands went up occasionally, but they did not keep pace with inflation. Then COVID hit.

Since 2020, there have been more price increases in six years than in the previous thirty-four.

In just the last year:

• Thermador increased pricing twice.

• Sub-Zero increased pricing.

• Miele had a price increase.

• SKS increased pricing.

Most of those increases happened before this latest round of tariff confusion.

Manufacturers adjusted pricing ahead of higher material, freight, and component costs.

For decades, appliance pricing barely moved while costs across the broader economy rose steadily.

You could argue that pre-2020 pricing was unusually stable compared to almost every other durable good.

So when people ask, “Are prices about to go up again?”

The more accurate answer is simple:

Many of the increases already happened.

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Reason Number Two: Inventory Was Pulled Forward

Many manufacturers brought product into the country early to get ahead of potential tariffs.

Companies like LG, GE, and Bosch increased shipments before deadlines because having inventory on hand mattered more than running lean and risking a tariff hit later.

At the same time, most of these brands had already increased prices over the last few years.

Yet during President’s Day, you still saw aggressive promotions.

So while new tariffs would normally suggest another round of price increases, that is unlikely in the short term.

There is simply too much inventory sitting in warehouses.

Manufacturers are not going to raise prices again and risk slowing inventory turns when product is already here.

That’s why you can see headlines about tariffs going up and still see strong promotions at retail.

Both forces are happening at once.

🔍 Read more: How to Save Money Buying Appliances

Reason Number Three: Slower Housing and Less Builder Volume

Something strange is happening in Boston.

For the first time in years, I can look out my window in Dorchester and not see a single crane building a multi-unit project in the Seaport, the Financial District, or anywhere nearby.

That has not happened in a long time. And it is not just Boston. Multiply that across every major metro area, and you have far less construction happening at once.

Across the country, builder volume is softer. Contractors and developers are hesitant to take on new risk in an uncertain rate environment. Interest rates are no longer near zero to two percent. Money costs something again.

When large multifamily projects slow down, appliance volume drops with them.

Fewer new units. Fewer full appliance packages. Less predictable bulk ordering.

That matters.

You cannot aggressively increase prices in a market where overall volume is already under pressure.

If demand softens, pricing power weakens.

So while tariffs suggest upward pressure, slower housing and reduced builder activity work in the opposite direction.

 🔍 Read more: When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances? 

Where Will Supply Problems Show Up?

⚡ Quick Answer: The bigger risk later in 2026 may be availability, not price. If manufacturers slow production or delay shipments, shortages in certain brands and categories can follow.

If you are a manufacturer sitting on significant inventory and already projecting a tougher 2026, you have decisions to make.

• Do you keep building and importing product while tariffs are uncertain?

• Do you slow production and wait to see whether the tariffs are overturned?

• Or do you suspend certain shipments in the short term and restart once the policy climate is clearer?

Some manufacturers are likely to take a wait-and-see approach.

That can mean slowing production, delaying inbound shipments, and managing distribution more tightly.

If that happens, the pressure shifts from price to availability. You will see product shortages in certain brands and categories, along with price increases.

It is basic supply and demand. If supply tightens and demand remains steady, pricing pressure follows.

We are already starting to see hints of that in select models. Not across the board. But in specific SKUs where production slowed or shipments were delayed.

So while the conversation today is about whether prices are going up or down, the more important question is this:

Will the product you want even be available when you need it?

Availability, not just price, could become the bigger issue in the back half of 2026.

What Should You Do If You’re Building a Kitchen in 2026?

⚡ Quick Answer: Get a quote early and ask directly about availability for the models you want. If there are signs of delays, buy sooner and make sure your order is actually allocated and stored.

So what do you do if you're building a kitchen in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Southern New Hampshire in 2026?

The honest answer is simple:

• It depends on the manufacturer.

• It depends on the product.

• It depends on your timeline.

For the first half of the year, I think you’ll be fine in most categories.

Inventory is still relatively healthy in many brands, especially mass-market refrigeration and laundry.

If you’re building or renovating now, get a quote. 

Sit down with a salesperson and ask a direct question: Are you starting to see availability issues in this model? If the answer is yes, buy it and make sure it’s stored.

That means more than a handshake. Make sure you have the SKU numbers allocated to you. Do not assume it will be there later.

In the second half of the year, things become less predictable.

Until the tariff picture settles and manufacturers decide how aggressively to produce and import, you could see tighter supply in certain brands and categories.

Do not try to time headlines.

Find a store that can secure and hold merchandise when you purchase it, so it is there when your kitchen is ready.

Price matters.

Availability may matter more.

🔍 Read more: How to Protect Yourself From Sudden Price Increases and Supply Delays

Can Your Store Secure and Hold Your Appliances?

⚡ Quick Answer: Choose a store that can actually allocate and store your appliances after you buy. That reduces the risk of delays disrupting your renovation timeline.

If you're building or renovating in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Southern New Hampshire, make sure the store you choose can actually secure and hold your appliances.

We have a 240,000 square foot warehouse and can store your product until your kitchen is ready.

That removes the guesswork.

🔍 Read more: The Best (and Worst) Places to Buy Appliances

Additional Resources

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👉 Download Your Free Appliance Buyer's Guide Today.

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