New York—FCNews has learned several flooring companies plan to raise prices on select resilient and soft surface flooring products in the coming months.
In a letter to customers signed by Jeff Meadows, president, Mohawk residential sales, the company announced plans to raise prices 5-8%, with a $0.05 minimum increase per square foot on resilient plank products and a $0.15 minimum increase per square yard on resilient sheet.
In addition, Mohawk said it plans to increase freight rates on broadloom and carpet tile by a minimum of $0.03 per square yard, while hard surface freight drop charges will increase by a minimum of $5. Mohawk attributed the increases to raw material and labor inflation, as well as higher international ocean and domestic land freight costs. The increases will be effective with orders and shipments on or after Jan. 11, 2021.
Republic Floor, Commerce, Calif., is also raising prices on resilient goods. The company said it expects its hikes will range from 5%-9% across its product offering. The company stated that raw materials have increased nearly 25%, particularly vinyl and plastics, and that the cost of containers have increased transportation costs by more than 200%. It further explained that the exchange rate between the USD and RMB (official currency of the People’s Republic of China) have increased costs another 6%.
“When we received tariff increases of 25% in September, we only passed a fraction of this cost increase on to our customers—one of the smallest increases in the industry,” said Rotem Eylor, CEO, in a letter to customers. “We have reached a point where we can no longer bear these additional expenses.”
Mannington released a statement through David Sheehan, vice president of strategic development, saying, “We are continuing to monitor and evaluate raw material, labor and freight increases.”
Meanwhile, Armstrong Flooring said it is working on final details of a price increase that will take effect in January. Shaw Industries declined to comment at this time.
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.