LEWES, Del. - As tariffs continue to impact the economy, the cost of household appliances, including lights, fridges, washers and dryers, is on the rise, leaving local businesses and consumers feeling the strain.
Andrew Scrutchfield, vice president of Light House of Lewes, explains that nearly every item in the store is affected by the ongoing tariff increases.
“It’s something that we can’t exactly control because the costs get bumped down from the manufacturer to us and then ultimately to the consumer,” said Scrutchfield. “It’s a tough road ahead, and it’s hard to plan for it accordingly.”
Scrutchfield noted that appliances are made up of a variety of components, many of which are sourced from overseas. He says electrical components, wiring, and circuitry typically come from abroad, meaning that both the entire fixtures and individual parts are subject to price hikes.
“It gets affected on every level,” said Scrutchfield.
At Millman’s Appliances in Lewes, Gary Chorman sees similar impacts.
“It’s going to impact us all as consumers—across the globe,” said Chorman. “We’re all going to be affected. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of being a consumer in today’s market.”
Chorman has responded by focusing on sourcing more appliances from within the U.S. in an effort to help his community avoid tariff-related price increases.