Florists NAICS 459310

Feb 23, 2026 - Supreme Court Decision Could Reshape Tariffs on US Floral Market

• The US florists industry is watching trade policy closely after the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, ruling he exceeded his authority, while Trump vows to impose a new 10% global tariff under a different law, according to an Associated Press report. The ruling could reshape how import duties on flowers and floral supplies are applied going forward. Prior to that decision, the Society of American Florists (SAF), joined by the International Fresh Produce Association, had urged the US Trade Representative and Commerce Department to exempt all cut flowers from tariffs, noting that nearly 80% of cut flowers sold in the US and over 90% of plant starter imports are foreign sourced. SAF argued tariffs act as a de facto consumption tax on largely discretionary floral purchases, disrupting supply chains and squeezing the narrow margins of US floral businesses.
• Consumer confidence and sentiment remain at historically low levels, creating potential challenges for the US florists industry, which depends on discretionary spending, according to leading consumer indicators. The Conference Board reported the Consumer Confidence Index fell 9.7 points in January to 84.5, its lowest level since 2014, while the Expectations Index dropped to 65.1, well below the recession-warning threshold of 80. The Present Situation Index declined to 113.7, signaling weaker perceptions of current business and labor market conditions. Preliminary February 2026 data from the University of Michigan show the Index of Consumer Sentiment rose slightly to 57.3, with Current Economic Conditions at 58.3 and the Index of Consumer Expectations at 56.6, but all remain more than 11% below February 2025. These low confidence and sentiment levels indicate consumers may cut back on discretionary purchases, suggesting US florists could face reduced demand in the coming months.

• The US florists industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.41% between 2025 and 2029, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is slower than the overall economy‘s anticipated growth. The report projects sluggish but positive economic growth in the coming years. Factors that continue to limit consumer spending are lower consumer sentiment levels, higher interest levels, and elevated price levels. Real disposable income is being limited by a slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices, with a projected increase of real disposable income of 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026. The report noted that some shifts in consumer behavior persisted in 2025, including increased online shopping.
• According to a report in Florists’ Review, findings from the 2024 Floriculture Sustainability Survey conducted by North Carolina State University revealed strong interest in sustainability across all floral industry sectors. Funded by the American Floral Endowment’s Sustainabloom program, the survey gathered input from over 100 floraculture businesses. Retail florists and wholesalers plan to implement certain sustainability practices in the future, such as packaging reduction (33%), water conservation (23%), and electric vehicles (23%), noting top barriers to implementation include cost and lack of education. Common current sustainability practices include the use of LEDs, recycling containers, and the use of recycled materials. Per the survey, 90% of florists offer deliveries, with the range of deliveries from 6 to 100 miles. A recent Floral Marketing Fund study reported that nearly 60% of consumers are more likely to buy from environmentally friendly floral providers.