Reupholstery and Furniture Repair NAICS 811420

Sep 26, 2025 - New Tariff on Upholstered Furniture May Boost Repair Demand

• According to Furniture Today, President Trump has announced a new 30% tariff on upholstered furniture imports, effective October 1, citing national security and unfair trade practices. The scope of the tariff’s overlap with existing duties remains unclear. Additional tariffs were also introduced on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, branded drugs, and heavy-duty trucks. Reupholstery and furniture repair services may see higher demand as the new tariff takes effect. As imported upholstered furniture becomes more expensive, consumers may increasingly turn to repair and restoration as cost-effective alternatives. This shift could drive demand for skilled reupholstery professionals and boost service-based businesses that extend the life of existing furniture. Additionally, rising prices may encourage more sustainable consumer behavior, positioning repair services as both economical and environmentally responsible options in a tightening market.
• US consumer mood indicators have weakened, signaling potential headwinds for spending. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell 1.3 points in August 2025, with the decline driven by younger consumers under 35, while confidence among those over 55 improved. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index slipped to 55.4 in early September from 58.2 in August, down 21% year over year. Inflation expectations held steady, but persistent worries about prices and tariff impacts remain. Consumer sentiment and confidence are leading indicators of discretionary spending, which drives two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. A continued slump suggests households may curb purchases and delay big-ticket decisions, raising risks for retailers, service providers, and the broader economy.

• Furniture repair and reupholstery services may benefit from budget-conscious families turning to used or refurbished items for dorm/furniture shopping, according to an annual back-to-college spending survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights and Analytics in Home Furnishings News. Dorm/apartment furnishings spending is expected to grow 5% in 2025, reaching $12.8 billion. Under financial pressure, college-bound families are making budget-minded choices in spending, such as buying used or refurbished items, which may need repair, and using buy now or pay later services. Total back-to-college spending is expected to reach $88.8 billion in 2025, up from $86.6 billion a year ago. While overall spending is on the rise, the per-person spending for back-to-college fell to an average of $1,325 from $1,364 in 2024, which can be attributed to higher-income households continuing to spend and lower-income households cutting back across categories due to economic uncertainty.
• Sales for the US reupholstery and furniture repair services industry are projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.26% between 2025 and 2029, slower than the overall economy‘s anticipated growth, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Reupholstery and furniture repair services are part of the “other services sector,” which is driven by consumer spending, along with expenditure by businesses. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the various services industries, including reupholstery and furniture repair services. Many segments of the other services sector are recovering from a downturn during the pandemic. Factors that may limit consumer spending during the forecast window include higher tariffs on consumer goods.