The Second Wave of Cost Increases: A 90-Day Plan for Owners
Imported goods repriced fast. U.S.-made goods take 6 to 12 months, so more cost increases are still coming. Here is a practical review of costs, contracts and pricing for the next two quarters.
George Fassett, Jr. · October 10, 2026
Coverage of New York Fed research on tariffs and goods inflation, published October 8, describes a two-speed effect: imported goods repriced within months, while U.S.-made goods take roughly 6 to 12 months to follow. For owners, that means more cost increases are still working their way through supplier price lists.
You cannot control the timing. You can control how ready you are.
Days 1 to 30: See It Coming
- List your top 20 inputs by spend. Note which are domestic and which suppliers have not raised prices yet.
- Ask suppliers directly about planned increases for the next two quarters.
- Review your contracts. Which customer prices are locked, and for how long?
Days 31 to 60: Protect Margin
- Add price-adjustment terms to new quotes and renewing contracts.
- Shorten quote validity on jobs exposed to volatile inputs.
- Line up a second source for your two or three most critical items.
Days 61 to 90: Decide and Communicate
- Set your pricing moves by product and customer, based on actual margin.
- Tell key customers early. A planned, explained increase lands better than a surprise.
- Build a monthly cost review so this becomes routine, not a fire drill.
Strategy for a small business is mostly this: seeing the next two quarters clearly and acting before they arrive. See strategic planning, or talk with George.
The method behind this
The Mebuis Decision List: The output format Mebuis uses instead of a report: a ranked list of specific changes, each with an owner, a rough time and cost estimate, and the reason it made the cut, sequenced by leverage and difficulty for the next 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are prices still going up for U.S.-made goods?
- Reporting on October 2026 New York Fed research describes imported goods repricing within months while domestically produced goods take roughly 6 to 12 months, so increases continue to reach supplier price lists after the initial wave.
- How should a small business prepare for rising supplier costs?
- Identify top inputs by spend, ask suppliers about planned increases, review locked customer pricing, add price-adjustment terms, shorten quote validity, secure second sources, and set pricing moves based on actual margin.