Major appliances cost 1.9% less in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, even though 2025 tariffs pushed the same index up about 6% in three months. Washers and dryers are the exception: the BLS laundry equipment index is up 5.8% on the year. Consumer Reports’ current price ranges run $500 to $5,000 for the common refrigerator types, $450 to $2,200 for washers and $500 to $1,000 for its mid-tier dishwashers. Here’s what the numbers show, what we could and couldn’t verify about the tariffs, and how to buy without overpaying.
What the BLS Index Actually Shows
The cleanest public measure is the CPI series for major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers and ranges), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We pulled the monthly index values from the BLS data API and did the percentage math ourselves.
| Measure | Starting point | Latest (Aug 2026) | Change (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major appliances, 12 months | 89.562 (Aug 2025) | 87.872 | -1.9% |
| Major appliances, tariff run-up | 87.502 (Mar 2025) | 92.822 (Jun 2025) | +6.1% |
| Major appliances vs 2022 peak | 108.206 (Apr 2022) | 87.872 | -18.8% |
| Major appliances vs pre-pandemic | 79.224 (Dec 2019) | 87.872 | +10.9% |
| Laundry equipment, 12 months | 108.268 (Aug 2025) | 114.511 | +5.8% |
For comparison, BLS reported overall consumer prices up 3.4% over the 12 months to August 2026, and its broader “appliances” group up just 0.1%. So in real terms, big appliances got cheaper over the past year.
Two cautions. These indexes are not seasonally adjusted, and they bounce: laundry equipment was flat year over year in July (111.390 against 111.492) before jumping in August, so don’t read much into one month. BLS also has no October 2025 reading because of the federal funding lapse. Some trade-press stories cite a 4.3% one-month jump in major appliances; we could not match that to the 2026 series, where the unadjusted index rose 2.0% from April to May, so we don’t lean on it.
What the Tariffs Did, and What We Can’t Confirm
The firm facts are dated. Appliances were added to the Section 232 steel derivative list effective June 23, 2025, at 50%; Facilities Dive reported in August 2025 that refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and ovens, and laundry machines were on the list. In April 2025, Consumer Reports quoted OpenBrand’s price tracking showing the earliest increases in washers, dryers, dishwashers and microwaves, with refrigerators and ranges up only slightly. That lines up with the BLS laundry line above.
What happened next is murkier. A White House fact sheet dated April 2, 2026 reset the metals tariffs: 25% on the full value of goods “substantially made of” steel, aluminum or copper, 50% for goods made almost entirely of them, and an exemption for products with 15% or less metal. The fact sheet doesn’t name refrigerators or washers, and a June 2026 advisory from C.H. Robinson that we read doesn’t either, so we can’t tell you which rate a specific appliance now pays. Check the manufacturer’s statements rather than a blog’s table.
There is precedent. When washer tariffs began in early 2018, Consumer Reports cited University of Chicago and Federal Reserve economists finding washer prices up nearly 12%, and dryers rose too, though they weren’t tariffed, because makers price matched sets together.
Our reading, not a proven cause: prices spiked in mid-2025 and then faded, while the 2026 index sits below its year-ago level. OpenBrand’s retailer tracking for July 2026 reported appliance discount frequency of 40.8% and discount magnitude of 17.2%, so promotions are still common. A weak market can claw back a tariff bump; it hasn’t erased the long climb since 2019.
What New Appliances Cost Now
Consumer Reports publishes typical price ranges in its buying guides. These are lists of what it sees across models, not averages, and the pages carry the dates shown.
| Appliance | Type | Price range | CR page date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Top-freezer | $500 to $1,700 | Jul 10, 2026 |
| Refrigerator | Side-by-side | $1,100 to $2,500 | Jul 10, 2026 |
| Refrigerator | French-door | $1,000 to $5,000 | Jul 10, 2026 |
| Washer | HE top-load | $500 to $1,200 | May 26, 2026 |
| Washer | Front-load | $730 to $2,200 | May 26, 2026 |
| Dryer | Electric | $450 to $2,200 | Jun 17, 2026 |
| Dryer | Gas | $530 to $2,300 | Jun 17, 2026 |
| Dishwasher | Mid tier | $500 to $1,000 | May 28, 2026 |
Consumer Reports’ range guide gives no dollar figures, so we left ranges out. For delivery, Fixr (January 2025) put refrigerator delivery and installation at roughly $100 to $200, plus $50 to $100 to haul the old one away.
How to Buy Smart
- Time it by category. Bob Vila’s 2025 roundup says washers, dryers and dishwashers tend to drop in September and October as new lines arrive, refrigerators in May and ranges in January. Consumer Reports advised November for laundry in 2019. Treat these as patterns, not guarantees.
- Use the holiday sales. Bob Vila, citing WalletHub, said top retailers averaged a 35.4% appliance discount on Black Friday 2024. The same piece claims floor models can run up to 15% off, discontinued models up to 30% and slightly damaged units up to 40%; those are “up to” figures.
- Inspect scratch-and-dent units. Skip any with a cracked glass control panel, confirm the warranty applies, and check that all parts are in the box.
- Buy last year’s model. Consumer Reports’ April 2025 tariff advice was to consider older models and avoid panic-buying; the same logic holds now.
- Buy sets together. Consumer Reports (2019) noted washer and dryer sets are often priced together, so compare the pair.
- Check rebates by zip code. ENERGY STAR’s Rebate Finder lists rebates sponsored by partners, but the page shows no amounts or eligibility, so we can’t quote any. Verify before counting on one.
Should You Repair Instead?
Replacement prices are about 3% above December 2024 (87.872 against 84.944 on the major appliances index, our arithmetic), so the repair math has barely moved. Our walkthroughs cover refrigerator repair or replace and washing machine repair or replace. If you do buy, check what the new machine will cost to run in our appliance electricity cost per month breakdown; at 18.31 cents per kWh, most of these appliances are a small slice of the bill.
Bottom Line
Appliance sticker prices are not spiraling in 2026: the BLS index is lower than a year ago, though 11% above 2019. Laundry gear is the pricier corner. Buy in the fall or at Black Friday if you can wait, compare last year’s models, and ignore any claim about tariff-driven price jumps that doesn’t name a date and a source.
FAQ
Are appliance prices going up in 2026?
Not overall. The BLS major appliances index was 1.9% lower in August 2026 than August 2025, and the wider appliances group was up 0.1%. Laundry equipment is the exception at +5.8%, and month-to-month readings are noisy.
Which appliances are covered by the steel tariffs?
Facilities Dive reported in August 2025 that refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and ovens, and laundry machines were added to the 50% Section 232 steel list. The April 2026 rules changed the tier structure, and the sources we read don’t say which tier appliances fall in.
When is the best time to buy an appliance?
Fall (September and October) for washers, dryers and dishwashers, May for refrigerators, January for ranges, and Black Friday for the broadest discounts, per Bob Vila’s 2025 guide and Consumer Reports. Use these as rough patterns.
Should I replace an old appliance before prices rise?
Replacing a working machine early rarely pays. Prices have eased over the past year, and the usual 50 percent repair rule still applies. Compare your repair quote with the ranges above and with your machine’s age.