world-economy

Chinese Suppliers Lift Prices Ahead of Holiday Season

Chinese manufacturers are raising export prices to U.S. retailers for the first time in years as raw material costs climb during peak production for the Christmas season. Suppliers to major chains including Walmart Inc. have announced the increases, which vary significantly by customer size and product category. Large retailers face price hikes of up to 5%, according to discussions with five suppliers. Smaller merchants are experiencing steeper increases, with some seeing costs rise as much as 15%, based on interviews with 11 suppliers over the past two weeks. Chinese factories are accelerating output to meet holiday demand, compounding inflationary pressures on imported goods entering U.S. markets.