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Computer Prices 2026: The Biggest Jump in 28 Years of CPI Data, With Almost No Tariff Paid

Computer prices 2026: U.S. consumer prices for computers, peripherals and smart home assistants were 9.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, the largest 12-month rise since BLS began the series in 1997. Factory prices for laptops jumped 17.8% in July alone, while duties collected on imported laptops fell to 0.11% of their value.

+9.7%CPI computers, peripherals and smart home assistants, Sep 2026 vs Sep 2025BLS CPI
+17.8%PPI laptops in one month (June to July 2026)BLS PPI
+22.1%PPI desktops and workstations, 12 months to Sep 2026BLS PPI
+49.9%Import prices for computer peripherals and parts, 12 months to Sep 2026BLS import price index
$589Average customs value per imported laptop, Jan to Aug 2026 ($480 a year earlier)Census HTS 8471.30
0.11%Duties collected as a share of laptop import value, Jan to Aug 2026 (1.85% in 2025)Census HTS 8471.30
4.4%China’s share of U.S. computer imports in 2025, down from 66.4% in 2016Census end-use 21300
-9.9%CPI smartphones over the same 12 months, for contrastBLS CPI

Latest BLS month: September 2026 (PPI figures for June to September 2026 are preliminary). Latest Census trade month: August 2026. Red = rising prices or costs; blue = falling.

We pulled 13 Bureau of Labor Statistics price series for computers back to their start dates, and every record for HTS heading 8471 (computers and their units) from the Census Bureau’s monthly import files, then compared the latest months with the same months of 2025. The answer to “are computer prices going up” used to be no: for almost three decades the official index fell. In 2026 it rose, and the rise did not come from tariffs.

Are computer prices actually rising in 2026?

Yes. The CPI for computers, peripherals and smart home assistants had a positive 12-month change in only 24 of 333 months from December 1998 to September 2026. Between 1998 and 2024 its annual average fell 11.6% a year, and even in the slower 2019 to 2024 stretch it still fell 1.9% a year. Then it rose 3.5% in July 2026 and 3.8% in August, and by September it stood 9.7% above a year earlier. The previous record was 8.5% in Sep 2021, during the pandemic laptop shortage.

12-month change, CPI computers, peripherals and smart home assistants (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted)

-40%-35%-30%-25%-20%-15%-10%-5%+0%+5%+10%2000200420082012201620202024Sep 2021: +8.5%Sep 2026: +9.7%Dec 1998: -35.8% vs a year earlierJan 1999: -36.6% vs a year earlierFeb 1999: -34.6% vs a year earlierMar 1999: -35.0% vs a year earlierApr 1999: -34.4% vs a year earlierMay 1999: -32.6% vs a year earlierJun 1999: -31.8% vs a year earlierJul 1999: -29.7% vs a year earlierAug 1999: -28.4% vs a year earlierSep 1999: -27.4% vs a year earlierOct 1999: -28.7% vs a year earlierNov 1999: -28.4% vs a year earlierDec 1999: -26.5% vs a year earlierJan 2000: -24.5% vs a year earlierFeb 2000: -24.5% vs a year earlierMar 2000: -23.3% vs a year earlierApr 2000: -24.9% vs a year earlierMay 2000: -23.8% vs a year earlierJun 2000: -24.5% vs a year earlierJul 2000: -23.8% vs a year earlierAug 2000: -22.5% vs a year earlierSep 2000: -21.8% vs a year earlierOct 2000: -20.4% vs a year earlierNov 2000: -20.6% vs a year earlierDec 2000: -22.8% vs a year earlierJan 2001: -24.6% vs a year earlierFeb 2001: -25.0% vs a year earlierMar 2001: -26.7% vs a year earlierApr 2001: -25.7% vs a year earlierMay 2001: -28.3% vs a year earlierJun 2001: -27.6% vs a year earlierJul 2001: -27.3% vs a year earlierAug 2001: -29.5% vs a year earlierSep 2001: -31.3% vs a year earlierOct 2001: -31.1% vs a year earlierNov 2001: -30.9% vs a year earlierDec 2001: -30.6% vs a year earlierJan 2002: -29.5% vs a year earlierFeb 2002: -29.6% vs a year earlierMar 2002: -28.6% vs a year earlierApr 2002: -27.7% vs a year earlierMay 2002: -24.4% vs a year earlierJun 2002: -24.2% vs a year earlierJul 2002: -23.8% vs a year earlierAug 2002: -21.0% vs a year earlierSep 2002: -21.0% vs a year earlierOct 2002: -21.8% vs a year earlierNov 2002: -22.4% vs a year earlierDec 2002: -22.0% vs a year earlierJan 2003: -21.0% vs a year earlierFeb 2003: -20.1% vs a year earlierMar 2003: -18.1% vs a year earlierApr 2003: -18.4% vs a year earlierMay 2003: -21.7% vs a year earlierJun 2003: -22.6% vs a year earlierJul 2003: -23.0% vs a year earlierAug 2003: -24.1% vs a year earlierSep 2003: -22.6% vs a year earlierOct 2003: -20.3% vs a year earlierNov 2003: -18.5% vs a year earlierDec 2003: -17.9% vs a year earlierJan 2004: -16.9% vs a year earlierFeb 2004: -15.9% vs a year earlierMar 2004: -16.5% vs a year earlierApr 2004: -15.0% vs a year earlierMay 2004: -12.6% vs a year earlierJun 2004: -11.3% vs a year earlierJul 2004: -11.0% vs a year earlierAug 2004: -9.3% vs a year earlierSep 2004: -8.0% vs a year earlierOct 2004: -11.4% vs a year earlierNov 2004: -13.2% vs a year earlierDec 2004: -14.0% vs a year earlierJan 2005: -13.6% vs a year earlierFeb 2005: -15.6% vs a year earlierMar 2005: -15.0% vs a year earlierApr 2005: -15.7% vs a year earlierMay 2005: -16.2% vs a year earlierJun 2005: -16.4% vs a year earlierJul 2005: -16.5% vs a year earlierAug 2005: -17.9% vs a year earlierSep 2005: -18.1% vs a year earlierOct 2005: -16.5% vs a year earlierNov 2005: -15.5% vs a year earlierDec 2005: -15.8% vs a year earlierJan 2006: -17.2% vs a year earlierFeb 2006: -15.0% vs a year earlierMar 2006: -15.0% vs a year earlierApr 2006: -16.9% vs a year earlierMay 2006: -17.8% vs a year earlierJun 2006: -17.5% vs a year earlierJul 2006: -16.9% vs a year earlierAug 2006: -14.6% vs a year earlierSep 2006: -14.9% vs a year earlierOct 2006: -15.0% vs a year earlierNov 2006: -14.0% vs a year earlierDec 2006: -11.7% vs a year earlierJan 2007: -11.3% vs a year earlierFeb 2007: -11.5% vs a year earlierMar 2007: -10.8% vs a year earlierApr 2007: -8.6% vs a year earlierMay 2007: -8.0% vs a year earlierJun 2007: -9.2% vs a year earlierJul 2007: -9.5% vs a year earlierAug 2007: -10.2% vs a year earlierSep 2007: -9.7% vs a year earlierOct 2007: -10.1% vs a year earlierNov 2007: -13.1% vs a year earlierDec 2007: -13.6% vs a year earlierJan 2008: -12.0% vs a year earlierFeb 2008: -11.7% vs a year earlierMar 2008: -12.0% vs a year earlierApr 2008: -13.2% vs a year earlierMay 2008: -13.0% vs a year earlierJun 2008: -11.9% vs a year earlierJul 2008: -11.8% vs a year earlierAug 2008: -12.8% vs a year earlierSep 2008: -14.2% vs a year earlierOct 2008: -13.8% vs a year earlierNov 2008: -11.1% vs a year earlierDec 2008: -11.5% vs a year earlierJan 2009: -12.4% vs a year earlierFeb 2009: -12.8% vs a year earlierMar 2009: -14.1% vs a year earlierApr 2009: -13.3% vs a year earlierMay 2009: -13.0% vs a year earlierJun 2009: -12.7% vs a year earlierJul 2009: -14.6% vs a year earlierAug 2009: -15.4% vs a year earlierSep 2009: -14.1% vs a year earlierOct 2009: -13.0% vs a year earlierNov 2009: -12.3% vs a year earlierDec 2009: -11.9% vs a year earlierJan 2010: -11.5% vs a year earlierFeb 2010: -11.1% vs a year earlierMar 2010: -9.1% vs a year earlierApr 2010: -8.7% vs a year earlierMay 2010: -9.1% vs a year earlierJun 2010: -9.3% vs a year earlierJul 2010: -6.1% vs a year earlierAug 2010: -3.5% vs a year earlierSep 2010: -3.1% vs a year earlierOct 2010: -3.6% vs a year earlierNov 2010: -4.0% vs a year earlierDec 2010: -5.6% vs a year earlierJan 2011: -6.9% vs a year earlierFeb 2011: -6.7% vs a year earlierMar 2011: -8.1% vs a year earlierApr 2011: -8.0% vs a year earlierMay 2011: -7.5% vs a year earlierJun 2011: -8.7% vs a year earlierJul 2011: -9.4% vs a year earlierAug 2011: -11.9% vs a year earlierSep 2011: -12.9% vs a year earlierOct 2011: -13.1% vs a year earlierNov 2011: -12.2% vs a year earlierDec 2011: -12.5% vs a year earlierJan 2012: -11.8% vs a year earlierFeb 2012: -11.0% vs a year earlierMar 2012: -11.1% vs a year earlierApr 2012: -12.0% vs a year earlierMay 2012: -10.6% vs a year earlierJun 2012: -8.0% vs a year earlierJul 2012: -8.5% vs a year earlierAug 2012: -7.4% vs a year earlierSep 2012: -7.4% vs a year earlierOct 2012: -7.8% vs a year earlierNov 2012: -9.5% vs a year earlierDec 2012: -8.7% vs a year earlierJan 2013: -8.5% vs a year earlierFeb 2013: -8.9% vs a year earlierMar 2013: -8.5% vs a year earlierApr 2013: -8.3% vs a year earlierMay 2013: -9.3% vs a year earlierJun 2013: -10.3% vs a year earlierJul 2013: -10.6% vs a year earlierAug 2013: -10.0% vs a year earlierSep 2013: -8.8% vs a year earlierOct 2013: -8.8% vs a year earlierNov 2013: -8.4% vs a year earlierDec 2013: -6.6% vs a year earlierJan 2014: -7.2% vs a year earlierFeb 2014: -7.6% vs a year earlierMar 2014: -7.2% vs a year earlierApr 2014: -6.3% vs a year earlierMay 2014: -6.5% vs a year earlierJun 2014: -6.3% vs a year earlierJul 2014: -6.0% vs a year earlierAug 2014: -6.9% vs a year earlierSep 2014: -8.0% vs a year earlierOct 2014: -7.5% vs a year earlierNov 2014: -8.0% vs a year earlierDec 2014: -10.5% vs a year earlierJan 2015: -10.4% vs a year earlierFeb 2015: -9.8% vs a year earlierMar 2015: -10.3% vs a year earlierApr 2015: -10.0% vs a year earlierMay 2015: -9.5% vs a year earlierJun 2015: -9.8% vs a year earlierJul 2015: -9.4% vs a year earlierAug 2015: -9.0% vs a year earlierSep 2015: -7.4% vs a year earlierOct 2015: -7.5% vs a year earlierNov 2015: -7.0% vs a year earlierDec 2015: -6.3% vs a year earlierJan 2016: -7.1% vs a year earlierFeb 2016: -7.9% vs a year earlierMar 2016: -7.2% vs a year earlierApr 2016: -7.7% vs a year earlierMay 2016: -7.8% vs a year earlierJun 2016: -7.6% vs a year earlierJul 2016: -7.7% vs a year earlierAug 2016: -6.8% vs a year earlierSep 2016: -7.6% vs a year earlierOct 2016: -7.2% vs a year earlierNov 2016: -6.7% vs a year earlierDec 2016: -5.7% vs a year earlierJan 2017: -4.3% vs a year earlierFeb 2017: -4.2% vs a year earlierMar 2017: -5.4% vs a year earlierApr 2017: -5.3% vs a year earlierMay 2017: -5.6% vs a year earlierJun 2017: -4.3% vs a year earlierJul 2017: -2.8% vs a year earlierAug 2017: -3.3% vs a year earlierSep 2017: -3.6% vs a year earlierOct 2017: -3.3% vs a year earlierNov 2017: -3.5% vs a year earlierDec 2017: -4.7% vs a year earlierJan 2018: -4.6% vs a year earlierFeb 2018: -4.8% vs a year earlierMar 2018: -3.7% vs a year earlierApr 2018: -3.4% vs a year earlierMay 2018: -2.3% vs a year earlierJun 2018: -3.7% vs a year earlierJul 2018: -6.4% vs a year earlierAug 2018: -4.4% vs a year earlierSep 2018: -2.6% vs a year earlierOct 2018: -4.0% vs a year earlierNov 2018: -5.2% vs a year earlierDec 2018: -3.0% vs a year earlierJan 2019: -3.4% vs a year earlierFeb 2019: -3.9% vs a year earlierMar 2019: -3.3% vs a year earlierApr 2019: -4.4% vs a year earlierMay 2019: -4.9% vs a year earlierJun 2019: -5.9% vs a year earlierJul 2019: -1.2% vs a year earlierAug 2019: -1.3% vs a year earlierSep 2019: -3.3% vs a year earlierOct 2019: -4.0% vs a year earlierNov 2019: -2.4% vs a year earlierDec 2019: -5.3% vs a year earlierJan 2020: -5.8% vs a year earlierFeb 2020: -3.5% vs a year earlierMar 2020: -3.0% vs a year earlierApr 2020: -1.5% vs a year earlierMay 2020: -1.8% vs a year earlierJun 2020: +0.5% vs a year earlierJul 2020: -2.7% vs a year earlierAug 2020: -3.0% vs a year earlierSep 2020: -5.7% vs a year earlierOct 2020: -4.5% vs a year earlierNov 2020: -2.3% vs a year earlierDec 2020: +0.8% vs a year earlierJan 2021: +1.6% vs a year earlierFeb 2021: -0.1% vs a year earlierMar 2021: -3.2% vs a year earlierApr 2021: +0.9% vs a year earlierMay 2021: +2.5% vs a year earlierJun 2021: +2.3% vs a year earlierJul 2021: +3.7% vs a year earlierAug 2021: +3.4% vs a year earlierSep 2021: +8.5% vs a year earlierOct 2021: +8.4% vs a year earlierNov 2021: +4.8% vs a year earlierDec 2021: +2.8% vs a year earlierJan 2022: +3.5% vs a year earlierFeb 2022: +4.6% vs a year earlierMar 2022: +7.6% vs a year earlierApr 2022: +0.2% vs a year earlierMay 2022: -1.8% vs a year earlierJun 2022: -0.6% vs a year earlierJul 2022: -3.5% vs a year earlierAug 2022: -4.3% vs a year earlierSep 2022: -3.6% vs a year earlierOct 2022: -3.1% vs a year earlierNov 2022: -4.4% vs a year earlierDec 2022: -5.8% vs a year earlierJan 2023: -6.2% vs a year earlierFeb 2023: -5.6% vs a year earlierMar 2023: -5.8% vs a year earlierApr 2023: -5.1% vs a year earlierMay 2023: -4.2% vs a year earlierJun 2023: -5.2% vs a year earlierJul 2023: -4.9% vs a year earlierAug 2023: -5.0% vs a year earlierSep 2023: -5.2% vs a year earlierOct 2023: -5.7% vs a year earlierNov 2023: -4.6% vs a year earlierDec 2023: -3.6% vs a year earlierJan 2024: -2.1% vs a year earlierFeb 2024: -2.7% vs a year earlierMar 2024: -3.8% vs a year earlierApr 2024: -1.6% vs a year earlierMay 2024: -2.2% vs a year earlierJun 2024: -4.2% vs a year earlierJul 2024: -2.4% vs a year earlierAug 2024: -2.0% vs a year earlierSep 2024: -4.7% vs a year earlierOct 2024: -5.4% vs a year earlierNov 2024: -5.5% vs a year earlierDec 2024: -5.1% vs a year earlierJan 2025: -6.0% vs a year earlierFeb 2025: -6.0% vs a year earlierMar 2025: -5.4% vs a year earlierApr 2025: -5.6% vs a year earlierMay 2025: -3.5% vs a year earlierJun 2025: -0.3% vs a year earlierJul 2025: -1.8% vs a year earlierAug 2025: -2.0% vs a year earlierSep 2025: -0.7% vs a year earlierNov 2025: -0.2% vs a year earlierDec 2025: -0.6% vs a year earlierJan 2026: +1.6% vs a year earlierFeb 2026: +0.9% vs a year earlierMar 2026: +2.2% vs a year earlierApr 2026: +2.3% vs a year earlierMay 2026: +1.3% vs a year earlierJun 2026: -0.8% vs a year earlierJul 2026: +3.9% vs a year earlierAug 2026: +8.4% vs a year earlierSep 2026: +9.7% vs a year earlier

Source: BLS series CUUR0000SEEE01. BLS did not publish an October 2025 index because of the federal funding lapse, so October 2025 and October 2026 changes are not available. Hover any month for its value.

Not everything with a chip got dearer. Over the same 12 months the CPI for smartphones fell 9.9%, so the broader index for information technology commodities, which includes phones, was still -2.9%. Consumer software and accessories, meanwhile, rose 28.4%. The increase is concentrated in computers and the parts that go into them.

The price index dashboard

Six series tell the story at three points in the supply chain: what households pay (CPI), what U.S. computer makers charge (PPI), and what importers pay at the border (import price indexes). Each tile is indexed to September 2025 = 100 on the same vertical scale, so the end label is the 12-month change.

CPI computers
100+10%20242026CPI computers, Jan 2024: 103.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Feb 2024: 104.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Mar 2024: 103.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Apr 2024: 104.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, May 2024: 103.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jun 2024: 101.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jul 2024: 102.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Aug 2024: 101.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Sep 2024: 100.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Oct 2024: 99.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Nov 2024: 97.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Dec 2024: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jan 2025: 97.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Feb 2025: 98.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Mar 2025: 98.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Apr 2025: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, May 2025: 100.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jun 2025: 101.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jul 2025: 100.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Aug 2025: 99.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Nov 2025: 97.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Dec 2025: 96.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jan 2026: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Feb 2026: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Mar 2026: 100.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Apr 2026: 101.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, May 2026: 101.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jun 2026: 100.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Jul 2026: 104.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Aug 2026: 108.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI computers, Sep 2026: 109.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)
CPI smartphones
100-10%20242026CPI smartphones, Jan 2024: 122.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Feb 2024: 122.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Mar 2024: 121.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Apr 2024: 121.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, May 2024: 119.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jun 2024: 119.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jul 2024: 120.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Aug 2024: 118.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Sep 2024: 117.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Oct 2024: 114.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Nov 2024: 110.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Dec 2024: 108.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jan 2025: 107.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Feb 2025: 105.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Mar 2025: 104.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Apr 2025: 104.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, May 2025: 102.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jun 2025: 102.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jul 2025: 102.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Aug 2025: 102.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Nov 2025: 99.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Dec 2025: 97.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jan 2026: 96.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Feb 2026: 91.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Mar 2026: 90.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Apr 2026: 91.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, May 2026: 91.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jun 2026: 90.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Jul 2026: 91.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Aug 2026: 89.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)CPI smartphones, Sep 2026: 90.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)
PPI laptops
100+20%20242026PPI laptops, Jan 2024: 100.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Feb 2024: 100.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Mar 2024: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Apr 2024: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, May 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jun 2024: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jul 2024: 98.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Aug 2024: 98.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Sep 2024: 98.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Oct 2024: 98.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Nov 2024: 98.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Dec 2024: 98.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jan 2025: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Feb 2025: 99.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Mar 2025: 99.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Apr 2025: 99.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, May 2025: 100.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jun 2025: 100.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jul 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Aug 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Oct 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Nov 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Dec 2025: 100.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jan 2026: 100.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Feb 2026: 100.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Mar 2026: 100.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Apr 2026: 101.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, May 2026: 101.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jun 2026: 101.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Jul 2026: 119.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Aug 2026: 119.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI laptops, Sep 2026: 120.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)
PPI desktops and workstations
100+22%20242026PPI desktops and workstations, Jan 2024: 95.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Feb 2024: 95.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Mar 2024: 95.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Apr 2024: 96.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, May 2024: 95.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jun 2024: 96.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jul 2024: 96.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Aug 2024: 96.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Sep 2024: 96.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Oct 2024: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Nov 2024: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Dec 2024: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jan 2025: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Feb 2025: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Mar 2025: 96.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Apr 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, May 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jun 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jul 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Aug 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Oct 2025: 99.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Nov 2025: 99.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Dec 2025: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jan 2026: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Feb 2026: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Mar 2026: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Apr 2026: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, May 2026: 102.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jun 2026: 102.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Jul 2026: 121.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Aug 2026: 120.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)PPI desktops and workstations, Sep 2026: 122.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)
Import prices: computers and parts
100+25%20242026Import prices: computers and parts, Jan 2024: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Feb 2024: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Mar 2024: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Apr 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, May 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jun 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jul 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Aug 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Sep 2024: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Oct 2024: 99.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Nov 2024: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Dec 2024: 99.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jan 2025: 99.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Feb 2025: 99.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Mar 2025: 99.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Apr 2025: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, May 2025: 98.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jun 2025: 98.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jul 2025: 98.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Aug 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Nov 2025: 100.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Dec 2025: 100.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jan 2026: 101.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Feb 2026: 105.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Mar 2026: 106.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Apr 2026: 111.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, May 2026: 116.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jun 2026: 117.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Jul 2026: 120.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Aug 2026: 124.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: computers and parts, Sep 2026: 125.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)
Import prices: peripherals and parts
100+50%20242026Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jan 2024: 96.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Feb 2024: 96.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Mar 2024: 96.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Apr 2024: 96.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, May 2024: 96.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jun 2024: 96.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jul 2024: 96.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Aug 2024: 96.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Sep 2024: 96.5 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Oct 2024: 97.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Nov 2024: 99.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Dec 2024: 99.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jan 2025: 98.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Feb 2025: 98.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Mar 2025: 98.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Apr 2025: 97.6 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, May 2025: 97.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jun 2025: 96.7 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jul 2025: 96.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Aug 2025: 100.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Sep 2025: 100.0 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Nov 2025: 101.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Dec 2025: 101.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jan 2026: 102.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Feb 2026: 111.1 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Mar 2026: 113.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Apr 2026: 124.3 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, May 2026: 133.8 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jun 2026: 136.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Jul 2026: 141.4 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Aug 2026: 149.2 (Sep 2025 = 100)Import prices: peripherals and parts, Sep 2026: 149.9 (Sep 2025 = 100)

Sources: BLS CPI (CUUR0000SEEE01, CUUR0000SSEE041), PPI (PCU33411133411172, PCU33411133411173) and import price indexes (EIUIR213COM, EIUIR21301). Gaps are months BLS did not publish.

Series Sep 2026 index 1 month 12 months Record check Data from
CPI: computers, peripherals and smart home assistants 38.5 +1.4% +9.7% Record since 1998 1997
CPI: computer software and accessories 28.2 +0.4% +28.4% Record since 1998 1997
CPI: smartphones 34.2 +0.4% -9.9% Peak: -8.2% (Jul 2024) 2019
CPI: information technology commodities 34.7 +0.6% -2.9% Peak: +3.2% (Sep 2021) 2009
CPI: all items 336.9 +0.6% +3.7% Peak: +9.1% (Jun 2022) 1987
PPI: portable computers, laptops, tablets 116.2 +0.4% +20.0% Record since 1993 1992
PPI: desktop PCs and workstations 128.0 +1.7% +22.1% Record since 1993 1992
PPI: servers and multiuser host computers 99.8 +0.0% -0.3% Peak: +24.6% (Mar 2022) 2004
PPI: electronic computer manufacturing (all) 103.3 +0.2% +3.0% Peak: +13.9% (Mar 2022) 1990
Import prices: computers, peripherals and parts (excl. chips) 52.7 +0.8% +25.5% Record since 1988 1987
Import prices: computer peripherals, accessories and parts 63.4 +0.5% +49.9% Record since 1988 1987
Import prices: computers and peripherals made in China 96.3 +0.0% +1.3% Peak: +3.1% (Nov 2022) 2018

Index levels use each series’ own BLS base period. “Record since” means the latest 12-month change is the largest in the series’ published history from the year shown.

The producer price data shows how sudden the change was. The PPI for portable computers rose 17.8% from June to July 2026, and the PPI for desktops and workstations rose 18.7%. Before 2026, the biggest one-month rise in the laptop index since 1992 was 5.3% (Nov 2016); for desktops it was 8.3% (Dec 2022). The server index is the exception: it has printed the same value, 99.761, for 10 straight months since December 2025, so it says little about server pricing right now.

At the border, the import price index for computers, peripherals and parts (excluding semiconductors) was up 25.5% in the year to September, against a previous high of 7.2% (Mar 1988) in data back to 1988. Most of that came from parts: the peripherals, accessories and parts index rose 49.9%. The index for finished computer and peripheral manufacturing (NAICS 3341) rose only 4.0% since December 2025, against 48.1% for parts. Import prices for computers made in China were up just 1.3% over 12 months.

Did import unit values jump?

For laptops, yes. Census import records for HTS 8471.30.0100 (portable computers under 10 kg) show 60.6 million laptops imported from January to August 2026, 13% fewer than the 69.6 million in the same months of 2025. The value of those imports rose 7% to $35.7 billion, so the average customs value per laptop climbed from $480 to $589, up 23%.

The timing matches the producer price data. The average laptop unit value was $487 in 2024 and $485 in 2025, essentially flat through a year of tariff changes. In January to April 2026 it was $549 (up 10% on the same months of 2025); in May to August it was $624, up 34%.

Part of the rise is mix: cheaper Chinese-made machines lost share. To test it, we held each country’s 2025 laptop volumes fixed and priced them at 2026 unit values. That fixed-mix unit value is still up 14%, so roughly 63% of the increase is higher prices within each source country, and the rest is the shift in where laptops come from.

Period Laptops imported Value Unit value China share Vietnam share Duty paid
2019 100.2M $40.3B $402 92.6% 2.5% 0.00%
2024 101.4M $49.3B $487 66.1% 27.2% 0.00%
2025 100.1M $48.6B $485 17.8% 61.3% 1.36%
Jan to Aug 2025 69.6M $33.4B $480 24.2% 60.0% 1.85%
Jan to Aug 2026 60.6M $35.7B $589 8.0% 68.7% 0.11%
Source Units Jan to Aug 2025 Units Jan to Aug 2026 Value share 2025 Value share 2026 Unit value 2025 Unit value 2026 Duty paid 2025 Duty paid 2026
Vietnam 37.68M 38.79M 60.0% 68.7% $532 $633 0.10% 0.04%
Thailand 5.74M 6.02M 7.2% 10.4% $420 $616 0.03% 0.24%
Mexico 2.59M 4.46M 4.2% 8.3% $538 $668 0.11% 0.01%
China 20.42M 7.79M 24.2% 8.0% $396 $366 6.42% 0.65%
Taiwan 1.17M 1.20M 3.5% 3.5% $995 $1,041 0.43% 0.12%
Indonesia 0.83M 1.68M 0.2% 0.6% $99 $138 0.00% 0.23%
India 0.49M 0.22M 0.2% 0.1% $162 $157 0.02% 0.14%
Japan 0.04M 0.12M 0.0% 0.1% $277 $280 2.93% 6.31%
All countries 69.60M 60.64M 100% 100% $480 $589 1.85% 0.11%

Census general imports, HTS 8471.30.0100, January to August of each year. Unit value = customs value divided by units. Duty paid = calculated duty divided by imports for consumption value.

Across all of heading 8471, the biggest change is not in laptops. Imports of processing units (8471.50, which includes servers) reached $205.7 billion from January to August 2026, 128% more than a year earlier, and made up 73% of all HTS 8471 imports. In the Census end-use series, U.S. computer imports were $218.2 billion in 2025, up 87% on 2024, and January to August 2026 is running 95% ahead of the same months of 2025 (seasonally adjusted). That is the data center buildout, the same spending that shows up in hyperscaler capex in our cloud computing statistics, not office PCs.

HTS What it covers Jan to Aug 2025 Jan to Aug 2026 Value change Unit value change Duty paid 2026
8471.30 Laptops and other portables under 10 kg $33.4B $35.7B +7% +23% 0.11%
8471.41 Desktops sold as one unit (incl. all-in-ones) $1.0B $1.1B +12% +8% 2.72%
8471.49 Desktop systems shipped as separate units $1.4B $3.6B +152% +105% 0.23%
8471.50 Processing units (servers, desktop towers) $90.2B $205.7B +128% +170% 0.10%
8471.60 Input/output units (keyboards, scanners) $2.1B $2.4B +11% -56% 1.90%
8471.70 Storage units (drives, arrays) $8.5B $17.7B +109% +84% 0.18%
8471.80 Other units (control/adapter units, modules) $12.3B $14.3B +16% +48% 2.24%
8471.90 Other data processing machines $0.5B $0.5B +5% +1% 3.25%

Which countries gained share?

China supplied 66.4% of U.S. computer imports by value in 2016 and 4.4% in 2025. Mexico (38.8%) and Taiwan (33.1%) now lead, driven by server assembly, while Vietnam (14.6%) and Thailand (6.0%) grew on laptops.

Share of U.S. computer imports by country (Census end-use category 21300, customs value)

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%2016201720182019202020212022202320242025China, 2016: 66.4% of U.S. computer imports ($40.4B)China, 2017: 65.9% of U.S. computer imports ($45.4B)China, 2018: 60.8% of U.S. computer imports ($47.0B)China, 2019: 54.4% of U.S. computer imports ($42.2B)China, 2020: 56.8% of U.S. computer imports ($50.6B)China, 2021: 59.1% of U.S. computer imports ($59.1B)China, 2022: 51.3% of U.S. computer imports ($52.5B)China, 2023: 42.3% of U.S. computer imports ($37.4B)China, 2024: 29.4% of U.S. computer imports ($34.3B)China, 2025: 4.4% of U.S. computer imports ($9.7B)Mexico, 2016: 26.9% of U.S. computer imports ($16.4B)Mexico, 2017: 26.6% of U.S. computer imports ($18.4B)Mexico, 2018: 32.2% of U.S. computer imports ($24.9B)Mexico, 2019: 33.6% of U.S. computer imports ($26.1B)Mexico, 2020: 28.3% of U.S. computer imports ($25.2B)Mexico, 2021: 26.4% of U.S. computer imports ($26.4B)Mexico, 2022: 33.5% of U.S. computer imports ($34.2B)Mexico, 2023: 29.2% of U.S. computer imports ($25.8B)Mexico, 2024: 37.0% of U.S. computer imports ($43.2B)Mexico, 2025: 38.8% of U.S. computer imports ($84.6B)Taiwan, 2016: 2.0% of U.S. computer imports ($1.2B)Taiwan, 2017: 3.0% of U.S. computer imports ($2.1B)Taiwan, 2018: 2.8% of U.S. computer imports ($2.2B)Taiwan, 2019: 6.3% of U.S. computer imports ($4.9B)Taiwan, 2020: 7.8% of U.S. computer imports ($6.9B)Taiwan, 2021: 7.2% of U.S. computer imports ($7.2B)Taiwan, 2022: 7.6% of U.S. computer imports ($7.7B)Taiwan, 2023: 12.6% of U.S. computer imports ($11.2B)Taiwan, 2024: 16.4% of U.S. computer imports ($19.1B)Taiwan, 2025: 33.1% of U.S. computer imports ($72.3B)Vietnam, 2016: 1.4% of U.S. computer imports ($0.8B)Vietnam, 2017: 1.3% of U.S. computer imports ($0.9B)Vietnam, 2018: 1.0% of U.S. computer imports ($0.7B)Vietnam, 2019: 1.3% of U.S. computer imports ($1.0B)Vietnam, 2020: 1.8% of U.S. computer imports ($1.6B)Vietnam, 2021: 2.4% of U.S. computer imports ($2.4B)Vietnam, 2022: 2.5% of U.S. computer imports ($2.6B)Vietnam, 2023: 9.7% of U.S. computer imports ($8.6B)Vietnam, 2024: 12.5% of U.S. computer imports ($14.6B)Vietnam, 2025: 14.6% of U.S. computer imports ($31.9B)Thailand, 2016: 0.0% of U.S. computer imports ($0.0B)Thailand, 2017: 0.1% of U.S. computer imports ($0.1B)Thailand, 2018: 0.1% of U.S. computer imports ($0.1B)Thailand, 2019: 0.1% of U.S. computer imports ($0.1B)Thailand, 2020: 0.1% of U.S. computer imports ($0.1B)Thailand, 2021: 1.3% of U.S. computer imports ($1.3B)Thailand, 2022: 1.2% of U.S. computer imports ($1.3B)Thailand, 2023: 1.4% of U.S. computer imports ($1.3B)Thailand, 2024: 1.3% of U.S. computer imports ($1.6B)Thailand, 2025: 6.0% of U.S. computer imports ($13.0B)Mexico 38.8%Taiwan 33.1%Vietnam 14.6%Thailand 6.0%China 4.4%

For laptops alone the shift is sharper. China made 92.6% of the laptops the United States imported by value in 2019 and 66.1% in 2024. Vietnam supplied 68.7% of laptop import value from January to August 2026, and China’s share fell from 24.2% to 8.0% in a year.

ChinaVietnamThailandMexicoTaiwanOther

20192019: China 92.6% of laptop import valueChina 93%2019: Vietnam 2.5% of laptop import value2019: Thailand 0.0% of laptop import value2019: Mexico 0.4% of laptop import value2019: Taiwan 3.5% of laptop import value2019: Other 1.0% of laptop import value20242024: China 66.1% of laptop import valueChina 66%2024: Vietnam 27.2% of laptop import valueVietnam 27%2024: Thailand 0.7% of laptop import value2024: Mexico 1.6% of laptop import value2024: Taiwan 4.0% of laptop import value4%2024: Other 0.5% of laptop import value20252025: China 17.8% of laptop import valueChina 18%2025: Vietnam 61.3% of laptop import valueVietnam 61%2025: Thailand 9.2% of laptop import value9%2025: Mexico 6.8% of laptop import value7%2025: Taiwan 3.8% of laptop import value2025: Other 1.1% of laptop import valueJan to Aug 2026Jan to Aug 2026: China 8.0% of laptop import value8%Jan to Aug 2026: Vietnam 68.7% of laptop import valueVietnam 69%Jan to Aug 2026: Thailand 10.4% of laptop import value10%Jan to Aug 2026: Mexico 8.3% of laptop import value8%Jan to Aug 2026: Taiwan 3.5% of laptop import valueJan to Aug 2026: Other 1.1% of laptop import value

Census general imports of HTS 8471.30.0100 by country of origin, share of customs value.

Why are computer prices going up? What the tariff record shows

Tariffs are the usual suspect, so we checked them two ways: what the legal texts say applies to HTS 8471, and what importers actually paid. Since April 2025, computers have been carved out of each new across-the-board tariff program. The duties that did apply, mainly the IEEPA duty on goods from China, ended in February 2026.

Effective Action What it means for computers (HTS 8471)
Mar 4, 2025 IEEPA duty on all goods of China, including computers, at 20% (Executive Order 14195, as amended) Applied to Chinese laptops; cut to 10% from Nov 10, 2025 (Executive Order 14357)
Apr 2025 Reciprocal tariffs under Executive Order 14257 HTS heading 8471 listed as exempt from the reciprocal duties (heading 9903.01.32 and its note in HTS chapter 99)
Jan 15, 2026 Section 232 tariff of 25% on certain advanced semiconductors (Proclamation 11002) Covers HTS 8471.50 and 8471.80 only if technical parameters are met; exempt for U.S. data centers, repairs, R&D and public sector
Feb 20, 2026 All IEEPA tariffs end (Executive Order 14389) Removes the China 10% duty on computers
Feb 24 to Jul 24, 2026 10% temporary import surcharge under Section 122 (Proclamation 11012) All HTS 8471 subheadings exempt (heading 9903.03.03)
Jul 24, 2026 Section 301 tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on 60 economies (USTR notice, 91 FR 47318) All HTS 8471 subheadings exempt (U.S. note 52(b), heading 9903.05.86)
Since 2018 Section 301 tariffs on China (Lists 1, 3 and 4A) Still apply to China-made storage units and processing units (25%) and some desktops (7.5%); the laptop list (4B) remains suspended

The customs data matches the legal record. Duties collected on imported laptops fell from 1.85% of value in January to August 2025 to 0.11% in the same months of 2026, and on China-made laptops from 6.42% to 0.65%. In the single month of August 2025, Chinese laptops paid 16.3% of their value in duty; in August 2026, 0.2%. The 2025 duty did change sourcing: U.S. imports of China-made laptops fell from $32.6 billion in 2024 to $8.6 billion in 2025. One line moved the other way: “other units” (8471.80), one of the subheadings listed in the HTS note that implements the January 2026 semiconductor proclamation, paid 10.8% duty in August 2026.

The test. If tariffs were driving 2026 computer prices, duty paid on laptops would have risen. It fell to almost zero, while laptop factory prices rose 20% and import prices for parts rose 50%. The pressure is in what computers are made of. The trade records point the same way: the average customs value of imported storage units (8471.70) rose 84% year on year. Our data does not split costs inside a finished PC, so we do not attribute a share to any one component. The memory makers’ side is covered in our analyses of RAM prices and SSD prices, built from their own filings.

What this means for MSPs

Shorten quote validity. A hardware quote written in June 2026 at then-current pricing was underwater by July: the laptop PPI moved 18% in one month. Seven to 14 day validity on hardware lines, or a clause that passes distributor price changes through until the order is placed, is now a reasonable default. Labor and managed service lines can keep longer terms.

Re-base refresh budgets. Client budgets built from 2025 quotes are short. The CPI says retail computers cost 10% more than a year ago; the PPI says manufacturers are charging 20% to 22% more. Use that range as headroom when you re-quote a planned 2027 refresh, and show clients the index so the increase reads as market data rather than margin.

Do not wait for a tariff refund. Computers already pay almost no duty, so tariff relief will not bring prices back down. The 2021 precedent is a better guide: it took 15 months for the CPI to fall back below its pre-spike level.

Prioritize the machines that must move. Windows 10 is past its end-of-support date and, as our Windows 11 market share tracking shows, still far from gone. Those machines now cost more to replace every quarter they wait. Replace the unsupported and failing units first and stage the rest. Where a client is buying anyway, December has been the cheapest month in the CPI on average (-1.15% month on month, 2010 to 2024).

Watch component pricing, not just finished systems. Upgrades such as memory and drives are where import prices rose most (+50%), so “add RAM instead of replacing” is a weaker cost play in 2026 than it was.

Frequently asked questions

Will the price of computers go up in 2026?

They already have. The BLS consumer price index for computers, peripherals and smart home assistants was 9.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025, the largest 12-month rise since the series began in December 1997. Producer prices for laptops were up 20.0% and for desktops and workstations 22.1%.

Why are PC prices going up so much?

Tariffs do not explain it: duties collected on imported laptops fell to 0.11% of their value in January to August 2026, from 1.85% a year earlier. The price pressure shows up in components instead: the BLS import price index for computer peripherals, accessories and parts rose 49.9% in the year to September 2026.

Are PC prices high right now?

Yes, by the official measure. The CPI for computers reached 38.5 in September 2026 (December 2007 = 100), its highest level since Oct 2022. It is still 97% below its December 1997 level, because the index adjusts for the large gains in performance since then.

Will PC prices go down in 2027?

The data cannot forecast that. The closest precedent is 2021: the index peaked in Sep 2021 and took 15 months to fall back below its pre-spike level of March 2021. Factory laptop prices in 2026 rose in one step, 17.8% in July, and had not reversed by September.

What is the best month to buy a computer?

In the BLS data, December has historically been the cheapest month: from 2010 to 2024 the computer CPI fell by an average of 1.15% from November to December, the largest monthly decline of any month. The index rose on average only in January, February, April.

How much does a laptop cost to import in 2026?

The average customs value of an imported laptop was $589 in January to August 2026, up from $480 in the same months of 2025, according to Census import records for HTS 8471.30.0100. That is the value at the border, before freight, distributor and retail margins.

Download the data. computer-prices-2026-index-and-imports.csv (CSV). Licensed under CC BY 4.0: free to reuse with attribution to The Uptime Report.

Methodology

Price indexes. Bureau of Labor Statistics public API (v1), retrieved October 29, 2026: CPI-U U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted (computers, peripherals and smart home assistants; computer software and accessories; smartphones; information technology commodities; all items); PPI by industry and product for NAICS 334111 (portable computers; personal computers and workstations; host computers and servers; all products); and import price indexes by BEA end use (213COM, 21301), by NAICS (3341), and by origin (China, NAICS 3341). Twelve-month changes compare the same calendar month. October 2025 CPI values were not published. PPI values for the latest four months are preliminary and can be revised. Records are measured against each series’ published history only (CPI computers from December 1997, PPI laptops and desktops from December 1992, import price indexes from 1987).

Trade data. Census Bureau Merchandise Trade Imports monthly files (IMDB) for April 2025, August 2025, December 2025, April 2026 and August 2026, December 2024, December 2019, filtered to HTS heading 8471. May to August figures are the August year-to-date minus the April year-to-date. Values are general imports, customs value; quantities are reported units; duty paid is calculated duty over imports for consumption value. Year-to-date figures are January to August. Country shares for all computers use the Census end-use file (category 21300, 2016 to 2025). Year-to-date totals for end-use 21300 are seasonally adjusted figures from the August 2026 FT-900 release, exhibit 8.

Tariffs. Federal Register texts of Executive Orders 14257, 14357 and 14389, Proclamations 11002 and 11012, and the USTR Section 301 notice of July 28, 2026, read against the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Revision 21, chapter 99. Product scope comes from the HTS notes, not from summaries.

Limitations. CPI and PPI indexes are quality adjusted, so they measure price for constant capability, not average sticker price. Import unit values are averages across very different machines. Census data for August 2026 is preliminary. We did not survey MSPs or distributors.

Not advice. This is an analysis of public price and trade data, not purchasing or legal advice.

Cite as:The Uptime Report. "Computer Prices 2026: The Biggest Jump in 28 Years of CPI Data, With Almost No Tariff Paid." October 2026. https://theuptimereport.com/computer-prices-2026/

References

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (series CUUR0000SEEE01, CUUR0000SEEE02, CUUR0000SSEE041, CUUR0000SEEEC, CUUR0000SA0). Accessed October 2026.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index (PCU33411133411172, PCU33411133411173, PCU3341113341115, PCU334111334111). Accessed October 2026.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Import/Export Price Indexes (EIUIR213COM, EIUIR21301, EIUIZ3341, EIUCOCHNZ3341). Accessed October 2026.
  4. BLS Public Data API v1. Accessed October 2026.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, Merchandise Trade Imports monthly data products (IMDB). Accessed October 2026.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. imports by end-use category and country. Accessed October 2026.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau and BEA, U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (FT-900), August 2026. Accessed October 2026.
  8. Executive Order 14257, 90 FR 15041. Accessed October 2026.
  9. Executive Order 14357, 90 FR 50725. Accessed October 2026.
  10. Proclamation 11002, 91 FR 2443. Accessed October 2026.
  11. Executive Order 14389, 91 FR 9437. Accessed October 2026.
  12. Proclamation 11012, 91 FR 9339. Accessed October 2026.
  13. USTR, Notice of Actions in Section 301 Investigations, 91 FR 47318. Accessed October 2026.
  14. U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Revision 21, chapter 99. Accessed October 2026.

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  1. Hypervisor Vulnerabilities 2026: ESXi, vCenter, Hyper-V

    […] Computer Prices 2026Computer price indexes and HS 8471 imports […]

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