Retailers brace for a costly Fourth as global tariffs and shipping snarls ripple through 2025 summer season

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – As summer nears and anticipation for the Fourth of July begins to sizzle, fireworks retailers across northeast Indiana are feeling a different kind of burn—tariffs and shipping disruptions are driving up costs and creating uncertainty across the industry.

In Fort Wayne, where backyard pyrotechnics are a staple of the holiday season, fireworks sellers are preparing for one of the most volatile sales periods in recent memory. Prices are up, inventory is uncertain, and shoppers may want to act fast.

Boom Goes the Budget

According to industry analysts, wholesale fireworks prices have jumped 10–20% compared to last year, a ripple effect from increased tariffs on Chinese imports and lingering global supply chain instability. With the majority of consumer fireworks manufactured overseas—particularly in China—retailers say they’re caught in a financial crossfire.

“Some of the new products we’ve accepted have gone up 10 to 15 percent, 20 on the high end,” said Gary Graham, owner of Pyromaniacs Fireworks, a Fort Wayne-based shop that operates year-round. “But that’s something, on the retail level, we’re willing to eat and not pass on to customers.”

Graham said his ability to pre-purchase inventory before the most recent tariff hikes has given him a buffer many pop-up shops can’t afford. “It’s the seasonal sellers that are really going to feel the squeeze,” he added.

Planning? Good Luck.

For event producers like Matthew Loraine of Pyrotechnico, the bigger challenge isn’t just higher prices—it’s unpredictability. Loraine, whose company provides fireworks for the Fort Wayne TinCaps and formerly for the Three Rivers Festival, says the shifting tariff environment makes logistics a nightmare.

“We cannot plan ahead with any effectiveness,” Loraine said. “Regardless of what happens from here on out, the costs are going up, whether the tariffs hold or are reduced.”

That uncertainty means tighter margins for vendors and, potentially, scaled-back shows or fewer special effects during large public displays.

Retailers Caught in the Middle

Retailers are now walking a tightrope: eat the cost increases and risk shrinking profits, or pass them on and risk losing price-sensitive customers. In Fort Wayne, where patriotic displays are a major tradition, stores like Pyromaniacs are choosing to absorb as much of the cost as they can.

But not everyone has that luxury.

“Pop-up tents that order fresh product each year are dealing with sticker shock,” said one local wholesaler who asked not to be named. “They’ve got to factor in tariffs, ocean freight increases, and even inland transport costs—all of which are up.”

Advice for Shoppers

If you’re planning a backyard fireworks show this summer, both Graham and Loraine agree on one key point: shop early.

Retailers are advising customers to:

• Buy sooner rather than later to avoid low inventory and possible price surges.

• Compare prices at multiple stores or tents, especially those with early stockpiles.

• Expect fewer promotions or bulk discounts, as margins tighten across the board.

With the Fourth of July just weeks away, local stores expect a wave of early demand starting mid-May. Once the shelves are cleared, replenishment could be delayed or more expensive due to ongoing shipping challenges.

A Flashpoint for the Industry

While consumer fireworks remain legal and widely used in Indiana, the rising costs are adding fuel to a long-smoldering fire within the industry. Some sellers worry that if tariffs persist or increase again, smaller vendors may be priced out altogether—leaving only national chains and large distributors in the game.

“This is a fun business, but it’s not immune to global economics,” said Graham. “People think of fireworks as all flash and fun, but behind the scenes, it’s logistics, freight bills, and customs paperwork.”

For now, the countdown is on, and Fort Wayne’s skies are still expected to light up this July. But as the tariff tremors continue to ripple through the supply chain, both retailers and consumers may find the fireworks celebration a little more expensive—and a little more uncertain—than years past.