Matt Priest

Back-to-school season is a time of new beginnings. The start of the school year means a chance to make new friends, learn new subjects and buy new school necessities — such as clothing, shoes and backpacks.

In fact, the average American family planned to spend $674 on clothing, footwear, backpacks and other back-to-school supplies as they outfitted their children in kindergarten through 12th grade for the start of the 2016-2017 school year, according to the National Retail Federation's… Show more

Back-to-school season is a time of new beginnings. The start of the school year means a chance to make new friends, learn new subjects and buy new school necessities — such as clothing, shoes and backpacks.

In fact, the average American family planned to spend $674 on clothing, footwear, backpacks and other back-to-school supplies as they outfitted their children in kindergarten through 12th grade for the start of the 2016-2017 school year, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey. What many don't appreciate is that there is a hefty hidden tax parents will pay as well. Show less

Watching the Olympics closing ceremony in Rio on Aug. 21, we felt a swelling sense of national pride. With 46 gold medals and 121 total medals — more than any other nation — the United States is a winner in the pool, on the mats, on the courts and around the track.

But over the past several weeks, we were also reminded that the United States is not a winner when it comes to trade, especially for clothing and footwear.

It’s that time of year again as children return to school across the country and that seasonal anxiety runs high, for parents and kids alike.

Some of parents’ anxiety surely comes from near-record spending on back-to-school items. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports back-to-school spending for students grade K-12 has grown 55 percent over the past decade to $27.3 billion in 2016, averaging an unprecedented $673.57 per household this year. Accounting for $126.55 of that tally… Show more

It’s that time of year again as children return to school across the country and that seasonal anxiety runs high, for parents and kids alike.

Some of parents’ anxiety surely comes from near-record spending on back-to-school items. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports back-to-school spending for students grade K-12 has grown 55 percent over the past decade to $27.3 billion in 2016, averaging an unprecedented $673.57 per household this year. Accounting for $126.55 of that tally, per-household back-to-school spending on footwear even exceeds spending on school supplies. Show less

The future of footwear trade policy is staring us in the face.

U.S. footwear companies want to invest in 21st century footwear innovation—emerging technologies, 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, U.S. job creation—in order to propel our industry forward, but they are burdened by a costly, restrictive, and outdated tariff system from 1930. Congress has an opportunity to ease this burden on the industry with the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation free trade… Show more

The future of footwear trade policy is staring us in the face.

U.S. footwear companies want to invest in 21st century footwear innovation—emerging technologies, 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, U.S. job creation—in order to propel our industry forward, but they are burdened by a costly, restrictive, and outdated tariff system from 1930. Congress has an opportunity to ease this burden on the industry with the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation free trade agreement that will provide $6 billion in savings to footwear companies over ten years and serve as a blueprint for the future of footwear trade policy. Show less

Recently, Boston-based New Balance took a swipe at the Obama administration by announcing its opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Interestingly, the company’s change of position is not based on the merits of the TPP, but in retaliation for an entirely unrelated issue: the speed at which the Department of Defense is moving on a possible contract for New Balance to provide footwear for new recruits. Procurement protocol aside, New Balance’s opposition to the TPP is… Show more

Recently, Boston-based New Balance took a swipe at the Obama administration by announcing its opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Interestingly, the company’s change of position is not based on the merits of the TPP, but in retaliation for an entirely unrelated issue: the speed at which the Department of Defense is moving on a possible contract for New Balance to provide footwear for new recruits. Procurement protocol aside, New Balance’s opposition to the TPP is unfortunate, as this is a deal that will greatly benefit the footwear industry as a whole, footwear buyers in the United States, and New Balance as a company. Show less

During this holiday season, many Americans will purchase a pair of shoes for themselves or to give as a gift. In fact, footwear ranks as one of the top gifts people buy for their friends and loved ones this time of year, according to the NPD Group. American footwear consumers may not realize, however, that the shoes they buy are taxed at a rate higher than almost any product sold in America today.