Rising fuel and tariff costs make Mother's Day flowers more expensive in the United States

However, this year the flower supply chain has faced disruptions, especially due to rising fuel and tariff costs. Flower prices for Mother’s Day in the United States have clearly become more expensive, forcing both buyers and sellers to be more calculated with their spending. Every bouquet delivered to American consumers must go through an interconnected supply chain. For example, a rose picked from a farm in Ecuador needs to be flown by cargo plane to Miami, Florida, and then transported in refrigerated trucks to flower wholesalers or retail shops across the United States. But this year, the flower supply chain has encountered new difficulties. Fuel costs for air and ground transportation from Central and South America to various parts of the United States have increased sharply due to the Iran conflict, which was largely of the United States’ making, and the resulting energy crisis. On top of that, the cost of importing flowers and related packaging materials into the U.S. has also risen significantly as a result of the tariff war started by the U.S. government. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for indoor plants and flowers in March rose by 7.5% year-on-year, much higher than the 3.3% overall rate of inflation. “Saga Flower Wholesale,” which has operated in Los Angeles’ “Flower District” for over 30 years, was counting on a big payoff for Mother’s Day as in previous years, but this year they’re struggling. The company’s business manager Maralena Gutierrez told CNN, “Fuel costs right now are extremely high, which has affected flower prices.” According to her, the average cost for a bouquet of 24 roses has climbed to about $30, whereas last year it was around $20—a 50% increase.