Could tariffs increase the price of funerals?
The staff said some of the caskets are made with imported steel, a material that President Trump put a 25% tariff on.
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Funeral home workers spoke to News 12 about how the price of funerals could be impacted now that certain tariffs have gone into effect.
Staff at Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers said they have been serving the community for decades.
Manager Joseph Bivona said their average funeral costs around $9,000. He shared how much caskets usually cost.
"Caskets range in price from around $1,600 [and] up," Bivona said.
The staff said some of the caskets are made with imported steel, a material that President Trump put a 25% tariff on.
Frank Sinatra, the president and CEO of the home, shared how this could impact the product.
"I'm sure those caskets may go up in price, depending on the rate of the tariff. That of course, I think will be passed onto funeral homes," Sinatra said.
Sinatra said he doesn't think his business will be impacted that much. However, added that he is more concerned about the potential impact on the grieving families that they serve.
"Because - we would only purchase a casket, if the family purchases it from us," Sinatra said.
While they wait to see what happens, Bivona said he understands how important it is to keep service costs the same.
"It's a tough economy out there," Bivona said. "They're looking for a traditional funeral, at a reasonable price, and we try to help them out as much as we can."
