Consumer prices are up this year, but there are a few bright spots to take advantage of in your summer plans.
Consider travel. Road tripping might be a fair bit cheaper thanks to the 8.3% drop in gasoline prices from last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data out on Tuesday. Airfare is also lower, with a 3.5% decrease logged between June 2024 and June 2025.
Having fun at home, though, is another story. Hosting a cheap barbecue is no picnic, with beef prices sharply higher. And many things that keep children entertained — toys and playground equipment, as well as subscription services for videos and games, to name a few — are more expensive than last year.
Here’s where inflation may be hitting your summer plans.
Learn more: What is inflation, and how does it affect you?
It’s a good summer to hit the road.
Summer gas prices haven’t been this low in four years, AAA noted last week, with costs driven down “due to an abundance of supply in the oil market.” As of Tuesday, gas prices nationwide averaged $3.15 a gallon, with even lower prices across parts of the Sun Belt, according to AAA.
Airfare costs are also easing, down 3.5% between June 2024 and June 2025, BLS data shows. Lodging cost inflation at hotels and motels was down 3.7% in the same period, falling 3.6% from May to June.
Still, the cost of eating out was up 3.8% from last June, higher than the 2.4% increase for food at home, making it worthwhile to pack a cooler or cook while on vacation.
Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute said in a report last month that a Fourth of July party for 10 people would cost about $130 for food and beverages. That's a 2.2% increase from last year, with price hikes seen in beef, eggs, and cherry tomatoes. Chicken was a cheaper protein to offer, the report noted.
Indeed, according to BLS data, uncooked ground beef prices were up by 10.3% on an annual basis in June, while chicken prices were up by 3.9% over the same period. Fish and seafood price increases were even softer, up just 0.9% on an annual basis.
This may also be the summer to swap sweets for produce: Fresh fruit prices were up 3.4% in June compared to last year, while candy and gum prices were up 8.1%.
Parents looking to keep kids entertained while school is out may experience some pocketbook pain.
Prices for toys, games, hobbies, and playground equipment rose 1.7% annually, with a 1.2% increase from May to June, according to BLS data. The cost of musical instruments was also up 3% on an annual basis, while subscription and rental services for videos and video games rose a whopping 13.7% over the same period, putting a damper on a classic air-conditioner-friendly activity.
