12 Products Getting More Expensive in 2026

Expect to pay more for groceries, smartphones and other items

Cameron Huddleston,

Updated April 15, 2026

AARP

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En español

Updated April 15, 2026

shipping boxes, a stethoscope and a bag of groceries surround a red arrow that zigs and zags upward on a light green and white background

AARP (Getty Images, 3)

Just as inflation seemed to be cooling, consumer prices spiked in March as the conflict in Iran sent energy costs soaring. The inflation rate surged 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending March 2026, up from the 2.4 percent year-over-year increase in February, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Even before the war in Iran set off a wave of rising costs, several products were predicted to get more expensive this year. Now some things will cost even more.

Retirees on fixed incomes and lower-income adults will certainly feel the sting of rising prices. “They will face disproportionate pressure,” says Daniel Burrus, a San Diego–based business and technology trends consultant and founder of Burrus Research. “They’re going to be the ones hurt the worst.”

Here are 12 things that are getting more expensive — and steps you can take to save money.

Gas

About 20 percent of the global oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea that has become a choke point for global fuel and other shipments since the U.S. conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28.

As a result, gas prices have surged. The average price per gallon topped $4 at the end of March, the first time it crossed that threshold since August 2022, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

How to save: Spend less at the pump by signing up for gas station loyalty programs, which give customers discounts. Several grocery chains with fuel centers, including Albertsons, Giant, Kroger and Safeway, award their loyalty program members one fuel point per dollar spent on groceries, with 100 points equaling 10 cents off per gallon. Also, keeping your car in top shape and sticking to the speed limit can improve your fuel economy.

Health insurance

Many people will have to pay substantially more to get the medical care they need in 2026. The overall cost of health care in America is expected to rise by 6 to 7 percent in 2026, says Virgil Bretz, co-founder and CEO of health care technology and analytics company MacroHealth in Seattle. “This is basically double the general inflation rate,” he says.

In response to rising costs, health insurance providers are hiking premiums. Bretz says costs for large employers with self-funded plans are expected to rise 8 to 10 percent in 2026, which could translate to higher premiums for their employees. The median premium increase among small group plans is 11 percent, according to health policy nonprofit KFF. And premiums for health insurance coverage sold through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace are up an average of 26 percent this year, according to KFF.

To make matters worse, the enhanced premium tax credits that lowered the cost of Marketplace plans for low- and middle-income adults expired at the end of 2025 when lawmakers failed to extend them. As a result, more than 90 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 who enroll in Marketplace coverage will see higher premiums in 2026, according to a report by AARP Public Policy Institute.

“You’re going to have millions of people who say, ‘I can’t afford that,’” Bretz says.

How to save: Federal law requires insurance companies to post the prices they pay hospitals and doctors for services. Bretz recommends using your health insurer’s website or app to compare prices before receiving care to make sure you don’t get overcharged. Using a comparison tool, he found that the estimated cost of getting a knee MRI at a freestanding imaging center in Pensacola, Florida, is about $200 compared with more than $2,000 at a hospital imaging center.

Utilities

You’ll be shelling out more for your electric bill in 2026. Residential energy prices are already 9.5 percent higher this year than in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Growing demand for electricity from new data centers is contributing to higher prices in some areas of the country, including Texas and several mid-Atlantic states.

How to save: Simple changes like dialing your thermostat down a few degrees while you’re sleeping or out of the house can slash your home’s heating and cooling costs by 10 percent annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. During the warm-weather months, consider closing curtains to prevent heat gain, using ceiling fans to circulate cool air, and sealing cracks and openings to prevent warm air from seeping into your home. Also, check with your utility company to see if it will provide or subsidize a home energy audit to identify ways you can make your home more energy efficient.

Groceries

Attention, shoppers: Don’t expect to spend less at the supermarket this year. “It is very likely we’re going to see food prices continue to increase,” says David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University.

The Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts grocery prices will rise 3.1 percent in 2026. That might not seem like a big increase, but it comes on the heels of several years of food inflation, including an 11.4 percent spike in 2022.

Some items that saw especially big price hikes in 2025 will continue to cost more this year. Beef prices are already up double digits from a year ago because the U.S. cattle herd is at a historic low, Ortega says. “When you add that to strong consumer demand for beef, you have supply constraints,” he says. “Prices have nowhere to go but up.”

Prices for canned fruits and vegetables also rose last year as a result of tariffs on steel and aluminum, which increased the cost of cans, and they’re expected to remain high in 2026, he says.

How to save: Be sure you’re not making mistakes at the supermarket that are costing you money, such as missing out on senior discounts or staying loyal to pricier brands rather than buying lower-cost store brands. You can also beat rising grocery prices by using all the food you have in your pantry or freezer before buying more, planning meals around what’s on sale and using your grocery store’s mobile app for coupons and other savings. If you’re struggling to afford groceries, look into help from food pantries and programs that offer free or reduced-cost meals.

Auto and home insurance

Car and home insurance policies have been hit with aggressive rate hikes in recent years. Although insurance price increases are expected to slow this year, premiums are still rising in many parts of the country.

“If you are in an area that has had a lot of flooding or an area that has had a lot of fires, insurance is going up a lot,” Burrus says. “In some places, insurers are leaving.”

Parts of California and disaster-prone Gulf Coast states could see home insurance premiums rise by more than 20 percent, according to California-based insurance agency Inszone Insurance Services. California, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C., will see the biggest jumps in auto insurance rates this year, according to ValuePenguin’s State of Auto Insurance in 2026 report.

How to save: You might save hundreds to thousands of dollars on your auto and home insurance premiums by switching insurers. Consider using an independent insurance broker or an online marketplace, such as Insure.com, NerdWallet or Policygenius, to obtain quotes from multiple insurers and find the best rate. Also, make sure you’re taking advantage of discounts that can lower your premiums, such as bundling auto and home insurance with the same insurer.

Clothes and footwear

Tariffs hit the apparel industry particularly hard in 2025, because almost all clothing sold in America is imported. “It appears that U.S. retailers have done nearly everything in their power to keep from passing new tariffs on to their customers,” says Ben Johnston, chief operating officer of small-business lender Kapitus. “However, we expect to reach the limits of these strategies and expect prices to rise to reflect the true cost the tariffs have imposed.”

The Budget Lab at Yale University estimates that existing tariffs and a temporary 10 percent tariff that is scheduled to expire in July could lead to an increase of up to 3.6 percent in the price of clothing and footwear. If the 10 percent tariff is extended, the prices of clothing and footwear could rise by as much as 7.5 percent this year.

How to save: Taking advantage of end-of-season sales or buying secondhand apparel at consignment stores or online resellers can help lower costs. Or upgrade your wardrobe without spending a dime by hosting a clothing swap with friends.

Smartphones and computers

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has created a shortage of memory chips, which are used in a variety of electronics such as smartphones and computers. “When there are [chip] shortages, prices go up,” Burrus says.

A March 2025 report from market research firm Counterpoint Research predicts that smartphone prices will rise in 2026 as a result of chip shortages. Prices for lower-cost smartphones are expected to increase by about $30, and premium phones will likely see hikes of $150 to $200.

Computers will also be more expensive as a result of the chip shortage. According to a December 2025 study from market intelligence firm International Data Corporation, computer manufacturers Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo are raising computer prices by 15 to 20 percent in 2026.

How to save: If you need to replace a computer or smartphone this year, consider buying a refurbished model. Major tech brands and retailers sell pre-owned electronics, often at deep discounts and with warranties.

Jewelry

Gold, silver and platinum prices hit all-time highs in January 2026. Prices have since been volatile in response to the war in Iran but should continue to rise throughout the year, says Josh Glawson, content manager for precious metals dealer MoneyMetals.com.

The war with Iran “will certainly impact the price of gold, silver or platinum jewelry,” Glawson says. “Even the mere threat of price increases can cause smart businesses to preemptively raise their prices in anticipation of any possible fluctuation.”

How to save: Rather than heading to your favorite jewelry store, consider buying used at a consignment shop, estate sale or antique store. Resale websites like Poshmark, The RealReal and Store 5a also offer deals on used jewelry.

Shipping

Sending care packages to your kids or grandkids will cost more in 2026 — the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Jan. 18 announced price increases for its shipping services. On March 25, it announced an additional 8 percent increase to offset rising transportation costs that will be in effect April 26 through Jan. 17, 2027.

In addition, the Postal Service said in a September 2025 statement that it plans to raise the price of the Forever stamp, which is currently 78 cents and covers the cost to mail a 1-ounce letter, in mid-2026, though it didn’t specify the size of the increase.

How to save money: Use price calculator tools on the USPS, UPS and FedEx websites to compare rates. Reuse boxes you’ve received from online orders to avoid paying extra for packages from the Postal Service or other shipping services. And if you’re still paying utilities and other monthly bills via paper checks in the mail, save money on postage by signing up for paperless billing and automatic bill payments.

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Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Forbes Advisor, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider and many more online and print publications.