Ranked: The Prices Surging Fastest in 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Fuel prices are leading inflation in 2026, with heating oil up 45.1% and gasoline up 39.8% since December.
- Travel has become significantly more expensive, as airline fares (+21.6%) and hotel prices (+19.3%) post double-digit gains.
- Tomatoes (+31.1%) rank among the year’s biggest price surges, showing that inflation pressures extend beyond energy.
From filling up your gas tank to booking a flight or buying groceries, some prices are rising much faster than others in 2026.
This graphic ranks the goods and services seeing the biggest price increases so far this year, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data measures price changes between December 2025 and April 2026 using the latest CPI release available as of June 1, 2026.
Energy-related categories dominate the rankings, but they’re not alone. Travel costs have climbed sharply, while several food items have also posted outsized gains.
Energy Prices Lead the Way
Heating oil has recorded the largest increase of any category, surging 45.1% since the start of the year. Gasoline prices have also climbed sharply, rising 39.8% over the same period.
| Rank | Category/Item | YTD Change (Dec 2025 → Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heating oil | 45.1% |
| 2 | Gasoline | 39.8% |
| 3 | Tomatoes | 31.1% |
| 4 | Airline fares | 21.6% |
| 5 | Hotels and motels | 19.3% |
| 6 | Public transportation | 13.5% |
| 7 | Apparel | 7.8% |
| 8 | Fresh vegetables | 7.1% |
| 9 | Coffee | 5.3% |
| 10 | Footwear | 4.4% |
| 11 | Beef and veal | 3.2% |
| 12 | Electricity | 3.0% |
| 13 | Tobacco and smoking products | 2.8% |
| 14 | Personal care products | 2.6% |
| 15 | Fresh fruits (overall) | 2.0% |
| 16 | Bread | 1.9% |
| 17 | Milk | 1.7% |
| 18 | Pork | 1.5% |
| 19 | Sugar and sweets | 1.3% |
| 20 | Alcohol at restaurants and bars | 1.2% |
| 21 | Breakfast cereal | 0.8% |
| 22 | New cars and trucks | 0.7% |
| 23 | Alcohol at home (store-bought) | 0.4% |
| 24 | Auto parts | 0.4% |
| 25 | Concert, sport, and movie admissions | 0.4% |
| 26 | Wireless phone service | 0.3% |
| 27 | Bananas | 0.2% |
| 28 | K-12 private school tuition | 0.2% |
| 29 | College tuition and fees | 0.2% |
| 30 | Auto insurance | 0.2% |
| 31 | Haircuts and personal care services | -0.1% |
| 32 | Cheese | -1.0% |
| 33 | Chicken | -1.0% |
| 34 | Natural gas (home utility) | -1.5% |
| 35 | Prescription drugs | -1.6% |
| 36 | Over-the-counter medications | -1.7% |
| 37 | Used cars and trucks | -2.9% |
| 38 | Health insurance | -3.9% |
| 39 | Eggs | -10.9% |
These increases reflect a rebound in energy markets and higher crude oil prices. Because fuel costs affect transportation, manufacturing, and logistics, sustained increases in energy prices can ripple through the broader economy and contribute to higher costs elsewhere.
Travel Costs Are Rising Fast
Travel-related expenses have seen some of the strongest price increases in 2026. Airline fares are up 21.6%, while hotel and motel prices have increased by 19.3%.
Public transportation costs have also risen by 13.5%, making travel more expensive across multiple modes.
Food Inflation Is Uneven
Food prices have moved in different directions this year. Tomatoes have surged 31.1%, making them one of the fastest-rising grocery items in the CPI basket. Fresh vegetables overall are up 7.1%, while coffee prices have climbed 5.3%.
At the same time, several food staples have become cheaper. Egg prices have fallen 10.9%, while chicken and cheese prices are both down 1.0%.
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