Miodrag Ignjatovic | Eplus | David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
U.S. consumers will pay more for everything from fuel to hot dogs and hamburgers heading into Memorial Day weekend as the Iran war reignites inflation.
Federal government data released this month showed shoppers’ total inflation rose 3.8% in April from the same month last year, the highest annual rate since 2023. Travel, recreation and food prices rose particularly sharply, draining Americans’ wallets as the unofficial start of summer began.
“They’re not going to be satisfied with what they see,” said Stephen Juneau, senior U.S. economist at Bank of America. “You’re going to see a lot of complaints this weekend when people are driving in their cars, at the airport, or going to the stores to shop.”
Consumer sentiment officially hit an all-time low in May, according to University of Michigan survey data released Friday. The outlook was also dealt a blow by soaring oil prices amid the nearly three-month-old Middle East war.
elf beauty announced Wednesday it would roll back some of its price increases, saying consumers were “suffering” from rising fuel costs. mcdonalds Chief executive Chris Kempczinski warned earlier this month that fast-food chains face a “challenging environment” as inflationary pressures mount.
Here are some areas where Americans would pay more during a weekend getaway.
food
Miami Beach, Florida, Publix grocery store, hot dog and sausage packaging, Nathan’s Hebrew National display.
Jeff Greenberg Universal Images Group | Getty Images
With smaller herds and higher fertilizer costs, summer barbecues will be even more expensive this year.
Ground beef and steak are up 16% compared to 2025. Prices in Frankfurt are up nearly 11% compared to a year ago.
Over the same period, tomato shoppers increased by nearly 40%, and lettuce by about 8%. Toppings such as spices, seasonings, condiments and sauces rose nearly 4%.
Shoppers buying desserts like cakes, cupcakes and cookies will pay just over 5% more than they did a year ago.
Carbonated soft drinks are up 3.7% from last year, and coffee prices are up more than 18%. The price of beer, whose demand has slowed recently, rose 2.2%.
trip
Gas prices shown at Shell Gas Station in Mt Prospect, IL on May 21, 2026.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
A record number of tourists are expected to leave their homes this weekend, but will face rising transport costs due to the war-induced rise in oil prices.
AAA expects 45 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holidays, an increase of 0.4% from last year’s peak. The organization says more than 39 million people will travel by car.
Gasoline prices have soared more than 28% from a year ago, according to federal data. Heading into the weekend, the average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline nationwide was at a four-year high, according to AAA.
“Holiday weekends this year pose additional financial challenges,” said Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet. “Memorial Day weekend is traditionally a time of heavy driving, which means consumers are looking for ways to save money on gas or make cuts in other parts of their budgets to compensate for higher gas prices.”
Airfares rose 20.7% from April 2025 to 2026, reaching their highest level since 2022. Airlines said they had to raise ticket prices because of rising jet fuel costs following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for the world’s crude oil.
Spirit Airlines cited expensive jet fuel as the reason for suspending flights earlier this month. Industry analysts said ticket prices could rise further if there were no low-cost carriers in the market.
Consumer costs for hotels, motels and other away-from-home accommodations will increase by 4.3% compared to 12 months ago.
About 30% of respondents in a Bank of America survey said they were not planning to change their summer travel plans because of rising gas prices. However, around one in five said they planned to cut back on their vacation or choose a destination closer to home.
recreation
Klaus Wedfeldt | Getty Images
Americans who opted for a staycation will also feel inflationary pressures this past summer.
Tickets for movies, plays and concerts increased by 5.5% compared to the previous year. Unusually, tickets for sporting events fell 10% over the same period.
Prices for bicycles and other sports vehicles are up 4.3% from a year ago.
Those looking to do a little gardening will see a 5% increase in prices on consumables such as tools and hardware. Indoor plants and flowers have increased by 6% in the past year.
