Gas
$4.15 /galAAA average, 9/8/26
39% higher than the $2.98 pre-war price on 2/28/2026The Facts
What you're paying now
Power
18.1% higherU.S. residential electric rate
Energy Information Administration: 18.8¢/kWh, Apr. 2026 vs Jan. 2025Burgers
$6.83 /lbground beef national average
Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data, June 2026Tariff burden
$1,100per household
Yale Budget Lab estimate of annual household costs from Trump administration tariffs under current lawExplore the Costs
Summer costs more now
Choose a summer plan. See the brand-name basics families buy for it, and how much more they cost this summer.
Beach Day
Cooler, towels, shade, sunscreen, toys, and water gear for a family beach day.
Total increase 21.0%
- Jan. 2025
- $348.25
- Aug. 2026
- $421.52
- Added cost
- $73.27
Soft cooler
Coleman
50.2% Jan. 2025 $27.72 Aug. 2026 $41.63
Pool float
Intex
46.2% Jan. 2025 $12.99 Aug. 2026 $18.99
Swim goggles
Speedo
37.4% Jan. 2025 $16.00 Aug. 2026 $21.99
Kids life jacket
STEARNS
21.2% Jan. 2025 $25.99 Aug. 2026 $31.49
Insulated water bottle
Contigo
19.6% Jan. 2025 $22.99 Aug. 2026 $27.49
Beach chair
Rio Brands
17.1% Jan. 2025 $69.99 Aug. 2026 $81.99
Beach umbrella
Tommy Bahama
16.7% Jan. 2025 $29.99 Aug. 2026 $34.99
Beach wagon
MacSports
14.9% Jan. 2025 $95.69 Aug. 2026 $109.99
Dock & Bay beach towel
Dock & Bay
14.3% Jan. 2025 $34.99 Aug. 2026 $39.99
Sunscreen
Coppertone
9.0% Jan. 2025 $11.90 Aug. 2026 $12.97
Methodology
This tool compares nine or ten recognizable-brand products available on Amazon for each summer plan, using price histories from Keepa. For each product, the baseline is its most recent available new price on or before January 20, 2025, and the comparison is its live new-offer price on August 4, 2026. The same Amazon product listing is used for both prices. We also retain each product's 30-day median in our review report to identify temporary sales or recent price rebounds. These totals are illustrative shopping baskets—not a CPI-style index or a claim about every product in a category.
The Cause
Why does everything cost more this summer?
Iran war
The U.S. war with Iran has made summer more expensive
Gas, flights, groceries, diesel, fertilizer, and cooling costs all run downstream of the oil shock. The war has shown up in the price of ordinary summer plans.
Tariffs
Trump's Tariffs Are Making Everyday Costs Higher
A year after "Liberation Day," tariff costs are landing on cars, clothing, household goods, and back-to-school shopping.
One Big Beautiful Bill
The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Took From the Sick and Gave to the Rich
The bill cut Medicaid, ACA marketplace support, and SNAP while locking in tax breaks weighted to the richest 1%. Families are paying for it in premiums, coverage, and food assistance.
Trump's circle
Trump's Friends Got Billions. What Did You Get?
Trump's family, donors, and tech allies are cashing in while most families face higher prices, weak wage gains, and skipped vacations.
Electricity
Why your electric bill keeps climbing this summer
Washington doesn’t set the number on your utility bill. But federal choices are making it spike.