08/31/2026
The period between July 2025 and July 2026 was marked by a stabilization of mental illness rates at historically high levels rather than a dramatic new surge. While earlier years saw sharp increases driven by pandemic aftershocks, the data from late 2025 through mid-2026 highlights a persistent capacity and access crisis. The demand for care remains massive, but the infrastructure to support it is severely strained.
U.S. Price Increases, July 2025 to July 2026
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
1. Fuel oil — +39.1%
2. Other motor fuels — +30.7%
3. Airline fares — +25.5%
4. Regular gasoline — +25.3%
5. Midgrade gasoline — +23.0%
6. Premium gasoline — +21.5%
7. Computer software and accessories — +21.2%
8. Instant coffee — +15.8%
9. Jewelry — +15.2%
10. Uncooked beef roasts — +13.5%
11. Video/video-game subscriptions and rentals — +13.4%
12. Postage — +13.3%
13. Sewing machines, fabric and supplies — +12.9%
14. Tomatoes — +12.8%
15. Delivery services — +12.6%
16. Gardening and lawncare services — +12.3%
17. Apples — +11.1%
18. Watches — +10.6%
19. Dishes and flatware — +10.4%
20. Other video equipment — +10.0%
21. Home health care — +9.7%
22. Candy and chewing gum — +9.6%
23. Uncooked beef steaks — +9.6%
24. Roasted coffee — +9.4%
25. Video discs and other media — +9.2%
26. Ground beef — +9.0%
27. Turkey and other uncooked poultry — +8.4%
28. Recorded music and music subscriptions — +8.0%
29. Fresh fish and seafood — +7.8%
30. Frozen fish and seafood — +7.8%
31. Lettuce — +7.5%
32. Ci******es — +7.3%
33. Motor vehicle maintenance/servicing — +7.3%
34. Intracity transportation — +7.0%
35. Apparel services other than dry cleaning — +6.6%
36. Vehicle parts/equipment other than tires — +6.6%
37. Nonelectric cookware/tableware — +6.4%
38. Frankfurters — +6.3%
39. Rice — +6.2%
40. Men’s underwear/nightwear/swimwear/accessories — +6.2%
41. Motor vehicle repair — +6.2%
42. Shelf-stable fish and seafood — +6.1%
43. Fresh whole milk — +6.0%
44. Newspapers and magazines — +6.0%
45. Outpatient hospital services — +5.8%
46. Other uncooked beef and veal — +5.6%
47. Sports vehicles including bicycles — +5.6%
48. Vehicle accessories other than tires — +5.5%
49. Salt, seasonings and spices — +5.4%
50. Girls’ apparel — +5.3%
51. Laundry and dry-cleaning services — +5.3%
52. Women’s suits and separates — +5.2%
53. Inpatient hospital services — +5.2%
54. Dental services — +5.1%
55. Pet services — +5.1%
56. Other fresh vegetables — +5.0%
57. Water and sewerage maintenance — +5.0%
58. Other fresh fruits — +4.8%
59. Fresh milk other than whole — +4.8%
60. Renters/household insurance — +4.8%
61. Indoor plants and flowers — +4.7%
62. Other condiments — +4.7%
63. Other to***co products — +4.7%
64. Veterinarian services — +4.7%
65. Window coverings — +4.6%
66. Women’s footwear — +4.5%
67. Crackers and related bread products — +4.5%
68. Fresh cakes and cupcakes — +4.4%
69. Haircuts and other personal-care services — +4.4%
70. Motor oil, coolant and fluids — +4.3%
71. Utility piped gas — +4.3%
72. Electricity — +4.2%
73. Men’s pants and shorts — +4.2%
74. Nursing homes/adult day services — +4.2%
75. Breakfast cereal — +4.1%
76. Tax preparation/accounting fees — +4.1%
77. Canned fruit — +4.0%
78. Toys — +4.0%
79. White bread — +4.0%
80. Computers, peripherals and smart-home assistants — +3.9%
81. Garbage/trash collection — +3.9%
82. Citrus fruit — +3.8%
83. Musical instruments and accessories — +3.8%
84. Women’s underwear/nightwear/swimwear/accessories — +3.8%
85. Men’s shirts and sweaters — +3.6%
86. Motor vehicle body work — +3.6%
87. Distilled spirits away from home — +3.6%
88. Internet service — +3.5%
89. Parking fees and tolls — +3.5%
90. Vehicle registration/license fees — +3.5%
91. Tools, hardware and supplies — +3.5%
92. Potatoes — +3.4%
93. Elementary/high-school tuition and fees — +3.4%
94. Day care and preschool — +3.4%
95. Hair/dental/shaving personal-care products — +3.4%
96. Limited-service meals — +3.3%
97. Beer away from home — +3.2%
98. Canned vegetables — +3.2%
99. Household cleaning products — +3.2%
100. Nonfrozen juices and drinks — +3.2%
101. Rent of primary residence — +2.9%
102. Sports equipment — +2.9%
103. Men’s footwear — +2.8%
104. Soups — +2.8%
105. Beer at home — +2.8%
106. Cable/satellite/live-streaming TV — +2.8%
107. Food from vending machines/mobile vendors — +2.6%
108. Fresh sweet rolls, coffeecakes and doughnuts — +2.6%
109. Hotels and motels — +2.6%
110. Physicians’ services — +2.4%
111. Residential telephone services — +2.4%
112. Sauces and gravies — +2.4%
113. Breakfast sausage — +2.3%
114. Movies, theaters and concerts — +2.3%
115. College tuition and fees — +2.2%
116. Admission to sporting events — +2.1%
117. Cookies — +2.0%
118. Snacks — +1.9%
119. Baby food and formula — +1.8%
120. Eyeglasses and eye care — +1.8%
121. Peanut butter — +1.8%
122. Wine away from home — +1.8%
123. Whiskey at home — +1.7%
124. Food at employee sites and schools — +1.6%
125. Fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins — +1.6%
126. Ham — +1.6%
127. Pet food and treats — +1.3%
128. Fees for lessons/instruction — +1.3%
129. Educational books and supplies — +1.2%
130. Frozen vegetables — +1.2%
131. Parking and other fees — +1.2%
132. Living-room/kitchen/dining-room furniture — +1.1%
133. New cars — +1.1%
134. Stationery and gift wrap — +1.1%
135. Photographers/photo processing — +0.9%
136. Household paper products — +0.8%
137. Other appliances — +0.8%
138. Lunchmeats — +0.8%
139. Pork chops — +0.7%
140. Tires — +0.7%
141. Bananas — +0.6%
142. New trucks — +0.5%
143. Other pork roasts/steaks/ribs — +0.5%
144. Sugar and sugar substitutes — +0.5%
145. Distilled spirits at home — +0.2%
146. Prepared salads — +0.2%
Source: MeidasTouch
