Overall pet industry price inflation decelerated in April 2026 after running well above the national average through much of the past year, though cumulative price gains since 2019 remain substantial across all pet segments, according to John Gibbons, president, Pet Business Professor, who tracks monthly U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index data for the pet industry.
Petflation cools across product categories
Total petflation fell to 3.8% year over year in April, down from 4.3% in March, noted Gibbons. That rate now equals the national CPI, which rose to 3.8% from 3.3%, a shift from March, when petflation ran approximately 30% above the national rate.
April price declines were led by pet products. Pet food and supplies prices fell from March, while the rate of increase slowed for services and veterinary care. Month over month, total pet prices were down 0.1% from March, with product segments falling 0.2% and services rising 0.01%.
Year-over-year inflation rates by segment for April 2026 vs. March 2026:
- Pet food: 2.2% (down from 2.3%)
- Pet supplies: 1.9% (down from 3.5%)
- Pet services: 6.6% (down from 7.8%)
- Veterinary: 5.5% (down from 5.6%)
Broader economic context
The national CPI rose to 3.8% year over year in April, up from 3.3% in March. Grocery prices increased 0.7% from March, with their year-over-year rate climbing to 2.9% from 1.9%. Gasoline prices are up 38.7% from February, according to Gibbons, a factor in the broader inflationary environment.
Gibbons noted that a partial explanation for April's petflation decline is a base-period effect: pet prices rose 0.4% from March to April 2025, making the year-over-year comparison less severe this month. He described the April result as "unexpected," noting that since 1997, there have been only three March-to-April price drops in pet categories.
Cumulative inflation remains a long-term pressure
Despite the monthly improvement, Gibbons cautioned that cumulative inflation since the pandemic remains significant. Pet prices are 28.2% above 2021 levels and 33.3% above 2019 levels. All pet segment price records were set in March 2026, and April prices are either at new records or within 0.3% of the March highs.
The average annual year-over-year pet inflation rate since 1997 for April is 3.1%. The current 3.8% rate is 22.6% above that historical average.
On a year-to-date basis, total petflation stands at 3.7%, nearly double the 24-to-25 rate, though well below the 22-to-23 peak. Pet food's year-to-date rate is 1.8%, up from 1.7%.
Implications for pet product manufacturers
"Strong, cumulative inflation has a widespread impact," Gibbons said. Pet prices are 33.3% above 2019 levels and 28.2% above 2021 levels, and since price/value is the biggest driver in consumer spending, Gibbons said, that gap will continue to shape purchasing behavior across all segments.
"The product segments will see a more complex reaction," he said. Pet services, as the most discretionary and income-dependent segment, will face less volume pressure, while veterinary visit frequency may decline as consumers absorb higher costs. Supplies, being more discretionary, are more vulnerable to reduced purchase frequency.
For pet food, Gibbons said the primary pressure is a shift toward online purchasing and private label — a trend visible at Global Pet Expo 2025 and SuperZoo 2025, where a large number of exhibitors offered OEM services, and that continued at Global Pet Expo 2026.
"Even minor price changes can affect consumer pet spending, especially in the discretionary pet segments," he said. "We'll continue to monitor the situation."
Editorial note: Year-over-year figures are April 2026 vs. April 2025 unless otherwise noted. Month-over-month figures are March 2026 vs. April 2026. All data sourced from the U.S. BLS CPI release via Pet Business Professor.
