Pet food prices remained comparatively restrained at the end of 2025, even as overall pet-related inflation accelerated in December, according to industry analyst John Gibbons of PetBusinessProfessor.com. While total pet inflation rose to 3.5% year over year, pet food continued to post one of the lowest inflation rates among pet categories.
In December, pet food prices increased 0.2% from November and were 1.2% higher than a year earlier. Although prices have risen for six consecutive months, pet food inflation remained well below the Food at Home inflation rate of 2.4% and less than half the total pet inflation rate. The report noted that pet food prices have deflated in 15 of the past 22 months, reflecting a prolonged period of price stabilization following sharp increases in 2022 and 2023.
On a year-to-date basis, pet food prices were essentially flat in 2025, down 0.01% compared with 2024. This marks a significant shift from earlier years, when pet food inflation reached 10.6% in 2022–23 and 1.5% on average from 2018 to 2020. Nearly all cumulative pet food inflation since 2019, approximately 96%, occurred during the 2021–25 period, following a deflationary phase in early 2021.
Pet food inflation compared to other pet segments
Nevertheless, the December data show pet food prices approaching, but not surpassing, historical highs. According to the report, pet food prices ended the year within 0.8% of their record peak, making it the only major pet segment that did not set a new price record in December.
By contrast, other pet segments experienced substantially higher inflation. Veterinary services prices rose 2.0% from November and increased 7.1% year over year, while pet services inflation reached 5.0%. These service-driven increases pushed total pet inflation above the national Consumer Price Index, which held steady at 2.7% year over year.
The report highlighted a growing divergence between product and service inflation within the pet market. Combined pet service segments posted a 6.2% inflation rate, compared with 1.3% for pet products, including pet food and supplies. This imbalance has helped limit overall price pressure on pet food, even as service costs continue to climb.
From a longer-term perspective, cumulative inflation remains significant. Total pet prices were approximately 29% higher than in 2019 and 24% higher than in 2021. However, pet food prices have increased far less than other pet categories over that period, particularly veterinary services, which have seen sustained and above-average inflation.
The report emphasized that pricing remains a critical factor shaping consumer behavior. While higher service costs may reduce veterinary visit frequency, pet food may see more nuanced responses, including shifts toward private label products, online purchasing and value-oriented formulations.
Although overall petflation rebounded in December, the data suggest pet food pricing entered 2026 in a comparatively stable position, providing a measure of insulation for the segment amid continued inflation elsewhere in the pet economy.
