Gas prices up over 23%, eating at home up over 3% in the Dallas area. Find out what else is driving inflation locally and nationally.

DALLAS — Local prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area saw notable shifts over the past year, led by a steep surge in energy costs, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The regional update shows energy prices jumped 15.95% from August 2025 to August 2026. Local drivers felt that spike directly at the pump, where the average price for all types of gasoline climbed to $3.791 per gallon, up nearly 85 cents from $2.943 per gallon a year earlier. Prices continue to rise in September which is not reflected in the report.



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North Texas residents also faced higher costs at the grocery store, with the price of food at home increasing 3.38% year over year.

Shelter costs in the metroplex saw more modest increases during the same period:

Overall Shelter: Up 1.27%Rent of Primary Residence: Up 0.98%Owners’ Equivalent Rent of Residences: Up 0.95%


National Inflation Breakdown

On the national stage, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in August after rising 0.1% in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the last 12 months, the overall all-items index rose 3.4% before seasonal adjustment.

Higher fuel costs drove much of the national increase, as the index for gasoline rose 3.9% for the month of August, accounting for over one third of the monthly all items increase, according to the report. Overall energy prices increased 2.1% nationally over the month.

Airline fares took off due to higher fuel costs, up 23.4% over the past 12 months.

Across the country, the food index ticked up 2.7%, while the shelter index rose 3%.

Dining out, known as food away from home in the report, was up 3.4% year over year.

Over the past year, national grocery trends varied across different aisles:

Nonalcoholic Beverages: Up 3.7%Fruits and Vegetables: Up 3.2%Cereals and Bakery Products: Up 2.6%Meats, Poultry, Fish, and Eggs: Up 1.1%Dairy and Related Products: Down 0.3%

Earlier in the week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Producer Price Index (PPI) for August which showed an increase of 5.4%. The PPI represents wholesale inflation, which can result in higher consumer prices in the future.