I Asked ChatGPT To Predict the Next Big Price Hikes — These 5 Items Came Up First

Jordan Rosenfeld

Sat, February 21, 2026 at 10:14 PM GMT+9 3 min read

Americans have been feeling the strain of higher prices for the past few years. Even as inflation cools in some areas, everyday costs remain high and new pressures continue to emerge. Tariffs, supply disruptions and global instability could keep prices high and push certain items even higher.

To get a sense of where budgets may feel pressure next, I asked ChatGPT to predict the next big price hikes. Drawing on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index and broader economic patterns, here’s what it said.

1. Beef and Meat

If you love a good burger, steak or sausage, be on alert. Meat prices in general and beef in particular are flashing the strongest early warning signs, ChatGPT said. Low cattle herds combined with tariff complications are tightening supply. When supply contracts at this level, price increases rarely stay confined to the wholesale market for long, the AI warned.

Retailers also tend to pass higher beef costs to consumers in noticeable jumps rather than gradual increases, ChatGPT said. That can translate into sudden sticker shock at the meat counter and fewer deals.

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2. Coffee and Beverages

Coffee prices could be headed higher due to weather disruptions in key producing regions that are limiting supply, while transportation, packaging and processing costs remain elevated, ChatGPT said. Beverage manufacturers often absorb these pressures temporarily, but when price increases arrive, they tend to stick.

Consumers should expect to pay more for coffee and other beverages. This may be a good moment to make coffee, tea or juice at home more often.

3. Restaurant Prices

Dining out, known in CPI terms as food away from home, is not a single item but it is a common discretionary expense for many households. ChatGPT noted that restaurant pricing is heavily influenced by labor and supply chain costs, both of which remain under pressure right now.

Many consumers have already noticed higher prices at their favorite restaurants, including fast food. ChatGPT said it takes only modest increases, sometimes as little as 4% to 7%, to make dining out feel unaffordable. Unlike grocery prices, restaurant prices rarely fall once they rise.

This may be a year to lean more heavily on meal planning and home cooking.

4. Household and Personal Care Goods

Everyday household and personal care items are another area where prices may rise soon, according to ChatGPT. Many of these products rely on imported ingredients, packaging materials or overseas manufacturing. New tariffs have pushed some manufacturers to raise prices across entire product lines rather than single products.

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That could show up in toiletries, cleaning supplies and paper goods all at once. Wholesale membership retailers like Sam’s Club and Costco may help keep costs down.

5. Jewelry and Precious-Metal Goods

Jewelry is not an everyday purchase for most Americans, but people still buy items like watches and engagement rings with some regularity. Prices in this category tend to move quickly when precious metal prices rise.

As gold and other metals climb, retailers often adjust pricing swiftly, ChatGPT warned. While this does not affect daily spending, it can significantly impact major purchases and gift budgets. This may not be the year for a big jewelry splurge.

The Bigger Picture

ChatGPT does not see these increases as part of a broad inflation surge. That distinction offers little comfort to households already feeling stretched. Planning ahead, tightening budgets and preparing for uneven price hikes could make the year easier to manage.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Asked ChatGPT To Predict the Next Big Price Hikes — These 5 Items Came Up First

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