Energy costs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region increased by 15.95% between August 2025 and August 2026, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This sharp rise pushed the average price for all types of gasoline to $3.791 per gallon, an increase of nearly 85 cents from the $2.943 recorded a year earlier.
The report notes that prices continued to climb in September, though those figures are not included in the current dataset.
Food costs for local households also saw a year-over-year increase of 3.38%. Shelter expenses in the metroplex experienced more moderate growth during the same period. Overall shelter costs rose by 1.27%, while rent for primary residences increased by 0.98%. Owners' equivalent rent for residences went up by 0.95%.
Nationally, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.1% increase in July. Over the trailing 12 months, the all-items index climbed 3.4% before seasonal adjustments. Gasoline prices contributed significantly to this national trend, with the index for gasoline rising 3.9% in August alone.
This single category accounted for more than one-third of the monthly increase in the all-items index. Overall energy prices in the United States increased by 2.1% during the month.
Airline fares have also been affected by higher fuel expenses, rising 23.4% over the past year. National food prices increased by 2.7%, while shelter costs rose by 3%. Dining out, categorized as food away from home, grew by 3.4% year over year.
