Federal data shows inflation in the Seattle area hit 4.9% last year, driven by soaring costs for dining out, clothing, entertainment and energy.
SEATTLE — Inflation is rising faster in the Seattle area than the national average — and shoppers are feeling its effects everywhere from restaurant menus to clothing racks to produce aisles.
The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that inflation in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area rose 4.9% last year, compared with 3.9% nationally.
Bud Goodwin, owner of Rising Sun Produce in Seattle, said this year’s price increase feels different.
“Obviously, I’ve seen prices go up before, but this year it’s been huge,” Goodwin said.
Data show that energy and gasoline prices have risen the most, rising by more than 23% and 25% respectively last year.
But gas prices alone don’t explain why Seattle has higher inflation than much of the country, said Joseph Phillips, a Seattle University economics professor.
“The rise in inflation last year was not actually caused by energy prices but by other categories,” Phillips said.
Federal data shows that restaurant prices in the Seattle area are up more than 7% from last year, while clothing prices are up nearly 15%. Leisure activities also grew by about 8%.
Phillips said much of that growth occurred in early 2025, before the recent conflict involving Iran heightened concerns about the oil market.
“It’s these unusual categories that ultimately seem to really explain the difference,” Phillips said.
Inside Rising Sun Produce, Goodwin said the actual situation on store shelves may be more unpredictable than broader inflation data suggests.
While the overall price of groceries in the Seattle area increased by less than 1% last year, some individual items saw significant price increases.
“The broccoli is the tallest I’ve ever seen,” Goodwin said. “It’s mainly due to the weather, but it’s not a big impact.”
Broccoli is now about three times more expensive than this time last year, Goodwin said.
Agricultural prices can fluctuate quickly based on weather, imports, fuel costs and supply issues, he added.
“It’s had its ups and downs,” Goodwin said. “The celery disappears for a week and then comes back.”
Economists note that some costs — especially gasoline — could eventually fall if global energy markets stabilize, but for other projects they tend to stay that way when prices are set.
