PRESS RELEASE: FCM Consulting Releases Study Revealing Domestic Airfare Has
Increased at Less than Half the Rate of Inflation in the United States

Research Compares Cost of Flights to Consumer Goods and Services in the U.S. Since 2019

New York, NY (July 16, 2025) –FCM Consulting, a division of leading travel management company FCM Travel, has released a new analysis comparing the cost of domestic airfare in the U.S. to the overall rate of inflation. The study tracked price changes for a range of everyday household items — including eggs, bread, milk, gas, and more – from 2019 to 2025.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 26% since 2019. A key measure of inflation across the U.S. economy, the CPI reflects the average change in prices paid by consumers for a market basket of goods and services. In May 2019, a standard basket valued at $1.00 rose in price to approximately $1.26 by May 2025.

Despite the significant rise in the cost of living across the country, the study reveals that domestic airfares have remained comparatively steady, increasing at less than half the rate of inflation over the past six years. Since 2019, economy fares are up 10.7%, with business class fares up just 1.5%. In contrast, the cost of a dozen eggs surged by 80% during this time, while a loaf of bread increased by 44.6%, a gallon of milk went up by 32.2%, and a gallon of gas increased by 21.9%.

“In the U.S. aviation market, we continue to see strong competition among carriers, which has led to more stable airfare pricing over the years,” said Ashley Gutermuth, Head of FCM Consulting, Americas. “Even as fuel prices and operating costs fluctuate, airlines have mostly avoided aggressive fare hikes on domestic routes in order to maintain yields and passenger load factors. Rather than raising base fares, airlines are instead shifting their pricing strategies and optimizing per-passenger revenue through optional add-ons and evolving loyalty program offerings.”

A more detailed breakdown of pricing trends for additional everyday essentials appears below. 

“Looking ahead, we don’t anticipate that there will be significant increases in domestic airfares beyond the usual seasonal variations tied to holidays or major events – which is encouraging news for travelers who are already facing rising costs across other areas of their lives,” Gutermuth added.

For more information on FCM Consulting, please visit here.