Consumer prices in the Seattle metro area rose 4.4% between August 2025 and August 2026, compared with 3.4% across U.S. cities, the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show.
Seattle’s inflation rate was higher than that of almost every other West Coast city. The San Francisco metro area, a close peer for Seattle, matched the national rate.
Energy costs were the main reason for Seattle’s higher rate. James McCafferty, who leads an economic and business research center at Western Washington University, said food and restaurant prices also pushed Seattle further ahead of San Francisco. He linked rising food prices to supply-chain problems and transport costs, and said grocers and restaurants faced higher labor and insurance costs.
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