Despite Inflation Forecast, Prices on Everyday Items Expected to Climb this Year

Hard drive shortages, fuel costs could force consumers to shell out more cash

February 9, 2012 RSS Feed Print

But you're not completely at the mercy of Big Telecomm. There are tons of free texting apps for smart phones, Woroch says, which can help make your monthly bill a bit less frightening.

Airfare. Apparently we live in a world of jet-setters and increased demand to fly coupled with fewer airline seats will probably mean higher ticket prices for consumers this year.

"We've seen airfare going up," Woroch says. "Prices sometimes seem low, but additional fees add up."

Rising fuel costs will also factor in to pricier airline fares, experts say.

Food. Naroff doesn't expect food costs to spike like they did in 2011, but trips to the grocery store are still likely to be a bit pricier this year, primarily due to rising energy costs and a growing global middle class.

"This is a long-term trend," Naroff says. "As the industrializing world makes more and more middle-class households, the demand for food goes up."

The cost to shuttle products back and forth also adds to the food prices consumers pay, and with fuel prices expected to skyrocket in coming months, grocery bills aren't likely to be spared.

mhandley@usnews.com

Twitter: @mmhandley