4 Things Retirees Should Buy at Costco Before Inflation Makes Them Unaffordable
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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These days, going shopping can almost feel like making a huge withdrawal from your bank, as everyday items including groceries, clothes and household products continue to get more expensive. With inflation fears always present, retirees living on fixed budgets should plan accordingly for items they might be better served purchasing now to avoid paying more later.
Here are four things retirees should buy at Costco before inflation makes them less affordable.
1. Coffee
Your favorite cup of brew is in danger of spilling over into dangerously high prices, even at a place like Costco. According to U.S. Import Data, the United States spent $8.2 billion in 2023 to import coffee, one of the main goods and crops American farmers typically cannot grow.
Fast forward to 2026, inflation and the high price of tariffs for countries who produce coffee such as Brazil and Columbia could still play a factor. Retirees might want to buy their favorite beans in bulk the next time they make a run to Costco, just in case.
2. Olive Oil
A kitchen essential at Costco is about to get more expensive due to the high demand and potentially low supply: Olive oil.
Inflation, combined with climate change, has hit producers of olive oil hard in many countries like Italy, where the research institute Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare (ISMEA) documented that excessive drought and extreme heat cut Italy’s olive oil supply by 32% in 2024. Should the trend pick up again, retirees could prepare by purchasing a few more bottles at Costco on their next visit.
3. Beef
For meat lovers, particularly when it comes to cow-based products, make some room in your freezer. Costco might have to mark up your favorite cuts of meat from cattle should they again hit record high prices like in 2025.
Naturally, any retired shopper can look for alternatives in other meat categories or plant-based versions to save some extra dollars, but those who have a hankering should pick up a few extra packages at Costco.
4. Eggs
There were high hopes and promises made to reduce the price of eggs as the presidency changed hands. Alas, in May 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accounted for over 169 million cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in bird populations, both wild and domestically kept, which caused prices to spike. While they have since tempered as the health crisis passed, the situation continues to be monitored closely.
Retirees use eggs for a lot of purposes — from breakfast to baking — and while they do not stay fresh forever, having an extra carton or two from Costco around the house might not be a bad idea, especially if inflation continues to rear its ugly head.
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