4 Things Retirees Should Buy at Costco Before Inflation Makes Them Unaffordable
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Going shopping can often feel like you are making a huge withdrawal from your bank — everyday items, including groceries, clothes and household products seem to get more and more expensive.
Retirees who live on a fixed budget need to prepare adequately for what they will spend at retailers like Costco and with inflation set to spike at any moment, they might be better off buying now to avoid paying extra later.
Here are four things retirees should buy at Costco now before inflation makes them unaffordable.
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, in 2023 the United States spent $8.2 billion to import coffee, one of the main goods and crops that American farmers typically cannot grow.
Fast forward to 2025, to add inflation and the high price of tariffs into the mix for countries who produce coffee, such as Brazil and Columbia, retirees might want to buy their favorite beans in bulk the next time they make a run to Costco.
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 have cut Italy’s olive oil supply by 32% in 2024. If that trend continues, retirees should prepare by purchasing a few more bottles at Costco on their next visit.
Beef
For any retirees who are 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 remain at record high prices in 2025, as noted by Drovers.
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.
Eggs
There were high hopes and promises made to reduce the price of eggs by the U.S. government at the start of the year. Alas, in May 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had accounted for 169,325,151 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in bird populations, both wild and domestically kept, which had the potential to keep egg prices high.
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 hits hard later on this year.
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