Global Pet Service Costs Exceed Goods Inflation in 2025
In 2025, the global pet market experienced a notable divergence in price trends: while pet products and food generally provided some financial relief to consumers with modest price increases, the cost of pet services, particularly veterinary care, surged ahead of average inflation rates. This phenomenon, observed across Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, and Brazil through an examination of Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, highlights a growing financial strain on pet owners. Experts attribute this to broader economic trends, anticipating that overall inflation might moderate in 2026, potentially easing these pressures.
A detailed review of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for 2025 across key international markets, including Europe, the UK, the United States, Canada, and Brazil, reveals a consistent pattern: the cost of pet-related services, primarily veterinary care, significantly outpaced the inflation seen in pet goods. This trend indicates that while expenditures on pet food and other products remained relatively stable, the rising costs of essential services imposed a greater financial burden on animal owners. Andrea Deitert of NielsenIQ noted during the GlobalPETS Forum 2026 that pet food prices generally stayed below global and regional inflation benchmarks, contributing positively to sales volume. However, Sahiba Puri of Euromonitor International pointed out that elevated service prices are a widespread economic trend, not exclusive to the pet sector. Euromonitor International's projections for late 2025 suggest a global average inflation decline to 3.5% in 2026, which could alleviate some of these price pressures across the pet industry.
Within Europe, the average CPI for pet products and services, including veterinary care, was 0.7% in 2025, falling below the broader Eurozone and European Union inflation rates of 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively. However, country-specific data revealed variations. Spain mirrored the overall trend, but with more subdued figures: pet product inflation was 1.4%, while veterinary and other pet services saw a 3.7% increase. Finland presented an anomaly, experiencing decreases in most supply categories, such as pet products (-2.87%), pet food (-3.37%), and pet equipment (-1.28%). Yet, veterinary and other pet services in Finland still recorded an inflation rate of 4.03%.
The United Kingdom saw a flat annual rate for pet product sales in 2025, but quarterly data showed a concerning upward trajectory after an initial decline. In contrast, veterinary and other pet services increased by 7.1%, though this rise moderated in the latter part of the year. This sector in the UK is currently under scrutiny by the British competition authority due to concerns over high prices and anti-competitive behaviors. The overall CPI in the UK rose by 3.6% in 2025.
In the United States, pet purchases, supplies, and accessories saw a 1% price increase, with pet food and treats rising by 1.2%. Pet services, however, climbed by 5%, and veterinary services registered the steepest increase at 7.1%. This contrasts with the general CPI increase of 2.7%, underscoring the faster-rising costs of services. Canada observed a decrease in pet food and supplies prices, with an annual CPI rate of -1.2%, while the overall price index for all items increased by 2.4%. Brazil experienced similar magnitudes of change in opposite directions: pet food prices fell by 4.55%, but animal treatment costs rose by 4.56%, and pet hygiene services recorded the highest inflation at 7.68%. Despite these increases, Brazil's overall inflation rate in 2025 was its lowest since 2018, averaging 4.26%.
The analysis underscores a significant trend in the pet industry for 2025: the cost of specialized services for animals, particularly veterinary care, significantly outpaced general inflation and the prices of pet products. This global pattern, while showing regional nuances, signals increased financial obligations for pet owners. The expectation of declining global inflation in the coming year offers a hopeful outlook for a potential stabilization of these rising service costs.