The WonderSide > Pets & Family > Petflation outpaces inflation...

Petflation outpaces inflation in the U.S.

Tips for penny pinching pet care

6 minute read

A yorkie dog sitting in a shopping cart with red accents and shoppers in the background

Lately, inflation has been impacting every facet of consumer goods, and pet owners are feeling the punch when it comes to pet care prices. While overall inflation is cooling and we’re not seeing as many headlines about it, the costs for pet products continue to rise, making it more expensive to care for and raise fur babies. For example, in June 2023 the inflation rate for pet-related products and services increased 9.6%, compared to the general Consumer Price Index, which went up 3% from a year earlier.

Pet Business Professor John Gibbons, sums it up: “Petflation slowed from 10.3% in May to 9.6% in June. This is below the record 12.0% set in November, but it is a record for the month. More bad news is that 9 of the last 11 months have been over 10% and the current rate is still 6 times more than the 1.6% average rate from 2010 > 2021.” Pet Age coined in: Petflation. Since 2019, prices for pet-related products and services are up 22%.

Kitty Block, CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States, recently shared with CNN: “Nationwide, shelters are not seeing increases in pets being surrendered, however, when there are certain communities seeing spikes in abandoned or surrendered pets, that’s a sign of broader societal hardship.”

Stephanie Boone, Founder of Wondercide, shares her perspective: “Pets are an important part of the family, and the financial aspect of caring for our dogs and cats can become difficult during periods of inflation or economic uncertainty. Wondercide is there for your pack each step of the way. Keeping pets and their parents well cared for while lessening the stress on their wallet is top of mind always.”

Here are some tips to protect both pets and your bank account:

Consider Pet Insurance.

While using a high-yield savings account to cover future expenses is always an option, having enough money to cover unexpected accidents is never guaranteed. Pet insurance is an option to cut down on vet expenses, where a monthly or quarterly premium is paid for a certain amount of health coverage, which can include wellness visits, emergency care, and even operations depending on the insurer/policy. Most pet owners’ primary concern surrounding insurance is that they’ll pay more than they’ll save – however, research suggests otherwise. According to Pets Best, “4 out of 5 pets will have unexpected emergencies.” So pet owners could be strapped with the cost of surgeries, bloodwork, tests and more without insurance. Pet insurance can save when getting a new puppy, between neutering, shots, well visits and more. These savings can add up especially if you are a family with multiple pets. Potential Savings – $1,000–$5,000+ per year according to Forbes.

If you love something, Go Big!

If you love a product, buy in bulk for the best savings. Double down with neighbors or friends to share costs if you like, too. How can big sizes help you save? Here’s one example: Wondercide offers their best-selling Outdoor Pest Control spray in a gallon size, which can be used to refill their ready-to-use sprayer or any hose-end applicator. If you buy the gallon, you’ll save a whopping 50% versus purchasing the smallest 16 oz refill.

Assuming a 5,000 sq ft backyard and calculating monthly use to maintain control over bugs, the gallon will last 16 months. Buying the smallest size would mean 8 bottles – and far more plastic waste.

Bundle up.

Buying bundles and kits is smart. They pair products that work together and cost less than buying individually. Take Wondercide’s Complete Control Flea & Tick Kit. It has everything you need to keep your dog, cat, home, and yard protected, and you save 15% right away. Wondercide even discounts bundles further during sales – win-win.

Subscribe & save.

Subscriptions cut costs and ensure you never run out. The average number of subscriptions was up 14% per subscriber in 2022. Wondercide subscriptions save 5% every day – even on already-discounted bundles. Check the savings on their Insect Repellent or Fruit Fly Trap.

Follow the promo codes!

Before buying food, shampoo, training sessions, pest control, or anything else, search for deals. No time? Set up a Google Alert for your favorite brands’ promos, follow them on social, and use extensions like Honey or RetailMeNot. Signing up for brand emails or texts often yields an instant discount (Wondercide offers 10% off for new subscribers).

Keep the bling without the sting.

Grooming can get pricey, especially if fleas and ticks strike. Prevent infestations instead of paying to fix them. Effective, plant-powered products like Wondercide’s lineup keep bugs off pets and money in your wallet.

Collect rewards.

Join retailer rewards programs. For instance, Wondercide Rewards gives 1 point per $1; every 20 points equals $1 off. You even earn points for signing up and on your birthday.

Need a little more help?

If costs feel overwhelming, resources exist: pet pantries, emergency-care help, re-housing, and more via the Humane Society and other programs.

National Programs:

State Programs:

“We have plenty of other things to worry about and pet products shouldn’t be on that list. I created Wondercide to protect pets and their families,” Boone explains. “Since 2009, Wondercide has only raised prices once on select products. Many products are the same price today as they were fourteen years ago!”

As prices for everything else soar, Wondercide is happy to offer value in many ways to help combat petflation.

Suggested Stories