Federal data underscores meteoric rise of streaming subscription prices in 2025

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights a staggering 29% increase in the prices Americans paid for video streaming and gaming subscriptions from December 2024 to December 2025. The BLS noted that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), reflecting the spending habits of over 90% of the U.S. population, rose by 2.7% during the same period. This index specifically tracks costs associated with subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services like Netflix and Disney+, as well as one-time rentals of video and video game media, which can be accessed through various formats including physical copies and streaming. In contrast, traditional cable and satellite services, along with live streaming platforms such as YouTube TV and Sling, experienced a more modest inflation increase of 4.9% last year. The BLS clarified that the CPI-U does not account for seasonal price variations, which can stem from factors like weather changes, production cycles, or holiday sales. Particularly striking was the data from November 2025 to December 2025, which indicated a staggering adjusted inflation rate of 19.5% for video streaming and gaming subscriptions. This marks the highest inflation rate among all CPI-U subcategories, even surpassing food items. For context, instant coffee prices rose by 28%, while roasted coffee and uncooked beef steaks saw increases of 18.7% and 17.8%, respectively.