Iconic Brands and Products That Are Getting More Expensive

Another day, another price hike? It certainly seems that way, with price increases affecting everything from what we eat to how we relax. And though paying more for anything is frustrating, it's particularly painful when the products that have become part of our daily lives force us to dig deeper into our pockets just to continue enjoying life's little luxuries — or necessities. Some of the biggest names in business have announced price increases recently, including Peloton, which is also cutting jobs. But stay tuned — online deals are expected to hit record lows this holiday season.

Related: 15 Important Steps to Take to Outsmart Inflation, According to Experts

If you jumped on the Peloton bandwagon at the beginning of the pandemic, you've recently been "rewarded" by paying more. Subscribers to Peloton's All-Access plan began paying $44 a month last year, up from $39, and the company just announced its raising prices on the Peloton Bike+ and its Tread treadmill. The bike now starts at $2,495, up $500, while the treadmill is climbing $800 to $3,495. The price hikes coincide with a decision to lay off nearly 800 employees and close retail stores, as Peloton tries to adjust to less demand now that fitness enthusiasts have started heading back to the gym. The good news — there is currently a free app with limited classes and one that offers many of the same features as the $44 version for $13 a month.

Related: Cheap Alternatives to Pricey Stationary Bikes and More

Keep an eye on your wireless bill, because Verizon is ramping up its prices starting in June. The price changes affect both consumers and businesses, so no one is spared. The price changes include a rise in the monthly administrative fees for regular consumers to $3.30 for each line from $1.95; many business accounts getting a monthly economic adjustment fee of $2.20 a line.

A burrito at Chipotle will cost you about quite a bit more than it did in 2020 after the chain has instituted a number of price hikes to keep up with inflation. In 2021, Chipotle raised prices by about 10%, and there's already been a 4% increase just this year to keep up with what the chain says is 12% commodity inflation and 16% labor-cost increases. But customers seem to think getting a burrito the size of a small baby for under $10 is still a great deal: Chipotle's revenue has climbed 16% in 2022 over 2021.

Times aren't so sweet for Nestle fans, who were hit with a 5% price hike — 8.5% for North American customers — in the first few months of 2022. Like most big companies, Nestle blames the rising costs of manufacturing, and it has also taken a hit from yanking some of its products, including Nesquik and KitKat, from Russia after that nation's invasion of Ukraine.

Citing the cost of making new programming, the streaming giant has yet again raised its prices, saying its standard plans will now cost $15.49 a month, up from $13.99. Prices last rose in 2020 and have almost doubled since 2013. Adding insult to injury: Netflix is now experimenting with ways to charge members who share their passwords outside of their households. 

Pizza has always been a popular way to feed a crowd on the cheap, but one of the nation's biggest chains says some of its best value deals have become unsustainable. Domino's is raising the price of its $5.99 "Mix and Match" promotion, which has been the same since its debut in 2009, to $6.99 for delivery customers. Carry-out customers can still nab the old price since the cost of producing carry-out orders is lower, Domino's says. It's not the first price-related change at Domino's, which recently made its $7.99 carryout offer digital only and cut the number of chicken wings customers get to eight from 10. The chain has struggled to keep drivers, compounding the rising costs of ingredients. 

As the price of food and labor goes up, Cracker Barrel is raising prices — but it's doing it slowly, in hopes not to spook customers. Instead of instituting big price increases, the chain will add "small, incremental pricing moves" CEO Sandra Cochran told analysts in February, looking to land somewhere around a 6% year-over-year increase. But if you're a fan of the cheapest eats on the menu, here's some welcome news: Well-known value-menu items such as chain's $5.99 Sunrise Specials and $6.99 lunch specials will stay unchanged for now, reports Restaurant Business.

Burger King's signature sandwich is no longer a whopper of a deal. The chain is raising prices across the board to combat inflation and rising food costs, including removing the Whopper from its discount deals, like the two for $5 promotion. The burger has "been on this core discount platform for too long," the company says. 

For many, free two-day shipping from Amazon has become as much a part of life as eating, sleeping, and breathing. But the e-commerce giant says a Prime price hike is necessary to balance out expanded member benefits and soaring labor and transportation costs. Annual subscriptions will rise to $139 from $119, while monthly subscriptions will climb $2 to $15. New members felt the pain beginning Feb. 18; existing members on March 25.

Even one of our guiltiest pleasures isn't safe from price hikes. The Hershey Co. says it already raised prices in 2021 and plans to continue to do so "across all segments" to help make up for the rising costs of ingredients, packaging, and labor. Will customers stop snacking? Unlikely.

Hot dogs have always made for a cheap, tasty meal, but if you're loyal to Oscar Mayer, you may pay about 10% more for a pack of beef franks this year. The news is even worse if you're a fan of the brand's turkey bacon, which got a 30% price hike. Parent company Kraft Heinz is also raising prices on other well-known products, from Velveeta to Kool-Aid.

Some brand-loyal folks just can't bring themselves to douse their clothes with anything other than Tide, but that familiar orange bottle costs about 8% more now, according to parent company Procter & Gamble. The same fate has befallen sister products Gain, Downy, and Bounce. The company's many other products, from Metamucil to Pampers, are likely to see increases, too.

This iconic sandwich cookie is among the best-known products under parent company Mondelez, which raised prices 6% to 7% last year. Other Mondelez brands include Cadbury, Philadelphia, Ritz, and Triscuit. The price hikes were based on cost projections, and — you guessed it — expenses are up, meaning even higher prices could be on the way. 

Hungry families have always been able to count on Little Caesar's for a "pizza, pizza" that won't break the bank, but inflation has reared its ugly head at the chain. Its Hot-N-Ready takeout pizzas, just $5 since their debut in 1997, now cost $5.55. The chain says customers will get 33% more pepperoni for the price, which could actually rise even more in some locations. 

Got your eye on a Billy bookcase? A sleek Poang chair? If you like your furniture flat-packed and Swedish, here's unwelcome news. After trying to resist price hikes, Ikea has finally raised prices an average of 9%, largely thanks to supply-chain issues that have made it harder to keep stores stocked. 

The Golden Arches have admitted to raising prices an average of 6% in 2021, and more is likely ahead. Considering the company says operating expenses have gone up 14% as ingredient costs have soared, we'd say it's a safe bet that you'll be paying even more for your Big Mac or Filet-o-Fish pretty soon. 

Is a dollar store a dollar store if things are no longer a dollar? Family Dollar, Dollar General, and other chains would argue that's the case, as they've long sold merchandise far beyond $1. Dollar Tree, on the other hand, has been a favorite of dollar-store purists because nearly everything actually was $1. But not anymore. The chain announced it was raising prices to $1.25 due to inflation. 

In mid-January, General Mills informed retailers that it would be raising prices an average of 20% on some of its most well-known brands, including Cheerios, Wheaties, Lucky Charms, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, and Progresso. The company blamed inflation and labor shortages as the reasons for the price hikes.