Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Funflation Explains Pricier Hobbies As Consumers Keep Spending
Funflation means that fun activities are becoming more expensive.
This includes travel, games, sports equipment, books, arts and crafts, and other hobbies.
Even though prices are higher, many Americans are still spending money on leisure.
Some people are buying more expensive items or spending more on each purchase.
Others are replacing costly activities with cheaper ones close to home.
For example, someone might choose hiking or gaming instead of taking an expensive foreign trip.
Older millennials spent the most on hobbies in the data discussed.
Gen Z also increased its spending on video games.
“Funflation” describes rising prices for leisure, including entertainment, hobbies, travel and recreation.
Bank of America found hobby spending rose 7.9% year-on-year in August 2026, while transactions increased 3.4%.
United States Census Bureau data showed sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores rose 10.7% over the year through August.
Consumers may be replacing expensive activities, such as foreign travel, with cheaper options including hiking, gaming, camping and home hobbies.
Older millennials spent more than twice as much per consumer on hobbies as Gen Z, while Gen Z video-game spending rose 20% per person.
- Who
- Americans, including older millennials and Gen Z consumers.
- What
- Consumers are continuing to spend on hobbies and leisure despite rising prices, a trend described as “funflation.”
- When
- The cited data covers August 2026 and the year leading up to August.
- Where
- The data concerns the United States.
- Why
- Consumers may be substituting cheaper local or at-home activities for more expensive leisure options while continuing to seek entertainment.
- Term
- “Funflation” means inflation affecting leisure, entertainment, hobbies, travel and recreation.
- Hobby spending
- Rose 7.9% year-on-year in August 2026, according to Bank of America.
- Transaction growth
- Hobby transactions increased 3.4% over the same period.
- Specialty-store sales
- Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book-store sales rose 10.7% over the year through August.
- Overall retail comparison
- Overall retail and food-services sales increased 6% over the same period.
- Airfare
- United States airfare prices rose 26.5% year-on-year in August.
- Generational difference
- Older millennials spent more than twice as much per consumer on hobbies as Gen Z; Gen Z video-game spending rose 20% per person.