Cost of Living
Grocery prices, gas prices, utility costs, inflation impacts on everyday expenses, consumer sentiment, and the real-world financial pressures facing households.
Latest in Cost of Living
$792 is the record average U.S. summer electric bill this year, up 10.5%
American households will pay an average of $792 in electricity bills across the summer months of 2026, a 10.5 percent jump from the prior year...
Seniors on SNAP can deduct medical costs to unlock more food aid
Older Americans receiving SNAP benefits can subtract qualifying medical costs from their counted income, directly increasing the monthly food aid they receive. Federal regulations set...
California’s gas tax rose to a nation-leading 63.4 cents a gallon on July 1
California drivers are now paying the highest state gas tax in the country after the motor vehicle fuel excise tax climbed to 63.4 cents per...
California, Washington and Hawaii all have gas above $5 a gallon right now
Drivers in California, Washington and Hawaii are paying more than $5 a gallon for regular gasoline as of late June 2026, while the national average...
1 in 6 U.S. households is behind on utility bills as summer cooling costs climb
About 20 million U.S. households have fallen behind on utility payments, a figure that translates to roughly one in every six homes carrying unpaid energy...
$3.85 is the July 4 gas average, the highest for the holiday since 2022
American drivers heading out for the July Fourth weekend face a national average gasoline price of $3.85 per gallon, the steepest holiday-week reading since 2022....
Food makers are quietly shrinking package sizes as tariffs reach store shelves
American grocery shoppers are paying the same sticker price for cereal, snacks, and other staples, but they are bringing home less product per box. Food...
12.9% is how much beef prices have jumped in a year, one of the steepest grocery increases
American grocery shoppers are paying 12.9 percent more for beef and veal than they did a year ago, according to the May 2026 Consumer Price...
Minimum wage rises July 1 in Alaska to $14, Oregon to as high as $16.80 and Washington, D.C. to $18.40
Workers in three jurisdictions will see fatter paychecks starting July 1, 2026, when minimum wage rates climb to $14 an hour in Alaska, as high...
Virginia now bars hospitals from charging interest or late fees on medical debt until it is 90 days overdue
Virginians carrying unpaid hospital bills will get a 90-day grace period before any interest or late fees can be added to their balances, starting July...
$1,060 is what Arizona households will pay to keep cool this summer, the highest power bill in the nation
Arizona households face a projected $1,060 in summer electricity costs, the steepest cooling bill in the country, as temperatures climb and regulators scramble to keep...
Airline checked-bag fees have hit a record high this summer
Travelers checking bags on major U.S. airlines this summer will pay more than ever, with Delta, United, and JetBlue all raising first-bag fees by as...
California is banning confusing “sell-by” labels, reserving “USE by” for food that is truly unsafe
Starting July 1, 2026, every covered food product manufactured in California must carry one of two standardized date labels: “BEST if Used by” for quality...
Sugar and sweets are set to cost 6.7% more this year, outpacing the usual grocery rise
American grocery shoppers are paying sharply more for candy, sugar, and other sweets than for nearly every other item in the supermarket. Sugar-and-sweets prices climbed...
Back-to-school clothes are running about 8% higher as tariffs add an estimated $700 a year per household
American families shopping for back-to-school clothing this summer face a measurable hit to their budgets. Apparel prices rose 4.8 percent over the twelve months through...
Sam’s Club is raising its membership to $60, its first increase in four years
Tens of millions of Sam’s Club members will soon pay more for the privilege of shopping in bulk. The warehouse retailer, owned by Walmart Inc.,...
A Chicago maker’s headcheese tested positive for the Listeria strain behind a deadly outbreak
Three people in Illinois fell seriously ill after eating headcheese purchased from separate retail locations, and federal inspectors have now confirmed that an unopened sample...
18% is how much laptops and tablets could jump as tariffs hit before back-to-school
Families shopping for back-to-school laptops and tablets this summer face the prospect of paying up to 18 percent more than they did a year ago,...
$700 to $1,500 in STAR property-tax relief will reach New York seniors by check this summer
New York seniors who own their homes and earn $110,750 or less will receive direct checks of $700 to $1,500 from the state this summer...
8.5% base-rate hikes and 23% higher demand are lifting Florida Power & Light bills this summer
Florida Power and Light customers face a one-two hit this summer: an 8.5% base-rate increase that took effect in January 2026, combined with electricity demand...