Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 22
California Tops U.S. Household Bills at $4,193 a Month as Inflation Hits 3-Year High
Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 22

California Tops U.S. Household Bills at $4,193 a Month as Inflation Hits 3-Year High

5 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 22
  • $4,193 a month put California at the top of UtilityRates.com's ranking of average household bills across 12 categories, from mortgages and utilities to internet, insurance and transport.
  • New Jersey followed at $4,036 and Hawaii at $4,028, while West Virginia was cheapest at $1,984—less than half California's total—highlighting wide state-by-state cost gaps.
  • Utility costs are adding to the squeeze: JD Power said utility bills rose 7% from 2024 to 2025, and AAA reported average gas prices in every state topped $4 for the first time in four years.
  • Broader inflation pressure is also hitting groceries, with April prices for beef up 14.8% and tomatoes up 15%, feeding voter discontent as Trump's approval rating fell to 29% in a Fox News poll.
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