It’s hard to ignore it: things are more expensive than they ever have been. In December, inflation hit a 40-year high of 7%, and the most vulnerable Americans are having a hard time putting food on their table and keeping their homes warm. We are paying 15.2% more for beef, 20.7% more for eggs and 5.9% more for milk than we did in December 2020. Heating costs are at an all-time high, now 25% more than we paid at the end of 2020. But where are the people that are impacted most?
With winter in full swing, Americans with low incomes may have to make some tough decisions. The map below shows where heating costs will have the most impact on budgets. Using data from our Environmental library, we looked at heating degree days weighted by average income. The red on the map below shows where there is higher energy costs and lower overall incomes, meaning that energy costs will make up a larger percentage of their overall budget.
Of course, most of the southern U.S. doesn’t get cold enough to warrant high heating costs, even if they have low income. Other areas, like Portland and Seattle, have higher heating costs, but also have the incomes to absorb the hit to their budgets. Similarly, the major cities of the east coast can also afford the higher rates.
Those in the Northern half of America don’t fair nearly as well, with Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine all falling into the “moderate” category at best, though most are seeing a significant hit to their overall spending for heating costs. While most people think of New Mexico as being a warm desert, the northern half of the state gets quite cold, and incomes can vary significantly.
Overall, most of the country lands in a spot where the increased heating costs will have some impact on their bottom line. With higher cost of living for everyone, some people will have to make hard decisions in the coming months and prioritize spending to stay warm over the winter months.
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