Inflation is impacting the entire United States population as prices continue to be a burden for families, but certain California cities are feeling the impact more than others.
In a new study from WalletHub, cities were ranked on how much inflation is rising. The study pointed to the year-over-year inflation rate of 8.2% last month, but noted that some cities are feeling costs increase more than others. In the report, 23 Metropolitan Statistical Areas were examined. The site looked at the Consumer Price Index information available for the most recent month and compared it to two months ago and one year prior.
Inflation is going up the most in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area of Arizona, with Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, coming in after.
In California, San Diego-Carlsbad ranked number eight, with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at number 12, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario at number 13, and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward ranking at number 22.
The areas where inflation is going up the most in California all voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
San Diego County voted for Biden at 60.2% to Trump’s 37.5%, while 71% of Los Angeles County voters supported Biden.
Riverside County backed Biden by 53%, and San Bernardino County voted for Biden at 54.2%, with Trump receiving 43.6% of the vote there. Anaheim, California, is in Orange County, which voted 53.5% for Biden.
Oakland and Hayward are in Alameda County, which voted for Biden at 80.2%. San Francisco County went for Biden at 85.3%.
In September, inflation went up 8.2% from a year prior, which was more than was anticipated even though it went down a small amount from August levels. The inflation levels are hurting everyday Americans, as the rising costs impact specific items that are essential for day-to-day life.
Grocery costs are up 13% in September from a year before, and specific products have gone up a lot over the past year. Those items include butter and margarine, which are up 32.2%, eggs, up 30.5%, and flour, up 24.2%, according to CNBC. Fruits and vegetables are also up 10.4%.
Even the cost of daycare and preschool is up 5.1%, with apparel up 5.5%.
The price of gasoline has gone down a bit from the aggressive costs over the summer, but the national average is still $3.90 per gallon. Energy costs are impacting many Americans, as those are up 19.8%. The number includes power, fuel oil, and gasoline.