Higher costs to stay warm

The typical American household will spend nearly $1,000 this winter to keep the heat on. That’s about $85 more than a year ago, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). Electricity consumers will pay about one-third more than those who heat with natural gas.

The prognosis follows several years of increasing electricity prices that generally rose nationwide at the same rate as inflation. Residential electricity prices have risen about 25% since 2019, almost 10% higher than those for businesses, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analysis. While the cost of electricity has increased nationwide, particularly in the Northeast and along the West Coast, electric bills in some states are less than they were in the 2010s, after adjusting for inflation.

Paychecks for hourly wage earners have risen about 3% to 4% a year since 2019, keeping up with inflation, except when inflation and utility costs exceeded wage growth in recent years. More than one-third of households said they reduced or went without necessities to pay an energy bill at least one month last year, according to NEADA’s analysis of Census Bureau data. About one-quarter of households kept their home at an unsafe or unhealthy ­temperature or were unable to fully pay their energy bill at least once.

Graduation blues

College graduates may struggle to land a job this spring as businesses cut expenses, according to a recent survey of national employers. Just one-­quarter of the 183 employers polled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) anticipate hiring more graduates than they did last year. About half of those surveyed rated this year’s job market “fair or poor,” the most pessimistic view since the first year of the pandemic.

Declining sales and business leads, an uncertain economy, and budget cuts were the primary reasons for the concerning outlook. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News expect the unemployment rate to remain elevated for most of 2026, but NACE researchers say employers who didn’t hire college grads amid last fall’s economic uncertainty may be looking for more hires this spring. Graduates who find work should plan to go into the office or worksite: Just 10% of expected job offers will be fully remote.

Counting on discounts

More wealthy Americans are shopping at discount stores, a sign that inflation is hitting more income levels. About 30% of people earning more than $170,000 a year said they now shop at stores like Walmart, ALDI, and Dollar General, especially for food and essential household items. That’s up from 20% four years ago, according to researchers at GlobalData Retail. They attribute the shift, measured by surveys and credit card sales, to elevated prices and discount chains’ efforts to attract affluent customers with diversified lines and more attractive aisles.