Inflation surges to 9.1% in June, reaching new 40-year high

Inflation driving up food prices

New numbers show just how hard inflation is hitting U.S. households. One economic expert tells FOX 5, "it's costing the average household around $493 per month to buy the same basket of goods and services this year as it was last year."

BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - New numbers show just how hard inflation is hitting U.S. households.

The government’s consumer price index rose 9.1% over the last year. That’s a new four-decade high.

"It’s costing the average household around $493 per month to buy the same basket of goods and services this year as it was last year," explained Ryan Sweet, the senior director of economic research for Moody’s Analytics. "That’s an enormous burden on just the average household."

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Still, people who spoke to FOX 5 Wednesday in Bethesda weren’t necessarily surprised.

"I am paying a lot more, especially for gas, groceries, water," said Kevin Guam.

"That’s not a large number as far as I’m concerned," said Joe Busch. "I mean, I finished paying girl’s colleges, so we were talking tens of thousands."

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 13: A person shops in a grocery store on July 13, 2022 in Miami, Florida. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index soared to 9.1%, marking the fastest pace for inflation since November 1981. (Photo b

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