NEW YORK (AP) — Relentlessly rising auto insurance rates are squeezing car owners and stoking inflation.
Auto insurance rates rose 2.6% in March and are up 22% from a year ago. Premium costs have been marching steadily higher since 2022, even as inflation at the consumer level steadily cooled from its 9.1% peak in the middle of that year. Consumers have had some relief as the rate of cost increases for food and energy, two key components of most budgets, has eased greatly.
But auto insurance and car ownership costs have become a sticking point for consumers and the Federal Reserve in its battle to rein inflation back to its goal of 2%.
Typically, individuals would see a noticeable increase in their premiums because of speeding tickets and other moving violations. Adding new drivers or a general increase in claims in the area were other reasons.
Alves granted €1m bail after sexual assault conviction
Stone carvings found inside cave of China's Longmen Grottoes
Xi Meets Sri Lankan PM in Beijing
Hayao Miyazaki's animated fantasy leads Chinese box office
Soccer fans now have a day to celebrate the world's most popular sport
Top HK official vows to advance Article 23 legislation at full speed
Draft rules to improve data security released
Paulson Prize for Sustainability 2024 opens for applications
Nation's NEV output hits milestone