Heating Costs To Jump

This Winter 

NEW YORK City (AP) — American households that depend on heating oil will see costs jump sharply this winter, while those using natural gas will experience more moderate price increases, the government said October 9.

The retail cost of heating oil, which is used by 7 percent of American households, mostly in the Northeast, will surge 16.1 percent from a year ago to an average of $2.88 a gallon, the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration said.

Heating a home with natural gas, which is used by 58 percent of households, will be 6.3 percent more expensive than last year, the government said, costing $13.14 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Electricity, which heats 30 percent of American homes, will cost 2 percent more at 10.3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Propane costs will grow by 12.9 percent to $2.28 a gallon, the EIA said. About 5 percent of households are heated with propane.