Rental prices increase by 5.3% compared to 2023
The rental rate has not stopped climbing. The constant increase in costs affects half of the owners and tenants in the country, who face difficulties paying for housing.
Rental prices have skyrocketed. According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rental prices have increased 5.3% compared to the same period last year.
Another similar index (called landlord rental equivalent) intended to measure the cost of housing for landlords also increased 5.7% compared to 2023.
Every day it is more difficult to pay for a home
High and rising prices make it more difficult every day for citizens to pay rent or a mortgage to own a home.
A survey conducted by Qualtrics in February 2024 and reviewed by Voz Media revealed that half of the country's homeowners and renters (49.9%) face difficulties making their housing payment. Many of them make great sacrifices to be able to meet their basic financial commitments.
Although the study explained that the most common sacrifice was not taking vacations or taking fewer vacations, many expressed having more severe problems making payments related to their homes.
Additionally, more than one in six people (17.9%) who struggle to afford a home borrowed money from friends or family. Meanwhile, 17.6% dipped into their retirement savings. More than one in seven (15.6%) delayed or skipped medical treatments.
Redfin economic research leader Chen Zhao detailed:
Inflation drops only 0.1 points
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 3.3% last May. The figure marked a small drop compared to April (when it stood at 3.4%):
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% to 3.4% in May. Energy stood at 3.7% and food at 2.1%.
The energy index also increased by 3.7% in the last year. Gasoline rose 2.2% and electricity 5.9%.