Skyrocketing auto insurance premiums are fuelling inflationary [pleasures / pressures] in the USA. Costs have been rising at their fastest ever rates. Premiums jumped 2.6 per cent in March [lonely / alone] , which means costs are a [hopping / whopping] 22.2 per cent higher than this time last year. The increases contributed to inflation [rising / risen] by 0.4 per cent last month. No other category of [spending / spend] has soared as much as auto insurance. Foxbusiness.com said the average cost of [cart / car] insurance in the US has [trespassed / surpassed] $2,300 per year, which amounts to about $192 a month. The rising prices are impacting the [lowest / lowliest] paid most. Insurance is becoming more [at / of] a financial burden for those struggling to make [fenders / ends] meet in the cost of living crisis.
Automotive analyst Sean Tucker tried to explain what [is / be] behind the rising prices. He said: "I think the biggest factor is a [combination / combine] of new cars and them being more expensive, so if you [wreck / wrack] your car, the replacement cost is really [high / height] , and a fender bender is very expensive right [now / know] ." He attributed the sophistication of technology, gadgetry and safety equipment in modern cars to more expensive [prepare / repair] and replacement costs. The cost of replacing the battery [on / in] an electric car can [arrange / range] from $6,500 to well over $20,000. A simple fender bender is [likely / liked] to damage costly embedded sensors, cameras and sonar. Another factor driving up labour costs is a [shortage / surge] of car mechanics.