These CA Metro Areas Have The Biggest Inflation Problems In The Country: Study

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two California metropolitan areas have the biggest inflation problems in the country, according to a new study by WalletHub.

With the year-over-year inflation rate at 2.3% in April, marking the lowest rate recorded since February 2021, the personal finance website this week released its updated report on the Changes in Inflation by City.

The Los Angeles area has the highest inflation problem, followed by the San Diego area, according to the study.

"California is feeling the brunt of inflation more than any other state right now, with Los Angeles and San Diego topping the list of cities with the biggest inflation problems," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told Patch.

"Both metro areas saw sharp year-over-year CPI increases; 3% for LA and a staggering 3.8% for San Diego, far above the national average of 2.3%. Surging prices, especially in essential sectors like housing and transportation, make it clear that inflation isn't hitting all parts of the country equally. While national trends are showing signs of progress, California residents are still experiencing a serious squeeze on their finances."

To determine how inflation is impacting people in different parts of the country, analysts at WalletHub compared 23 major metropolitan statistical areas across two key metrics related to the consumer price index, which measures inflation. The study's authors compared the consumer price index for the latest month for which Bureau of Labor Statistics data is available to two months prior and one year prior to get a snapshot of how inflation has changed in the short and long term.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area ranked No. 1 overall, according to the report.

The CPI change was 1.20% from the latest month compared to two months prior. The CPI change was 3.00% from the latest month compared to one year ago.

The San Diego-Carlsbad metro area ranked No. 2 overall. The CPI change was 0.80% from the latest month compared to two months prior. The CPI change was 3.80% from the latest month compared to one year ago.

Earlier this year, the San Diego area had the highest inflation problem in the country, according to a study by WalletHub.

The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area ranked No. 6, while the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area ranked No. 19.

View the full report on WalletHub.