Things that will cost more in 2013 besides taxes

Most consumers will be paying more for taxes in 2013 than they did in 2012. However, that is not the only bite your pocketbook will endure in the current year. Here is a review of just some of the things that will cost more in this young year.

Things that will cost more: food

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food prices are expected to rise by as much four percent in 2013. Much of that is because of the drought last summer. For an average household, that could mean paying as much as $40 more at the grocery checkout each month.

Breakfast cereals and baked goods will go up by as much as 3.5 percent, according to the USDA.

But its not just vegan foods that will cost more. The drought also caused the cost of feed grains to rise, increasing the price of meat and eggs and milk and cheese and butter.

Things that will cost more: new cars

Because of federally mandated fuel efficiency standards, automakers are forced to invest in new technologies and develop cleaner but more costly engines. Much of that cost is being passed on to the buyer at new car dealerships in 2013. How much varies by automaker and model. According to U.S. News and World Report, the cost of a midsize Toyota Camry will go up about $175 this year. The higher end Lexus CT 200h, however, will set buyers back $3,000 more than it would have last year.

Things that will cost more: health insurance

American consumers will also fork out more for healthcare in 2013. Just how much will vary by state and plan, but employers, burdened with higher insurance premiums, will pass some of that cost on to their employees. According to the human resource consulting firm Aon Hewitt, that will mean an average of $267 a year for American workers.

Things that will cost more: smartphones

In the past, consumers have often gotten a break on the phone when they paid for cellular service and data plans. However, like the rest of us, cell service providers are tightening their belts. DealNews says that T-Mobile will start charging customers full price for the hardware needed to utilize its services, and other providers may well follow suit.

Things that will cost more: baseball tickets

The New York Mets new “dynamic pricing” strategy raises the price of the the cheap seats. For opening day those seats will cost $63, which is more than double the cost from 2012. Meanwhile, other teams, such as the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners, are also raising ticket prices.

However, this is not across the board. Other more fan-friendly teams, such as the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, have either retained or lowered ticket prices.

Sources

US News
Michigan Chronicle
CNN