Winter heating bills set to jump as inflation hits home

With prices surging worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels, the U.S. government said Wednesday it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54percent compared to last winter. Nearly half the homes in the U.S. use natural gas for heat, and they could pay an average $746 this winter, 30percent more than a year ago. This could be the most expensive winter for natural-gas heated homes since 2008-2009.