Wyoming cost of living rises

The cost of living in Wyoming rose in the second quarter of 2012, compared with the same time last year. That’s according to the state Economic Analysis Division, which calculated a 2.4-percent inflation across six cost of living categories, including rent and food prices.
 
Wyoming Senior Economist Amy Bittner says that’s higher than the national average.
 
“The us over that same time period, measured by the US Consumer Price index was 1.7 percent,” Bittner said.
 
Bittner says a 3.4-percent rise in the cost of rent statewide accounted for a large portion of the state’s inflation. She adds that the drought and higher oil prices could also have contributed to the 2.6-percent increase in the cost of food.