October 7, 2008 Energy Dept predicts higher heating costs

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Energy Department says the cost of heating your home this winter will be a lot more expensive, especially for the tens of millions of households that use fuel oil or natural gas.

Households that use oil can expect to spend an average of $2,388 - or $449 more than last year - for the October-April heating season. Users of natural gas will probably spend on average just over $1,000 - or $155 more than last year.

The winter outlook released Tuesday by the department's statistical agency predicts the price of heating oil - widely used in the Northeast - will average 60 cents per gallon more than last winter. The cost of electricity and propane is expected to be 10 percent to 11 percent higher.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)