Heating oil prices are up 59% from last winter. The spike is 'crushing folks,' Maine nonprofit says

Heating oil prices have climbed 59% from last winter, straining household budgets already squeezed by persistent inflation and prompting some residents to seek emergency assistance before winter begins, according to a Maine nonprofit. The spike is "crushing folks," the organization said, as higher fuel costs compound pressure on low- and middle-income families across the region. The surge matters because heating oil remains a primary winter energy source in the Northeast, so sustained elevated prices could divert spending from other essentials and drive up demand for aid programs. What to watch next: whether prices retreat before the coldest months and whether federal and state heating assistance programs expand to meet rising requests.