SOUTHLAND - (INT) – A 4 percent jump in electricity during June led an increase in the cost of living in the greater Los Angeles area.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said living expenses rose 1.5 percent the last 12 months or slightly less than the national average.

BLS spokesman Todd Johnson said food prices were up marginally only a tenth-of-a-percent last month.

“Beef, chicken and fresh vegetables had an impact on the direction of the higher prices. Those could very well be affected by the drought.”

The drought has yet to fully impact supermarket prices.

Story Date: August 12, 2014