Americans plagued by surging prices over the past 20 months continue to face strain as the cost of everyday necessities remains elevated following a hotter-than-expected inflation reading in March.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a broad measure of the price for everyday goods, including groceries, gasoline, and rent, rose 0.4% in March from the previous month. Consumer prices were 3.5% higher than a year earlier, marking the second month of increasing inflation and the biggest jump since August.

The measure remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

Though moderating prices of some foods and goods are helping temper inflation, other basics such as housing, baby formula, and auto insurance are pinching household finances.

Overall, consumer inflation is 20.94% higher than in March 2020. Here’s what the latest inflation numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean for you:

Shelter costs remain sticky, but renters have had it worse

Few Americans have felt the effects of inflation more than the nation’s renters, but some relief could be on the horizon.

Though rent prices remain elevated, they have been worse. The measure for shelter costs dropped to 5.7% from the March 2023 peak of 8.2%.

One silver lining: Rising vacancy rates could motivate landlords to lower their asking rents.

According to Redfin, the number of apartments under construction remains near a record high. That upcoming supply will prevent rents from marking a dramatic increase anytime soon.

Auto insurance is at its highest in decades

Car insurance costs haven't been this bad in 47 years. The price of auto insurance surged 22% year over year in March, a pain to drivers’ wallets.

According to insurance tech firm Insurify, one of the measures driving up insurance costs was the “skyrocketing” price of auto parts, along with an uptick in the severity of claims. Costs of auto parts have remained somewhat sticky — down just 0.8% from a year ago and 0.2% from February.

Owning a car generally has become pricier. Motor vehicle maintenance and servicing increased 6.2% year over year, while repairs jumped 11.6%.

Meanwhile, parking fees and tolls were 5% higher than they were in March 2023, up 0.4% from February.

Adding to inflation concerns, prices were climbing at the gas pump.

Gasoline prices (of all types) increased 1.7% year over year in March, after increasing 3.8% in February. As of April 10, the national average for gasoline was $3.62 per gallon, up $0.23 from one month ago, according to AAA data.

Those in the market to purchase a used car or truck caught a small break. Used vehicles registered an annual decline of 2.2% over the same period, while prices of new cars and trucks fell 0.9% from March 2023.

Read more: Tips for getting cheap car insurance in 2024

Some food prices cool at the grocery aisle

Grocery prices — at least some of them — are easing up.

Some items posting the largest declines in prices were apples, which were down 10% from March 2023. The cost of cheese fell 3.1%, eggs were down 6.8%, and ham declined by 4.7% over that same period.

A few foods remain stubbornly high. Frozen juices and drinks jumped 27.5% year-over-year. Meanwhile, uncooked beef roasts cost 11.2% more than they did a year ago, the BLS found. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, that translated to an average of $7.39 per pound for all uncooked beef roasts.

While groceries showed signs of cooling, consumers still felt the burn of inflation while eating out. The cost of food away from home increased 0.3% from February and was up 4.2% from a year earlier.

Restaurant meals rang in 3.2% higher than a year ago, and even grabbing a quick snack from vending machines was up 6.2%.

Baby formula prices accelerate

A new point of concern: The price of baby food is on the rise.

Baby formula shot up 9.9% from a year ago after rising 0.7% month over month. According to Yale School of Medicine, a year’s supply of baby formula in 2023 costs between $760 and $2,280. For children with special dietary needs, that could be even higher.

For instance, a generic tub of baby formula can cost anywhere from $20 to $35 at Target, while some brand names run more than $50 for a 35-ounce container. Meanwhile, organic powder baby formulas can cost between $30 to $44 for an average 21-ounce container.

At-home senior care on the rise

Some costs across the healthcare field marked upticks.

Home healthcare for elderly or disabled family members posted a large jump, rising 5.9% from February — and up 14.2% from a year ago, the BLS found.

Hospital and related services increased 1.2% from February and were 7.7% higher than a year ago. Inpatient hospital services were up 6.9% year over year, and outpatient care was up 8.3%.

Meanwhile, prescription drug costs grew little, and over-the-counter medications began to post modest declines.

The cost of nonprescription drugs declined 1.1% from a month ago but was 7.4% higher than in March 2023. Overall, medicinal drugs were 2.5% higher than a year ago, 0.3% up month over month.

Music and streaming prices are up

Leisure activities as common as listening to music cost a little bit more this month.

The inflation reading for recorded music and subscriptions rose 1.9% from February and was 4.3% higher than a year ago.

Last July, Spotify (SPOT) raised prices for the first time in a decade to $10.99 a month for individuals (previously $9.99) and $16.99 a month for families in the US (previously $14.99). Now, Spotify reportedly plans to hike up prices for their premium subscription once more later this year.

The cost to purchase, subscribe, or rent videos also jumped 3.8% from last month and was up 8.1% from a year ago. Meanwhile, prices of cable, satellite and live streaming services also rose 0.5%, and was 3.8% higher than March 2023.

Lastly, the price of physical media and video discs skyrocketed 14.7% from February and was a whopping 30.1% higher than year-ago levels.

Disney+, for example, already lost 1.3 million subscribers in the final quarter of 2023 following price hikes the popular streaming service issued last year. In October, Disney+ premium memberships rose from $10.99 to $13.99 a month in the U.S. — equal to $139.99 a year.

What’s next

While inflation has fallen substantially from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022, everyday prices have failed to reflect relief across the board.

Headline inflation stood at 3.5% in March, up from 3.2% in February and still well above the Fed’s target 2% reading. That has analysts predicting that the Fed will postpone its planned rate cuts this year, keeping borrowing costs higher for longer.

“Inflation has not just stalled, but it is moving in the wrong direction,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, in a statement. “By sticking hard-and-fast to its inflation target, the Fed risks waiting too long to lower interest rates.”

Gabriella Cruz-Martinez is a personal finance and housing reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @__gabriellacruz.