But here’s something that hasn’t changed much: the pace at which car insurance rates are rising. Car insurance rates are up almost 21% for the 12 months ended in February, according to new Consumer Price Index data released Tuesday. The last time car insurance rates rose that much on an annual basis was 1976, not counting January, which saw the same annual rate increases. The rise in car insurance rates alone contributed half a percentage point to the overall 3.2% inflation rate last month. Meanwhile, drivers in North Carolina saw the smallest bump in car insurance rates, up just 5.5% over that same timeframe.

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Persons: Gerald Ford, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, hasn’t, it’s, Tim Zawacki, Zawacki, ”, Robert Passmore, “, ” Zawacki Organizations: New, New York CNN, Apple, P Global Market Intelligence, CNN, National, LexisNexis, Casualty Insurance Association, Silver State Locations: New York, Nevada, Wyoming, Silver, North Carolina