Home heating cost Americans $9.98 billion in...

Home heating cost Americans $9.98 billion in January, $470 million more than if weather for the month had been average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. That means that the typical home owner or renter spent $138.80 on oil, gas or electricity to keep warm last month, $6.54 more than the bill would have been in a normal January. Of course, costs vary considerably across the country, but bills were above normal in every area except the Pacific Coast, according to the monthly report. In the Pacific region, which includes Washington, Oregon and California, heatings bills averaged $76.19, $3.81 below normal.