The cost of filling up your car with gas and heating your home is surging. Here's why.

The U.S. Department of Energy is warning Americans that they will likely pay "significantly" more to heat their homes this winter, which is expected to be colder than usual in some parts of the U.S.

People who use natural gas — or roughly half of all Americans — are projected to pay an average of $746 this season, up nearly a third from last year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a briefing this week. In the Northeast, those dependent on oil. for heating, mostly in older homes, can expect to cough up almost $1,800 — a more than 40% hike. Homes in the upper Midwest dependent on propane could face even bigger hit, with costs forecast to jump more than 50% over the previous winter.

Home heating costs are surging amid the sharpest jump in inflation in 30 years, with labor data this week showing that consumer prices jumped 6.2% from a year ago. That includes the price of gasoline — another major household expense — which have skyrocketed more than 50% on average over the last 12 months. In California, for instance, prices at the pump have topped an eye-popping $5 per gallon at gas stations near San Francisco.