California Tenants Suffered 8th-Highest Rent Hikes in US Over Four Decades

As I start my fifth decade as a California business journalist, an apology is in order.

Reflecting on my work, I feel I shortchanged tenants as a topic in my economic coverage. How could I have overlooked a group that comprises almost half the state’s population?

This is a slice of the population, often lacking in wealth, who typically must consider relocating once a year as the lease expires. So if nothing else, swings in rent prices seem far more relevant to many readers’ household finances than, say, gyrations in home values, a more commonly covered topic.

Do homeowners, who enjoy greater stability in their living arrangements, really need frequent updates on real estate values? Well, other than for gossipy purposes?

So, as a sign of seeking forgiveness, I bear a gift for tenants. Call this column the start of “Tenant Talk” – an attempt to provide a weekly snapshot into the tenant’s view of the world.