AT&T, Verizon Raise Prices and Test Consumer Budgets

Where in Americans’ household budgets is inflation hitting the hardest? WSJ’s Jon Hilsenrath traces the roots of the rising prices to learn why some sectors have risen so much more than others. Photo Illustration: Laura Kammermann/WSJ

This summer will test whether Americans already absorbing can also shoulder the burden of costlier cellphone service.

Wireless companies have spent the past month boosting fees and raising the cost of some midrange wireless plans. Industry executives say that consumers already numbed to surging prices for other necessities might absorb slightly higher rates instead of switching providers or dropping service.