The US Hispanic community has been affected the most by soaring energy prices, according to a new study.

The findings released by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) suggested that the rise in energy costs mostly affected Hispanics as 62% of Hispanic households earned less than $50,000 in 2010 compared to 46% of Anglo households. This reduced the amount of income they could spend on food and household necessities.

Evan Tracey, Senior Vice President of the ACCCE said: “For millions of Americans living on low and fixed incomes, surging energy prices mean less money for other necessities such as food, housing and health care.

“Hispanics are spending more of their family budget on energy costs, while at the same time the community is facing high unemployment and greater poverty levels.”

The study also suggests 27% of Blacks and 26% of Hispanics were living in poverty in 2010 and US energy bills have also doubled in the past decade.