COST OF LIVING

Crude oil dropped 8 percent Wednesday — diesel at the pump didn't move

Nov 6, 2026

•

1 min read

Crude oil dropped 8 percent Wednesday — diesel at the pump didn't move

Wall Street priced in cheaper energy while the weekly EIA survey stayed right where it was.

COST OF LIVING

Health insurance is rising at three times the speed of your paycheck

Nov 2, 2026

•

1 min read

Health insurance is rising at three times the speed of your paycheck

Your wages grew 3.0% last year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Do the math.

COST OF LIVING

One in four new-car buyers is now signing a 7-year loan

Oct 21, 2026

•

1 min read

One in four new-car buyers is now signing a 7-year loan

A decade ago, that would have gotten you laughed out of the dealership. Today it's one in four buyers.

COST OF LIVING

You probably blamed prices. The rate did most of the damage.

Oct 16, 2026

•

2 min read

You probably blamed prices. The rate did most of the damage.

When the rate nearly triples, the math turns against you faster than the price tag ever could.

COST OF LIVING

In every October AAA has ever tracked, gas stayed under four dollars a gallon

Oct 12, 2026

•

1 min read

In every October AAA has ever tracked, gas stayed under four dollars a gallon

Until this one. The seasonal dip came. It just wasn't enough.

COST OF LIVING

Ground Beef Was $3.82 in 2019 — It's $6.92 Today

Oct 2, 2026

•

1 min read

Ground Beef Was $3.82 in 2019 — It's $6.92 Today

And the reason it won't come back down is a cattle herd smaller than it's been in 75 years.

COST OF LIVING

At 64 and waiting for Medicare, that bridge now costs over $12,000 a year

Sep 23, 2026

•

1 min read

At 64 and waiting for Medicare, that bridge now costs over $12,000 a year

If you're 60, you're not paying the average. You're closer to $1,000 a month.

COST OF LIVING

$216 more a month than 2019, for the exact same thing

Sep 18, 2026

•

2 min read

$216 more a month than 2019, for the exact same thing

Multiply that by 60 monthly payments and the extra cost on a single loan approaches $13,000.

COST OF LIVING

The Fed raises rates Wednesday, and the median payment is already $2,134

Sep 14, 2026

•

1 min read

The Fed raises rates Wednesday, and the median payment is already $2,134

It bought them nothing but a higher interest rate — and the Fed votes Wednesday on whether to push it further.

COST OF LIVING

$4.07: Labor Day gas just set a record that stood since 2012

Sep 1, 2026

•

1 min read

$4.07: Labor Day gas just set a record that stood since 2012

The national average for Labor Day week came in at $4.07, a 24-cent beat on a record that had stood for 14 years.

COST OF LIVING

In 41 of 49 big cities, median earners can't afford a median home

Aug 25, 2026

•

1 min read

In 41 of 49 big cities, median earners can't afford a median home

The income needed to buy has jumped nearly half in six years. Wages didn't come close.

COST OF LIVING

In 2019, a typical family could afford a typical house. That is no longer true.

Aug 19, 2026

•

1 min read

In 2019, a typical family could afford a typical house. That is no longer true.

When the sticker price, the financing cost, and the wages all moved in different directions, something had to give.

COST OF LIVING

In 2019, the mortgage payment was $1,072. Today it's $2,155.

Jul 7, 2026

•

1 min read

In 2019, the mortgage payment was $1,072. Today it's $2,155.

That's the 30-year tab for buying today versus buying in 2019. Same loan type. Very different era.

COST OF LIVING

What your AC will cost before you run it

Jul 1, 2026

•

2 min read

What your AC will cost before you run it

The estimate came out before the heat dome did.

COST OF LIVING

Your July 4th cookout costs $21 more than the 2019 version

Jun 29, 2026

•

1 min read

Your July 4th cookout costs $21 more than the 2019 version

Ground beef is up 5.5% from last year and buns jumped 7.7% — here's where the extra $21 went.

COST OF LIVING

Your neighborhood's next build just stopped

Jun 17, 2026

•

1 min read

Your neighborhood's next build just stopped

Builders pulled back the hardest since the lockdown.

COST OF LIVING

Jun 5, 2026

•

1 min read

The most expensive room in healthcare

Same procedure. Triple the bill. Depending on the door.

COST OF LIVING

May 23, 2026

•

1 min read

Same house. Six years later.

The walls didn't move. The math did.

COST OF LIVING

May 15, 2026

•

1 min read

The seat didn't change. The price did

Tuesday's CPI buried this on page four.

COST OF LIVING

Nov 6, 2026

•

1 min read

Crude oil dropped 8 percent Wednesday — diesel at the pump didn't move

Wall Street priced in cheaper energy while the weekly EIA survey stayed right where it was.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Nov 2, 2026

•

1 min read

Health insurance is rising at three times the speed of your paycheck

Your wages grew 3.0% last year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Do the math.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Oct 21, 2026

•

1 min read

One in four new-car buyers is now signing a 7-year loan

A decade ago, that would have gotten you laughed out of the dealership. Today it's one in four buyers.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Oct 16, 2026

•

2 min read

You probably blamed prices. The rate did most of the damage.

When the rate nearly triples, the math turns against you faster than the price tag ever could.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Oct 12, 2026

•

1 min read

In every October AAA has ever tracked, gas stayed under four dollars a gallon

Until this one. The seasonal dip came. It just wasn't enough.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Oct 2, 2026

•

1 min read

Ground Beef Was $3.82 in 2019 — It's $6.92 Today

And the reason it won't come back down is a cattle herd smaller than it's been in 75 years.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Sep 23, 2026

•

1 min read

At 64 and waiting for Medicare, that bridge now costs over $12,000 a year

If you're 60, you're not paying the average. You're closer to $1,000 a month.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Sep 18, 2026

•

2 min read

$216 more a month than 2019, for the exact same thing

Multiply that by 60 monthly payments and the extra cost on a single loan approaches $13,000.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Sep 14, 2026

•

1 min read

The Fed raises rates Wednesday, and the median payment is already $2,134

It bought them nothing but a higher interest rate — and the Fed votes Wednesday on whether to push it further.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Sep 1, 2026

•

1 min read

$4.07: Labor Day gas just set a record that stood since 2012

The national average for Labor Day week came in at $4.07, a 24-cent beat on a record that had stood for 14 years.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Aug 25, 2026

•

1 min read

In 41 of 49 big cities, median earners can't afford a median home

The income needed to buy has jumped nearly half in six years. Wages didn't come close.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Aug 19, 2026

•

1 min read

In 2019, a typical family could afford a typical house. That is no longer true.

When the sticker price, the financing cost, and the wages all moved in different directions, something had to give.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Jul 7, 2026

•

1 min read

In 2019, the mortgage payment was $1,072. Today it's $2,155.

That's the 30-year tab for buying today versus buying in 2019. Same loan type. Very different era.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Jul 1, 2026

•

2 min read

What your AC will cost before you run it

The estimate came out before the heat dome did.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Jun 29, 2026

•

1 min read

Your July 4th cookout costs $21 more than the 2019 version

Ground beef is up 5.5% from last year and buns jumped 7.7% — here's where the extra $21 went.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Jun 17, 2026

•

1 min read

Your neighborhood's next build just stopped

Builders pulled back the hardest since the lockdown.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

Jun 5, 2026

•

1 min read

The most expensive room in healthcare

Same procedure. Triple the bill. Depending on the door.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

May 23, 2026

•

1 min read

Same house. Six years later.

The walls didn't move. The math did.

One Number

COST OF LIVING

May 15, 2026

•

1 min read

The seat didn't change. The price did

Tuesday's CPI buried this on page four.

One Number