What Things Cost
The money numbers everyone talks about, checked every week, in plain words.
Gas fell 12¢ in one week. Savings still earn more than prices are rising.
Gas: U.S. Energy Dept. Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac. Inflation: estimate by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Savings: U.S. Treasury.
Gas fell 12¢ in one week. Savings still earn more than prices are rising.
Gas and Cars
Regular gas, U.S. average
A year ago: $3.02. Highest in the last 5 years: $5.01 in June 2022.
What does it cost to fill your tank?
That is about 1 hour 55 minutes of work at average pay. Last week it was about 2 hours.
- Diesel, U.S. average
- $6.29
- Used cars
- 1.5% less
- New cars
- 0.6% more
Gas and diesel: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly survey of prices on Nov 2, posted Tuesday. For states without a diesel series, we show the region. Car prices: Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2026. Work time uses average pay for an hour.
Housing
Mortgage rate, 30-year fixed
A year ago: 6.17%. Highest in the last 5 years: 7.79% in October 2023.
What would a home loan cost you each month?
Loan payment only, for a 30-year fixed loan. Taxes and insurance are extra. That is $209 less a year.
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly survey, 30-year fixed, shown as published. Payments are Arcanomy math: loan only, before taxes and insurance.
Prices
Inflation right now
Each point is the official number for one month. Highest in the last 5 years: 9.1% in June 2022. The estimate for November is 3.9%.
Gas went up the most, by far
Brown bars went up. Teal bars went down.
How much more do the same things cost?
This assumes your costs rose like average prices, 3.9% in a year. Yours may be higher or lower.
- Official number for September
- 3.7%
- Next official number
- Nov 10
Inflation right now: estimate by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, updated every weekday. Official numbers and price changes: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Savings and Pay
Are savings keeping up with prices?
Just barely. They are about even.
Safe savings pay 4.21% a year. Prices are up 3.9%.
When the solid line is above the dashed line, your money is winning. Savings beat prices in 39 of the last 58 months.
What happens to your savings in a year?
Before taxes, at today's rates: 4.21% for safe savings and 3.9% for prices.
- Average pay for an hour of work
- $32.60
Safe savings: 3-month U.S. Treasury bill yield, U.S. Treasury, monthly average in the chart. Many bank savings accounts pay less. Pay: Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who are not managers.