Money briefs
Every brief opens with one figure from a primary source and the date it was checked, shows the arithmetic that turns that figure into a decision, states what would reverse the conclusion, and links to the calculator that runs it on your own numbers. Figures move; each page carries its own verification date so you can tell how stale it is.
Rates and prices in 2026
The published figures that change what a decision costs: lending and savings rates, energy prices, statutory mileage rates, and the subscription and membership fees that quietly reset every year.
- Credit Card APRs Near 24% in 2026: What a Fixed Monthly Payment Really Costs
At roughly 24% APR, a $6,000 balance paid at a fixed $150 a month takes about 80 months and costs about $6,030 in interest — more than the balance itself. The same debt at $250 a month clears in 33 months for about $2,225. The extra $100 a month is worth around $3,800.
- The 2026 IRS Mileage Rate Changed Mid-Year: 72.5¢ Then 76¢
For 2026 there are two business rates, not one: 72.5¢ per mile for miles driven 1 January–30 June, and 76¢ per mile from 1 July onward. A log that does not separate the two halves of the year cannot be converted into a correct deduction or reimbursement.
- US Electricity Is About 18.3¢ per kWh in 2026 — What That Does to an Appliance Bill
The US residential average is about 18.3¢ per kWh (EIA, September 2026), up roughly 5% on a year earlier. Running cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate — so a 1,500 W heater run six hours a day for a 120-day winter costs about $198 at that rate, and more in a state above the average.