Tariffs8 min read
Which States Pay the Most in Tariffs? A Spending-Based Analysis
Massachusetts households carry an estimated $2,336/year in tariff burden versus Mississippi's $1,424 — a 64% gap driven by spending, not tariff rates.
Blog
Data-driven financial analysis. Every number backed by BLS data, IRS publications, or our own verified calculators.
Investing7 min read
Your Investment Returns Are Lying: Why You Need Inflation-Adjusted Numbers
A 10% nominal return becomes 5.36% real after 4.4% annualized inflation. A 4% CD return turns negative. The exact Fisher equation math behind nominal vs real returns.
Housing8 min read
Rent vs Buy in 2026: The Math Has Changed
At 2021's 3% rates, buying beat renting by $334/month. At 2026's 6.5%, owning costs $339/month more. We model both eras on the same $400K home over 10 years.
Mortgage7 min read
How Extra Payments Save You $50K+ on a Mortgage (With Real Numbers)
An extra $100/month on a $300K mortgage at 6.5% saves $60,996 in interest and pays it off 4 years early. Exact amortization numbers for 4 payment strategies.
Tax6 min read
Marginal vs Effective Tax Rate: Why Your Tax Bracket Isn't Your Tax Rate
A $75,000 single filer sits in the 22% bracket but pays an 11.1% effective rate — $8,341 total. Exact 2024 IRS bracket math, plus why a raise never cuts your take-home pay.
Debt7 min read
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Pays Off $20,000 in Debt Faster?
On $20,000 across 3 debts at $830/month, avalanche saves $139 in interest over snowball — same 28-month payoff. Exact month-by-month simulation, not estimates.
Retirement7 min read
How Much Do You Need to Retire? The 4% Rule With Real Numbers
The 4% rule needs 25x your annual spending saved: $1M for $40K/year, $2M for $80K/year. Exact compounding math for a $500/month saver from age 30 to 65.
Mortgages8 min read
Mortgage Rates June 2026: How the Iran Oil Shock Is Keeping Rates Above 6.5%
The 30-year fixed sits near 6.45% in June 2026. Iran-driven oil prices have reaccelerated CPI to 3.8%, and the Fed looks set to hold June 16–17. We model what each rate path means for a $400,000 loan.
Tariffs7 min read
3 Tariff Scenarios: What Happens If Tariffs Double, Halve, or Stay
The US effective tariff rate is 7–12% in 2026. We model all three credible policy paths — tariffs double to 20%, halve to 5%, or stay — with CPI impact, annual household costs, and GDP effects for each.
Tariffs7 min read
The Hidden Tariff: How Import Taxes Flow Through to Consumer Prices
Tariffs are paid by US importers, not foreign governments. A $30 tariff on a washing machine becomes a $46+ price increase at retail through the markup multiplier effect. Here's how it works.
Inflation7 min read
The Real Cost of Waiting: How Inflation Erodes Your Down Payment Savings
While you save for a down payment, home prices rise and your savings lose purchasing power. We calculate the dual squeeze year by year with real data.
Inflation8 min read
CPI Explained: What the Consumer Price Index Actually Measures (and What It Misses)
The BLS tracks 80,000 items across 23,000 outlets. But CPI misses asset prices, has a shelter lag, and uses substitution adjustments. Here's the full picture.
Tariffs7 min read
2026 Tariff Guide: What You're Actually Paying on Everyday Goods
Section 301, Section 232, and reciprocal tariffs add $1,200-$2,600 per household annually. We break down the effective rate on 12 consumer goods categories.
Tariffs6 min read
How Tariffs Hit Your Wallet: A Household-by-Household Breakdown
Tariffs are a regressive tax — lower-income households spend a higher share on tariffed goods. We calculate the cost by income bracket from $30K to $150K+.
Tariffs7 min read
Tariffs vs Inflation: Understanding the Difference and Why Both Matter
Tariffs are a one-time price level shift. Inflation is an ongoing rate of change. We explain the distinction, the feedback loop, and how to separate them in your budget.
Inflation7 min read
Your Personal Inflation Rate Is Not 3% — Here's How to Calculate It
The headline CPI is an average across 130 million households. Your actual inflation rate depends on what you spend money on. We break down how to calculate yours using BLS sub-index data.
Inflation5 min read
How Much Did $100 in 2020 Buy? A Year-by-Year Purchasing Power Breakdown
$100 in 2020 is worth $80.67 in 2025 purchasing power. But that national average hides dramatic differences across spending categories. Here's the full breakdown.
Inflation6 min read
Inflation by Category: Why Your Groceries Inflate Faster Than Your Rent (or Vice Versa)
Food at home surged 13.5% YoY in 2022 while shelter lagged at 5.1%. By 2023 the roles reversed. Here's why CPI categories diverge and what it means for your budget.
Inflation6 min read
The $1,000/Month Grocery Bill: How Food Inflation Hits Different Households
Food at home prices rose 27% since 2020. A family of four on a moderate USDA plan now spends over $1,100/month on groceries. We break down the numbers by household size.
Inflation7 min read
Has Your Salary Kept Up With Inflation? A 5-Year Reality Check
A $75,000 salary in 2020 needs $93,000 in 2025 to maintain the same purchasing power. Most workers didn't get there. Here's how to calculate your personal salary gap.
Inflation6 min read
Inflation Winners and Losers: Which Spending Categories Rose the Most Since 2020
Transportation surged 37.7%, apparel only 8.8%. We rank all 8 BLS categories by cumulative inflation and explain the structural drivers behind each.
Analysis by the team at accurate.software. Every calculation verified against our methodology.