Data-driven financial analysis. Every number backed by BLS data, IRS publications, or our own verified calculators.
BEA's advance Q1 2026 GDP estimate came in at +2.0% annualized with PCE re-accelerating to 3.4%. Dollar math on mortgages at 6.30%, emergency funds at 4.25% APY, and 401(k) contributions through a stagflation-lite macro.
BEA's March 2026 PCE report came in hot at +0.7% MoM and 3.5% YoY (core 3.2%). Dollar math on a $400k mortgage at 6.23%, a $25k HYSA at 4.25%, and a household budget repriced at 3.5%.
Warsh's April 23, 2026 confirmation hearing reaffirmed a hawkish stance on inflation. Dollar math on a $400k 30-year mortgage at 6.46%, a 2027 ARM reset, and a $25k HYSA at 4.25% APY.
April 29, 2026 FOMC held the federal funds target range at 3.50–3.75% near-unanimously. With the 30-year mortgage at 6.46% and HYSAs near 4.25%, here is the dollar math for a $400k loan, a 2027 ARM reset, and a $25k savings balance.
IRS final regs (IR-2026-49, April 10) implement the One Big Beautiful Bill's tip deduction — up to $25,000 of qualified tips deductible for 2025–2028. Who qualifies, phase-outs, and worked server math.
The One Big Beautiful Bill adds a $6,000 bonus deduction for filers age 65+ ($12,000 MFJ if both qualify) for tax years 2025–2028. How it stacks on top of the standard deduction, income phase-outs, and worked tax-savings examples.
BLS reported March 2026 CPI +0.9% MoM and +3.3% YoY on April 10. Gasoline surged 21.2% and energy rose 10.9%, accounting for about three-quarters of the monthly jump. Core was tame at 0.2%.
The 2026 employee deferral cap is $24,500, with $8,000 catch-up at 50+ and an $11,250 super catch-up at ages 60–63. Total annual additions cap at $70,000. Full breakdown with 30-year projections.
The IRS bumped 2026 brackets up ~2.7% and the standard deduction to $15,750 single / $31,500 joint. We model real-dollar savings at every income level and explain why bracket creep still bites.
At 6.7% mortgage rates and home prices 47% above 2020 levels, buying breaks even in 7–9 years in most metros — up from 3–4 years in 2020. Full cost model, price-to-rent ratios by city, and when the math flips.
US-Iran talks collapsed after 21 hours in Pakistan with no deal. Oil is above $110/barrel, gas past $4/gallon, and the energy shock is cascading into groceries, electricity, and mortgage rates. We break down the $2,000–$3,500 annual household impact.
On a $400K 7% mortgage, one extra payment per year saves $61,400 in interest and cuts 4.5 years off your loan. We model four prepayment strategies with verified amortization math.
FIRE at 55 used to require ~$1.5M. After 5 years of elevated inflation, the same lifestyle needs $1.85M+. Updated 4% rule, sequence-of-returns risk, and a buffer plan.
On a $400K loan, a 7% mortgage costs $279,000 more in interest than a 3% mortgage. Full 30-year side-by-side: payments, total interest, equity, opportunity cost.
30-year fixed rates sit near 6.7% in April 2026. We model buy-now vs wait-12-months across rate, price, and rent scenarios — with the breakeven math worked out.
Hawaii, Alaska, and California top the per-household tariff cost ranking in 2026. State-by-state numbers built from BLS spending data and Tax Foundation tariff modeling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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+.
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.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
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.
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.