Blog
Data-driven stories about prices, inflation, and the real cost of living. No hot takes, no agenda — just what the numbers say.
How Much Has Rent Increased Since 1980?
Rent has outpaced wage growth for four decades straight. Here is exactly how much more expensive it has gotten, which cities got hit hardest, and what the numbers mean for the average renter.
housingrentwages
Read more →Why Gas Prices Spiked in 2008
In the summer of 2008, gas hit $4.11 per gallon nationally. What caused the spike, how it connects to the financial crisis, and whether it could happen again.
energygas pricesrecession
Read more →The Real Cost of College: Then and Now
College tuition has risen faster than almost anything else tracked by the CPI. We break down how much a degree costs today versus 1980, 1990, and 2000 — and what got us here.
educationtuitionstudent loans
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