Numbers Behind the News
When something in the news touches your money or health, we first explain what it is, from named sources, then work through the numbers with the same formulas our calculators use. Every article links the calculator so you can run your own figures.
· facts checked
El Niño winter 2026–27: EIA heating bill outlook and space heater math
NOAA expects a strong-to-very strong El Niño through early 2027 and EIA expects electric heating bills up 4% this winter; one 1,500 W space heater run 8 hours a day for 30 days uses 360 kWh, $65.38 at the U.S. average 18.16¢/kWh ($45.79 in Nevada, $169.85 in Hawaii).
· facts checked
October 2026 CPI: why there is no yearly rate, and your savings math
BLS published October 2026 CPI on November 10: all items up 0.4% for the month, but no 12-month change for most indexes (October 2025 prices were never collected); at the latest official rate, 3.7% for September 2026, $10,000 in a 0.38% savings account buys $9,679.91 of today's goods after a year, $320.09 less.
· facts checked
Meta Muse, the AI agent that negotiates: the car loan math to check
Meta's Muse agent (launched September 8, 2026) can negotiate and pay on a user's behalf; on a $35,000, 72-month car loan at 7.17% the payment is $599.58, and $2,000 off the price saves $2,467 in total (payment $565.31) while one point off the APR saves $1,203 (payment $582.86).
How we write these: facts about the news come only from the sources linked in each article, with the date we checked them. Calculations are ours and use public rates (Federal Reserve, Freddie Mac). We do not accept payment for coverage. See our editorial policy.