Latest / Wages and Prices with Fexingo: Cost of Living, Pay Raises, and Workers' Purchasing Power
Why Your Raise Is Finally Beating Car Insurance Premiums
In Episode 56 of Wages and Prices, Lucas and Luna dig into a surprising turn in the cost of living: car insurance premiums, which soared over 20% annually through much of 2024 and 2025, have finally slowed to single-digit growth. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings in the private sector hit $37.50 in May 2026, up from $37.41 the month before. The hosts explore why premiums are cooling—fewer accidents post-pandemic normalization, better loss ratios for insurers, and state regulatory pressure—and how that shift is giving workers real purchasing power relief. They also reference the latest CPI…
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