Latest / Inflation Explained with Fexingo: CPI, Prices, and the Cost of Living for Everyday People
Why Your Car Payment Feels Stuck Even as Inflation Slows
Episode 73 of Inflation Explained with Fexingo digs into a puzzle: the CPI shows inflation cooling, but the average monthly car payment keeps rising. Lucas and Luna examine how higher interest rates, longer loan terms, and record negative equity are trapping borrowers. As of June 2026, the Fed funds rate sits at 3.63 percent, down only a fraction from its peak. Auto loan rates for new cars have pushed past 8.5 percent for the first time in decades, while used car prices have fallen 3 percent year-over-year according to the latest CPI data. Lucas breaks down the numbers: a $40,000 loan at 8.5…
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