The Latest Personal Finance News for November 2026

Inflation Rises to 3.7% as Gas Prices Jump Again

Consumer prices rose by 0.6% on a month-to-month basis and 3.7% annually through September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That's up from a 3.4% annual rate in August, and gasoline was once again the biggest driver.

The gasoline index climbed 9.1% in September alone, and gas prices are now 34.2% higher than they were a year ago. The overall energy index increased 20.4% over the same period.

On the plus side, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, sits at 2.6%, which is much closer to the Federal Reserve's preferred 2% rate. However, that's still slightly higher than the 2.4% annual inflation rate recorded in August.

Why It Matters

Rising prices shrink how far your paycheck goes, and gas is a hard expense to cut back on if you commute to work or school every day.

What's more, BLS also reported that inflation-adjusted hourly earnings for U.S. workers fell 0.5% from August to September and were down 0.7% year over year. In other words, prices are not only increasing at a faster-than-usual clip, but they're also outpacing wages by a considerable margin.

If your budget feels tight, look for opportunities to pare back in areas where higher prices are hitting you the hardest.

What You Can Do

• Read up on what inflation is and how it affects your budget.
• Find ways to save money on gas.
• Learn how to make a budget.
• Follow these steps to build an emergency fund.

Mortgage Rates Hover Near a Three-Year High

According to Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage came in at 7.40% as of October 15, 2026. That's unchanged from the previous week, but it's still a sizable jump from the 6.66% average rate recorded at the end of August. Three years ago, October closed out with an average rate of 7.76%.

As mortgage rates have remained high, borrowers are increasingly turning to adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), which offer lower initial fixed rates compared to fixed-rate loans. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, 10.5% of new loan applications for the week ending October 9, 2026, were for ARMs.

Why It Matters

Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates have stayed above 6% since September 2022, but they've only recently returned to 7% territory. Higher mortgage rates mean higher monthly payments and reduced buying power. That can push some buyers out of the market entirely or steer them toward riskier loan products.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) can save you money during the initial fixed period, but once that period ends, your rate resets based on market conditions. If rates have climbed in the meantime, your monthly payment could jump significantly.

If you're shopping for a home, shop around for rates and run the numbers carefully before committing to an ARM.

What You Can Do

• Learn how to get the best mortgage rate.
• Explore common types of adjustable-rate mortgages.
• Find out how to compare mortgage loan offers.
• Estimate your monthly payment with a mortgage calculator.

Social Security Benefits Will Rise 3.6% in 2027

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, resulting in an average increase of $75 per month. This adjustment is higher than the 2.8% increase in 2026, and it's the largest annual COLA adjustment since the 8.7% increase in 2023.

The increase will affect payments for nearly 72 million recipients of Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Roughly 7.3 million SSI recipients will receive their first increased payment on December 31, 2026, and others will see higher payments starting in January 2027.

Why It Matters

The SSA determines cost-of-living increases based on the consumer price index for urban wage workers and clerical workers. However, according to a survey by AARP, 80% of Social Security recipients say that the adjustment won't be enough to keep up with rising prices.

If your Social Security benefits aren't keeping pace with inflation, start by reviewing your expenses to determine where you can trim the fat or delay high costs. It may also be necessary to supplement your retirement income through part-time work, downsizing your home or adjusting your retirement distributions to minimize your tax bill.

What You Can Do

• Read about the average Social Security check.
• Learn about when you can collect Social Security.
• Look into ways to increase your future Social Security benefits.
• Find out how much Social Security you'll get in retirement.

Borrowers Get More Time to Claim a 1% Student Loan Autopay Discount

The U.S. Department of Education is giving federal student loan borrowers more time to lock in a temporary interest rate cut. If you enroll in automatic payments by December 31, 2026, or you're already enrolled, you'll get a 1% interest rate reduction through June 30, 2028.

That's a three-month eligibility extension, which was originally set to expire at the end of September.

The standard autopay rate discount for federal loans is 0.25%, so the current offer is notable. You can qualify if your loans originated after July 12, 2012. You can even secure the higher rate discount if your loans are currently in default, though you'll need to bring them back into good standing first.

Why It Matters

A lower interest rate can lower your monthly payment and keep more interest from accruing on your debts. For example, let's say you have $30,000 in student loan debt with an average interest rate of 6.5%. If you were to secure a 1% autopay rate discount, your monthly payment would drop by $15 per month, and you'd save roughly $360 over two years.

Setting up automatic payments can also help you avoid missing a payment. If you miss a federal student loan payment by 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report it to the credit bureaus, which can damage your credit score.

It's important to note that you need to stay on autopay to continue earning the interest rate discount.

What You Can Do

• Learn how student loan autopay can save you money.
• Get strategies to pay off your student loans faster.
• Find out how to get student loans out of default.
• Understand how to get student loan forgiveness.

Holiday Shoppers Plan to Spend 4% More This Year

According to Deloitte's 2026 Holiday Retail Survey, U.S. households plan to spend an average of $1,654 this holiday season, which is a 4% increase from $1,595 in 2025. That number includes a 10% increase in spending on retail goods and a 4% decline in spending on holiday-related activities.

Inflation is on a lot of shoppers' minds, as 79% of those surveyed expect higher prices in their future. Deloitte also found that 38% of holiday shoppers consider themselves value seekers, using strategies like promotions, rewards and private labels. However, these consumers are expected to spend 12% more than others, on average.

Why It Matters

Despite rising inflation, holiday shoppers are planning to spend more this year. If you consider yourself a value seeker, it's important to focus on your entire spending rather than just the potential savings on individual purchases.

You may also consider using financial tools to manage your spending. For example, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) loan could spread out your cost, though juggling several BNPL loans at once could make it harder to keep track of due dates.

You could also consider an introductory 0% APR credit card, allowing you to pay down the balance over a longer period of time. Regardless of how you plan to pay for your holiday shopping, it's important to set a budget before you start shopping and track your spending to keep it in check.

What You Can Do

• Learn how to make a holiday budget.
• Weigh the pros and cons of buy now, pay later.
• Decide whether to open a new credit card for holiday shopping.
• Find out how to pay off holiday debt.

Good Credit Can Contribute to a Healthy Financial Plan

While there are aspects of your financial situation that are outside of your control, building and maintaining good credit scores can help you weather challenges and save money in the long run.

With Experian's free credit monitoring service, you'll get access to your FICO^® Score^Θ and your Experian credit report. With this information in hand, you can gauge your credit health and target areas of your credit profile that you can improve over time. And with real-time alerts whenever your report is updated, you can spot potential issues and fraud and address them quickly.