How did the cost of life in America change this year? Prices overall continued to climb, though more slowly than they had been. And some actually fell. Created at: December 30, 2023 at 01:17PM

People in much of the country should enjoy lower heating bills this winter. But many families are still struggling with the cost of staying warm. Created at: December 28, 2023 at 10:28PM

The electric vehicle tax credit will be easier to get next year — but fewer models could qualify, as the government imposes stricter eligibility requirements. Created at: December 28, 2023 at 10:00AM

Inflation eased this year and wages are now climbing faster than prices. Americans are still spending, even if they have to borrow money to do so. Created at: December 27, 2023 at 01:58PM

The Great Money Reset author Jill Schlesinger says if you’re considering a reset, it helps to crunch the numbers, see what your finances look like, what might be possible for you and when. Created at: December 25, 2023 at 11:29PM

The share of affordable homes plunged 40% from before the pandemic, according to a new analysis. The biggest drops were in smaller cities, where wages could not keep pace with spiking mortgage rates. Created at: December 24, 2023 at 07:34PM

We spent a day soaking up the low-key magic made by Luke “Santa Luke” Durant, who draws large crowds — young and old — to storied Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore. Created at: December 21, 2023 at 11:03AM

What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it’s NPR afterall). Created at: December 21, 2023 at 10:00AM

Every year, an estimated third of American adults go into debt to pay for holiday expenses. NPR’s Asma Khalid speaks with LendingTree Chief Credit analyst Matt Schulz about why that happens. Created at: December 2, 2023 at 01:26PM

A pause in foreclosures after an NPR investigation may be of no help to many vets. They were already pushed into costly loan modifications after a move by the VA stranded them in a tough spot. Created at: December 1, 2023 at 10:00AM