As overall inflation cools, rent continues to be the biggest factor keeping household costs elevated nationwide. A new analysis from Construction Coverage breaks down which U.S. cities and states now have the highest median rents, using the latest HUD and Census data across more than 380 metros and all 50 states. The findings help explain why many renters aren’t feeling relief despite rising vacancy rates and slowing rent growth. The full study includes state and metro comparisons that show where housing affordability pressures remain most acute—and where rent costs are diverging sharply from national trends.

A new data analysis from Trace One looks beyond the monthly spike to identify which grocery store items have seen the steepest price increases over time. Using federal pricing data, the study ranks grocery store items by cumulative price growth since the start of the pandemic, alongside 1-, 2-, and 3-year changes—highlighting which everyday staples have seen the most persistent inflation and helping explain why grocery bills remain elevated despite improving headline numbers.

To attract and retain workers, many employers are raising wages, providing a favorable outlook for carpenters—with some locations offering more lucrative prospects than others. These are the best-paying states and metros for carpenters.

Nationally, plumbers earn about 30% more than the typical worker—but more localized data shows a highly regional industry. We ranked U.S. states and metros according to the median annual wage for plumbers, adjusted for the cost of living.