This Week in Money (October 2, 2026)
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
U.S. stocks rose today, with the S&P gaining 0.7%, the Dow climbing 0.5%, while the Nasdaq rose 1.2%. Stocks received a boost from weaker-than-expected job growth, with employers adding 29,000 jobs in September.
The yield on 10-year US Treasury notes hit 5.34%, a level last reached in 2002.
The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 7.28% from 7.03% last week. It is the sixth consecutive week that mortgage rates have increased.
Mainstream car brands are closing the gap with luxury vehicles, offering features like heated seats and large touchscreens, for much less. Buyers who switched from luxury to mainstream midsize SUVs paid about $19,000 less on average.
Younger buyers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are leading the move away from luxury brand vehicles, potentially reflecting a greater focus on technology and features rather than brand prestige.
According to this article a 2026 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study found that luxury vehicles had 217 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with 200 for mainstream brands, with infotainment issues contributing to the gap.
Managing money can feel repetitive and unrewarding, especially when the payoff for saving, spending less, or paying down debt is far in the future. This article provides seven ways to make managing your money more engaging by adding challenges, rewards, streaks, and friendly competition.
Luxury brands don’t just sell products. They also sell exclusivity and status. This article discusses the Veblen effect, in which higher prices actually increase the appeal of certain goods because the price itself acts as a signal of wealth and social status. Brands can create desire in consumers by limiting access, using tactics like controlled distribution, waitlists, invitation-only events, and requiring memberships.
As of September 29th, Target has lowered prices on nearly 2,000 items. Categories include apparel, shoes and home goods. Some price cut examples include women’s long-sleeve tees dropping from $15 to $12, women’s shoes averaging $35 instead of $40, and select queen comforters dropping by $10–$20. Check out the article for more details.
Target Circle members can also look forward to the retailer’s Oct. 6–7 Circle Deal Days, with discounts of up to 40% on select apparel, shoes, toys, holiday items and more.
Where you live can have a significant impact on how much you pay for groceries. A new analysis from Visual Capitalist, using data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), found that Hawaii has the highest grocery costs in the country, with prices about 36% above the national average. Alaska ranked second, followed by California.
Check out this article for the complete top 10 lists of states with the highest and lowest average grocery costs, along with a map of grocery costs across all 50 states.
The federal gas tax helps fund the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for highways, bridges, and mass transit projects.
With gas prices climbing, several states are suspending or considering suspending their gas taxes to provide relief to drivers. Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas are among the states that have initiated or considered gas tax holidays.
The national average gas price reached $4.41 per gallon on Oct. 1, 2026 up from $4.09 a month earlier and $3.16 a year earlier.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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