This Week in Money (September 25, 2026)
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
Happy Dolly Parton Day to you all!!!
U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.5%, the Dow rising 0.9%, and the Nasdaq climbing 0.5%, marking the first winning week for U.S. stocks in three weeks. Stocks got a boost from a 2.8% drop in Brent crude oil prices, although trading remained volatile as investors reacted to rising Treasury yields and growing consumer inflation expectations.
The University of Michigan reported that consumers expect inflation to reach 4.6% over the next year, up from 4% the previous month.
Gas prices are up more than 9% in the last month and an alarming 41.7% up in the past year. Diesel prices are up more than 16% in the last month and 76% over the last year, with the national average for a gallon of diesel hitting an all-time record of over $6.50 this week, shattering its previous 2022 record of $5.82.
This article lays out 19 money-saving strategies to help you optimize your finances when the budget starts to get tight. It covers daily behavioral changes, large asset optimization and debt relief, banking and wellness, household maintenance, timeshare cancellations, and so much more!
A new SoFi survey of more than 4,000 U.S. adults finds that younger Americans are redefining financial progress around enjoying life now, flexibility, and self-reliance, rather than focusing exclusively on traditional milestones like homeownership and retirement.
About 60% of Gen Z and millennials say the ability to enjoy life is a sign of financial progress while only a third say owning a home is a marker of financial progress. Check out the full article for all the interesting survey findings.
This article highlights how Spirit Airlines’ closure has contributed to higher airfares, with August marking the ninth consecutive month of rising airfare. Fares increased 2.7% from July and are now 23% higher than a year ago.
Some practical ways that were mentioned to help reduce travel costs include: using flight-search tools like Google Flights, Kiwi, Skyscanner, and Skip Lag, considering purchasing one-way tickets, considering alternatives to flying like Amtrack, and more.
Effective September 23rd through at least November 3, 2026, Aldi is price cutting about 1/3 of its regularly stocked products. These cuts will provide about $86 million in savings to customers.
According to Scott Patton, Aldi’s chief commercial officer, “Customers trust us to help them make the most of their grocery budget, and we never stop looking for ways to run our business more efficiently so we can pass along savings.”
PepsiCo has announced price increases scheduled for the end of 2026 or early 2027 on several of their chips, sodas, and dips. Just months earlier (February 2026), PepsiCo cut prices on larger snack bags by as much as 15%. The company blames inflation and higher commodity costs.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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