💵 Friday Money Check: Chattanooga Gas Dips to About $3.19, AAA Maps Out the Thanksgiving Drive, Mortgage Rates Ease for a Fourth Week, and TVA Holds Its Base Rates Steady

Or: AAA Has Chattanooga Regular at $3.19 and the Nation at $3.87; 72.9 Million Americans Expected to Drive for Thanksgiving, With Mornings the Best Time to Go; Freddie Mac’s 30-Year Rate Slips to 7.11%; TVA Leaves Base Rates Alone for a Second Year; 24 Days Left for Medicare

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, November 13, 2026

Good Friday morning, neighbors. It’s the end of the work week, and for once the wallet news reads more like a weather report with sunshine in it than a storm warning.

Here’s what’s on the porch rail this morning: Chattanooga gas dipped again to about $3.19, with AAA’s national average down to about $3.87; AAA released its Thanksgiving travel forecast, with 72.9 million Americans expected to drive and mornings the best time to hit the road; Freddie Mac says the 30-year mortgage rate eased for a fourth straight week to 7.11%; the Tennessee Valley Authority kept its base electric rates flat for a second year; and a new survey says most shoppers are mixing early November sales with Black Friday. Medicare has 24 days left, and experts say don’t wait for the last week.

Gas prices are Chattanooga-area and Tennessee statewide, with the national number for comparison. The Thanksgiving forecast, mortgage rates, shopping survey and Medicare are national. TVA’s rate decision is regional: it covers the power that local co-ops like Sequachee Valley Electric buy and pass along to us.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• At the pump (Fri., Nov. 13): Chattanooga regular about $3.19, Tennessee about $3.49, national about $3.87 (AAA). About 24 cents less than a week ago here.
• Thanksgiving drive: AAA and INRIX say leave in the morning. Tuesday, Nov. 24, before 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 25, before noon. Thanksgiving Day itself should be quiet.
• Home loans: Freddie Mac’s 30-year average is 7.11%, down for a fourth week and the lowest since late September. Fixed-rate payments don’t change.
• Power bills: TVA kept base rates flat again. The monthly fuel charge can still move up or down in winter.
• Remember: Medicare changes end Mon., Dec. 7 (24 days). Social Security paperless sign-up for an early raise letter ends Wed., Nov. 18 (5 days).

⛽ Friday Pump Check: Chattanooga About $3.19, the Nation About $3.87

AAA’s Friday, Nov. 13, metro average puts Chattanooga (TN only) regular at about $3.19 a gallon, down about 3 cents from Thursday and about 24 cents below a week ago ($3.44). Cleveland is about $3.30, Nashville about $3.43 and Knoxville about $3.56. Statewide, Tennessee averages about $3.49, down from $3.65 a week ago. AAA’s national average is about $3.87, down from about $4.07 a week ago. Chattanooga diesel is about $5.39. A year ago, Chattanooga regular was about $2.67, so we’re still above last fall, but the slide keeps going.

What it means for you: A 15-gallon fill-up at the Chattanooga average now runs about $47.88, roughly $3.67 less than a week ago. It’s like a slow leak in a pool float, only this time the leak is working in your favor: a little less air in the price every day. No need to rush to the pump; fill up when you need to and glance at two stations on your route.

👉 Read more: AAA — Tennessee gas prices

🦃 Heading Over the River and Through the Woods? AAA Says Go Early in the Day

AAA released its 2026 Thanksgiving travel forecast: 81.5 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Monday, Nov. 30, a hair fewer than last year’s 81.6 million. About 72.9 million will go by car, and about 5.96 million will fly. AAA says round-trip domestic airfare booked for the holiday averages about $800, roughly 17% more than last year. AAA also notes the national gas average on Thanksgiving Day has never been above $4; the highest was $3.58 in 2022. Traffic-data company INRIX expects the busiest roads on Tuesday and Wednesday going out and Sunday and Monday coming home, with the worst traffic in the afternoon and early evening. Its best times to drive: Tuesday before 1 p.m., Wednesday before noon, Friday before noon, and Saturday and Sunday before 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day itself should see minimal traffic. These are national forecasts.

What it means for you: If you’re driving to see family, think like a farmer: the early start gets the most done. Leaving in the morning can save you a long sit in traffic, and a full tank bought this week at today’s lower prices is one less stop on the road. AAA’s reminder is a good one for any trip: check your tires, battery and fluids before you go. If you’re hosting instead, write the arrival times on the calendar so nobody’s waiting at the door. Times are local to each area.

👉 Read more: AAA — 2026 Thanksgiving travel forecast

🏠 Home-Loan Rates Ease for a Fourth Week

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, released Thursday, put the average 30-year fixed mortgage at 7.11%, down from 7.18% the week before. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.45%, down from 6.57%. AP reported this was the fourth straight weekly decline and the lowest level since Sept. 24. A year ago, the 30-year averaged 6.24%, so rates are still higher than last fall. Freddie Mac’s chief economist, Sam Khater, said the drop gives borrowers “greater flexibility.” Keep in mind that Freddie Mac’s survey averages the week of Thursday through Wednesday, so it doesn’t fully capture the bump in daily rates after Tuesday’s price report. These are national averages; your own rate depends on your credit, down payment and lender.

What it means for you: If you already have a fixed-rate mortgage, your payment doesn’t budge, rain or shine. If you’re shopping for a home or thinking about a home-equity loan, this is a good week to get quotes from two or three lenders on the same day, the same way you’d price a set of tires at more than one shop. Rates can bounce around between now and the Fed’s December meeting, so don’t feel rushed into anything.

👉 Read more: Freddie Mac — Weekly mortgage rates

💡 TVA Keeps Base Electric Rates Flat for a Second Year

The Tennessee Valley Authority board left its base rates unchanged for the second year in a row at its meeting this week, Knox News and Energy Central reported. TVA sells wholesale power to local utilities like Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and EPB, which then bill homes and businesses. Knox News also noted that fuel costs could still raise winter power bills. That’s because a separate monthly fuel cost charge on your bill moves with what TVA pays for fuel and purchased power; earlier this month, SVEC’s November fuel charge was about 2.84 cents per kilowatt-hour. This is regional, covering the TVA area, including the Sequatchie Valley.

What it means for you: Think of your power bill like a cup of coffee at the diner: the cup price stays the same, but the refill charge can change with the season. Base rates staying put is good news. The refill part, the fuel charge, is the piece to watch on cold-month bills. Two easy steps: compare your kilowatt-hours to last December on your bill, and ask SVEC about budget billing if you’d like the same payment every month.

👉 Read more: Energy Central — TVA holds base rates for a second year

🛍️ Early Sales or Black Friday? Most Shoppers Do a Little of Both

A YouGov survey of 2,013 U.S. adults, taken Nov. 6–7, found that about half of Americans shop the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales or the earlier November sales. Among those shoppers, 7 in 10 do a mix of early deals and the main events, about 1 in 5 waits for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and 1 in 10 shops only early. Asked whether early sales are better, 44% said the deals are about the same, 30% said early is better and 17% said worse. And 80% said being able to see price history and check whether a discount is real would encourage them to buy early. This is national.

What it means for you: A sale sign is a lot like a fish story: it’s worth checking how big the catch really was. Before you buy, write down the regular price you’ve seen in the past, or look at the same item at a second store. Make a short gift list with a dollar limit per person, keep your receipts in one envelope, and remember there’s no prize for buying first. If something’s on your list and the price is fair today, it’s fine to buy it today.

👉 Read more: YouGov — Black Friday shoppers: early or wait?

🩺 Medicare: 24 Days Left, and the Last Week Gets Crowded

Medicare open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7, and changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. A WBAY report this week said more than 3 million Americans are in Medicare Advantage plans that are being canceled for next year. Will Shanley of eHealth told the station that as the deadline nears during the holidays, more plans are capping the number of applications they’ll take, and people can expect longer wait times for help. Experts quoted in the report advised reading your Annual Notice of Change letter and making sure your doctors and prescriptions are still covered. This is national.

What it means for you: Waiting for the last week to call about Medicare is like waiting for Thanksgiving morning to buy the turkey. If your plan sent a letter saying it’s ending, or your costs are changing, make the call next week, not in December. In Tennessee, free, no-sales help is TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044, and Medicare’s own line is 1-800-633-4227.

👉 Read more: WBAY — Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7

📅 Put These on the Fridge: Money Dates for the Next Few Weeks

• Wednesday, Nov. 18: Social Security paid for birthdays on the 11th–20th. Also the last day to sign up for paperless notices at ssa.gov/myaccount if you want to see your 3.6% raise letter online in late November (5 days).
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Thanksgiving travel period begins. Best drive time: before 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: Social Security paid for birthdays on the 21st–31st. Best drive time: before noon.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving (13 days). Banks and post offices closed.
• Friday, Nov. 27: Black Friday.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Last day of Medicare open enrollment (24 days from today).
• Tuesday–Wednesday, Dec. 8–9: Federal Reserve meeting; a rate decision comes Wednesday afternoon.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: HealthCare.gov deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1 (32 days from today).

✅ Your Wallet Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Need gas? Chattanooga is about $3.19. Fill up when you need to and compare two stations.
• ✅ Driving for Thanksgiving? Circle a morning departure on the calendar and get the tires, battery and fluids checked before you go.
• ✅ Shopping for a home loan? Get two or three quotes on the same day. Fixed-rate payments stay the same.
• ✅ Pull out last December’s power bill and note the kilowatt-hours, so you can compare when this winter’s bills arrive.
• ✅ Make a gift list with a dollar limit per person before the sales get loud, and keep receipts in one envelope.
• ✅ On Medicare? 24 days left. Call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 next week, before the December rush.
• ✅ Want your Social Security raise letter early? Go paperless at ssa.gov/myaccount by Wed., Nov. 18. Miss it? Your letter still comes by mail in December, and your raise is not affected.

Practical rule: Get on the road early, make your Medicare call early, and let a good price, not a loud sign, decide when you buy.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Money Glossary

• Metro average: AAA’s average gas price for a city and its surrounding area.
• 30-year fixed mortgage: A home loan with the same interest rate and principal-and-interest payment for 30 years.
• Freddie Mac survey: A weekly national average of mortgage rates, released Thursdays.
• Base rate: The standard price TVA charges local utilities for power, before fuel costs.
• Fuel cost charge: A line on your electric bill that changes monthly with what TVA pays for fuel and purchased power.
• Budget billing: A utility plan that spreads your yearly cost into similar monthly payments.
• Price history: A record of what an item has sold for over time, used to tell whether a “sale” is really a deal.
• Annual Notice of Change: The fall letter from your Medicare plan listing what’s different next year.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s free, unbiased Medicare counseling program.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much is gas in Chattanooga today?

AAA’s Friday metro average has Chattanooga regular at about $3.19, down about 3 cents from Thursday and 24 cents from a week ago. Tennessee averages about $3.49, and AAA’s national average is about $3.87.

What’s the best time to drive for Thanksgiving?

INRIX, working with AAA, says mornings. Leave Tuesday, Nov. 24, before 1 p.m. or Wednesday, Nov. 25, before noon. Thanksgiving Day should have minimal traffic. Coming home, Saturday and Sunday before 11 a.m. look best.

Did mortgage rates go down this week?

Yes. Freddie Mac’s 30-year average fell to 7.11% from 7.18%, the fourth straight weekly drop. The 15-year averaged 6.45%. If you already have a fixed-rate mortgage, your payment doesn’t change.

Is my electric bill going up?

TVA kept its base rates flat for a second year, which is good news. The monthly fuel cost charge can still change, and cold weather means using more power, so winter bills can be higher even with flat rates. SVEC can tell you about budget billing.

Should I shop early sales or wait for Black Friday?

Either can work. In YouGov’s survey, 44% of shoppers said early deals and Black Friday deals are about the same. Compare the price to what you’ve seen before, set a dollar limit, and buy when the price is fair.

When does Medicare open enrollment end?

Monday, Dec. 7. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Experts say call early, because the last weeks get busy and some plans cap applications. TN SHIP’s free number is 1-877-801-0044.

What if I miss the Nov. 18 Social Security paperless date?

Nothing bad happens. Your 3.6% raise still applies, and your notice will arrive by mail in December. The date only affects whether you can see the letter online in late November.

📎 Other Resources

• AAA Tennessee gas prices
• AAA national gas prices
• AAA: 2026 Thanksgiving travel forecast and best drive times
• Freddie Mac: Weekly mortgage rates
• AP: 30-year mortgage rate falls to 7.11%
• Energy Central: TVA holds base rates
• Knox News: TVA rates stay flat, but fuel costs may raise winter bills
• TVA: Total monthly fuel costs
• SVEC: Fees and rates
• YouGov: Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 survey
• WBAY: Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7
• Medicare.gov: Open enrollment
• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling
• SSA: 2026 payment schedule
• HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines

🌿 Keep Learning, Keep Calm

It’s a gentle Friday for your wallet: gas still sliding, home-loan rates easing, and TVA leaving its base rates alone. The big things ahead, the Thanksgiving drive, the holiday sales and Medicare’s deadline, all go easier with an early start. Pick one item off the checklist today, and enjoy the weekend. Small steps, taken early, keep the wallet calm.

For more calm, practical Valley news, read Dunlap.Today, and share this with a neighbor who could use it.