💵 Chattanooga Gas Dips Under $3.70, Halloween Candy Costs More, and a Pay-Later Caution Before the Holidays

Or: Cheaper Gas, Pricier Treats, and Why “Four Easy Payments” Still Come Out of Next Month’s Paycheck

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 17, 2026

It’s Saturday, the coffee’s hot and the morning has that first real nip of fall. That makes it a good day to sit at the kitchen table with a pencil and look at the week ahead, before the holiday catalogs start piling up on the counter.

Here’s what’s on the money table this Saturday: Chattanooga gas dipped under $3.70, about 17 cents lower than a week ago and 42 cents lower than a month ago; Halloween candy costs nearly 8% more than last year, but a few simple tricks keep the bowl full; Consumer Reports has a plain warning about Buy Now, Pay Later plans as holiday shopping picks up; 15 common drugs get lower Medicare prices on Jan. 1, which is worth checking during open enrollment; and Tennessee’s heating help pays $300 to $800 once funding flows. Plus, your next payday is on the calendar.

Most of this is national or statewide news. We’ll say so as we go, then bring it home to the Valley kitchen table.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• At the pump (Sat., Oct. 17): Chattanooga regular about $3.68, Tennessee about $3.86, national about $4.31. Tennessee diesel is about $5.99.
• Candy bowl: Candy prices are up nearly 8% from a year ago. Compare unit prices, and mixed bags usually cost less than all-chocolate ones.
• Pay-later plans: Before you split a purchase into “easy payments,” add up the full cost and make sure every payment fits your budget. Don’t stack several at once.
• Medicare drugs: 15 drugs, including Ozempic, Trelegy, Xtandi, Linzess and Janumet, get negotiated prices on Jan. 1. Free help: TN SHIP, 1-877-801-0044. Deadline: Dec. 7.
• Heating help: LIHEAP pays $300 to $800 straight to your utility. In Sequatchie County, call SETHRA at 423-949-2191.
• Next payday: Social Security for birthdays on the 11th–20th lands Wednesday, Oct. 21.

⛽ Saturday Pump Check: Chattanooga Slips Under $3.70

AAA’s Saturday, Oct. 17, reading puts Chattanooga (TN only) regular at about $3.68 a gallon, down from about $3.72 yesterday and about $3.86 a week ago. A month ago it was about $4.11, so Chattanooga drivers are paying roughly 42 cents less per gallon than in mid-September. Cleveland is about $3.76. Statewide, Tennessee’s average is about $3.86, down from about $3.95 a week ago. The national average is about $4.31.

Diesel is barely moving: about $5.99 statewide and about $5.75 in Chattanooga. Gas is still well above a year ago, when Chattanooga regular averaged about $2.70.

What it means for you: On a 15-gallon fill-up, 42 cents a gallon is about $6 back in your pocket compared with a month ago. That’s a bag of candy for the porch, with change left over. If you’re headed down the mountain to Chattanooga or over to Cleveland this weekend, top off while you’re there. Dunlap stations can run a little different, so check your gas app before you pull in.

👉 Read more (AAA Tennessee gas prices)

🎃 The Candy Bowl Costs a Little More This Year

Halloween is two weeks from today, and the treats cost more. ABC News reports that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, candy prices rose again in September and are up nearly 8% from a year ago. NBC News, citing the same national government data, puts candy and gum at 8.1% higher. One big reason is bad weather in the places that grow cocoa beans.

Chocolate is where it stings most. NBC News reports that PwC found Halloween chocolate averaging about $5.67 a package, up 15.5%, while non-chocolate candy averages about $3.31, up just 1.8%. A FinanceBuzz study found a 100-piece bag of assorted Halloween candy averages about $16.96 this year, or about 17 cents a piece. That’s up only about 3.5% from last year. The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween.

What it means for you: Figure about 17 cents a treat. If 100 little goblins came up your steps last year, that’s about $17 for one piece each. ABC’s tips are simple: compare the unit price (price per ounce) on the shelf tag instead of the sticker price, consider buying in bulk at a warehouse store, and grab mixed bags, which may cost less than all-chocolate ones. Buy a set amount and put it up high. Candy on the counter has a way of disappearing like biscuits at a church supper.

👉 Read more (ABC News: how to save on Halloween candy) · NBC News: candy prices up 8.1% · FinanceBuzz study (New York Post)

💳 “Four Easy Payments” Still Come Out of Next Month’s Paycheck

With holiday shopping starting, Consumer Reports is reminding folks to go slow with Buy Now, Pay Later plans. Those are the offers at checkout that split a purchase into a few smaller payments. According to the Federal Reserve, about one in six adults used one in the past year. Consumer Reports says people now use them for more than online shopping, including groceries, food delivery, utility bills and even rent.

The concern is simple: the payments come out of future paychecks. If you have several plans running at once, the payments pile up. If the money isn’t in the bank when one comes due, you can get hit with a missed payment or an overdraft fee. Some plans also charge interest or other fees.

What it means for you: Consumer Reports’ advice boils down to four things. Look at the full cost, not just what’s due today. Make sure every payment fits your budget. Keep track of due dates and automatic payments, and don’t stack several plans at once. For bigger purchases, compare a credit card or a loan from your local bank or credit union. Credit cards come with long-standing federal protections for billing disputes and returns, while pay-later rules vary by lender. Think of it like borrowing a neighbor’s truck: easy to say yes to, but you still have to bring it back full.

👉 Read more (Consumer Reports: Buy Now, Pay Later debt is on the rise)

💊 Weekend Medicare Homework: Is Your Drug on the New Price List?

Medicare open enrollment runs through Monday, Dec. 7, and changes take effect Jan. 1. One thing worth checking this weekend: on Jan. 1, 2027, Medicare’s negotiated prices kick in for 15 more drugs covered under Part D. CMS, the agency that runs Medicare, says the new prices save about 44%, or $12 billion, compared with what Medicare spent on these drugs. About 5.3 million people on Medicare drug plans used them in 2024.

The 15 drugs are: Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy; Trelegy Ellipta; Breo Ellipta; Xtandi; Pomalyst; Ibrance; Calquence; Ofev; Linzess; Austedo and Austedo XR; Tradjenta; Janumet and Janumet XR; Xifaxan; Vraylar; and Otezla.

A few other 2027 drug-plan basics, which are national rules: the standard Part D deductible is $700, your yearly out-of-pocket cost for covered drugs is capped at $2,400, and covered insulin stays at no more than $35 for a month’s supply. CMS says this year’s Plan Finder also shows clear messages about changes to your current plan and links straight to each plan’s drug list.

What it means for you: If you take one of these drugs, look up what each plan would charge you for it in 2027 on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder. Your actual savings depend on your plan’s deductible and copays. Enter all your prescriptions, not just this one, and compare the yearly total. If it feels like reading a seed catalog in a foreign language, a free TN SHIP counselor will walk through it with you at 1-877-801-0044. They don’t sell plans.

👉 Read more (CMS: savings on 15 drugs) · CMS: selected drugs and negotiated prices · Medicare Plan Compare · TN SHIP

🔥 Heating Help: What LIHEAP Pays and Who Qualifies

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap calls for a clear night tonight with a low around 38°, and another night near 38° on Sunday. If those heating bills worry you, here’s what to know about LIHEAP, the federal heating-help program Tennessee runs through local agencies.

• How much: Tennessee agencies, including Chattanooga’s and Upper East Tennessee’s, say help this year ranges from $300 to $800, depending on household size, energy costs and available money. It’s paid directly to your utility or fuel dealer.
• What it covers: Electric, natural gas, propane, wood, coal, oil and kerosene.
• Who qualifies: Households at or below 60% of the state median income. For the year that began Oct. 1, the yearly limits posted by Upper East Tennessee’s agency are about $32,861 for one person, $42,973 for two, $53,084 for three and $63,196 for four.
• How to apply: Online through THDA, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. You’ll need a valid email address. In Sequatchie County, SETHRA in Dunlap can help at 423-949-2191.

When the program year opened, Tennessee had not yet received its federal money, so new applications went on a waiting list. Federal LIHEAP money was released to the states on Oct. 9. We haven’t seen a Tennessee announcement yet on when waitlisted applications will be paid.

What it means for you: If you think you qualify, apply now so you’re in line, and keep paying your utility bill while you wait. A spot on the list is like a ticket at the deli counter: it only helps if you pull one.

👉 Read more (THDA: LIHEAP in Tennessee) · SETHRA Housing & Energy · UETHDA: 2026-2027 income limits · Chattanooga LIHEAP · NWS Dunlap forecast

✅ Your Wallet Checklist for the Weekend

• ✅ Fill up on trips you’re already making. Chattanooga is about $3.68.
• ✅ Count last year’s trick-or-treaters and budget about 17 cents a treat. Compare unit prices and look at mixed bags.
• ✅ Before you click “pay later,” add up the full cost and write each due date on the calendar. One plan at a time.
• ✅ Check whether any of your prescriptions are on Medicare’s new negotiated price list, then compare plans on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder.
• ✅ Call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free, unbiased Medicare help. The deadline is Dec. 7.
• ✅ Need heating help? Check the income limits, apply for LIHEAP online, and call SETHRA at 423-949-2191 with questions.
• ✅ Birthday on the 11th–20th? Your Social Security deposit lands Wednesday, Oct. 21. SSI’s November payment comes early, on Friday, Oct. 30.

Practical rule: If you wouldn’t buy it with the cash in your pocket today, think twice before buying it with next month’s paycheck.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Money Glossary

• AAA average: The daily average gas price AAA reports for a state or metro area. Individual stations can be higher or lower.
• Unit price: The price per ounce, pound or piece, usually in small print on the shelf tag. It lets you compare different-size packages fairly.
• Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): A short-term loan offered at checkout that splits a purchase into a few payments, often every two weeks.
• Overdraft fee: A charge your bank may add when a payment takes more money than is in your account.
• Negotiated price (maximum fair price): The price Medicare and a drug company agreed on for a drug under Medicare’s drug price negotiation program.
• Deductible: What you pay for covered drugs each year before your plan starts sharing the cost.
• Out-of-pocket cap: The most you’ll pay in a year for covered Part D drugs. For 2027, it’s $2,400.
• Plan Finder: Medicare’s free online tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare for comparing health and drug plans in your area.
• LIHEAP: The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. Payments go straight to the utility.
• SETHRA: Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency, based in Dunlap, which handles LIHEAP for Sequatchie and nearby counties.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Are gas prices in Dunlap the same as Chattanooga?

Not exactly. AAA’s $3.68 is a Chattanooga-area average. Dunlap stations can be a little higher or lower, so check your gas app before you fill up.

Why is Halloween candy more expensive this year?

Candy prices are up nearly 8% nationally over the past year, according to government data reported by ABC News and NBC News. Chocolate has risen the most, partly because bad weather has hurt cocoa crops. Non-chocolate candy has gone up much less.

Is Buy Now, Pay Later a bad idea?

Not always. It can help spread out a planned purchase. Consumer Reports’ advice is to look at the full cost, make sure every payment fits your budget, avoid running several plans at once, and compare a credit card or a bank or credit union loan for bigger purchases.

Will my copay drop if my drug is on Medicare’s new price list?

It may, but what you pay still depends on your plan’s deductible and copays. The best way to know is to enter your drugs in Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder or ask a free TN SHIP counselor at 1-877-801-0044.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan?

No. If your plan still covers your drugs and doctors at a cost you’re comfortable with, it renews on its own. Open enrollment is a chance to check, not a requirement to switch.

How much LIHEAP help could I get?

Tennessee agencies say this year’s help ranges from $300 to $800, depending on household size, energy costs and available money. It’s paid to your utility or fuel dealer, not to you. Call SETHRA at 423-949-2191 for details in Sequatchie County.

I applied for LIHEAP and got waitlisted. What now?

Your place in line still counts. Federal money was released to the states Oct. 9, but we haven’t seen a Tennessee announcement on when waitlisted applications will be paid. Keep paying your utility bill in the meantime, and call SETHRA to ask where things stand.

📎 Other Resources

• AAA Tennessee gas prices
• ABC News: Halloween candy may be more expensive this year
• NBC News: Halloween candy prices jump 8.1%
• Consumer Reports: Buy Now, Pay Later debt is on the rise
• CMS: Savings on 15 major drugs
• CMS: Selected drugs and negotiated prices
• CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D outlook
• Medicare Plan Compare
• TN SHIP free Medicare counseling
• THDA: LIHEAP in Tennessee
• SETHRA Housing & Energy (LIHEAP)
• UETHDA: LIHEAP 2026-2027 income limits
• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• Social Security 2026 payment schedule

🌿 Keep Learning, Keep Calm

This Saturday’s money news is mostly manageable: cheaper gas, a candy bowl you can plan for, a simple rule for pay-later offers and plenty of time to check your Medicare plan. Write your payday on the fridge, set a candy budget and look up your prescriptions with a second cup of coffee. A little planning on Saturday saves a lot of scrambling in December.

For more calm, practical Valley news, read Dunlap.Today, and share this with a neighbor who’s starting their holiday shopping.