💵 Sunday Money Check: Tennessee Gas Dips to About $3.45, TVA's December Fuel Charge Comes Down, the Same Thanksgiving List Costs $14.78 or $26.22 Depending on the Store, and It's a Good Week to Check Your Savings Rate

Or: AAA Has Tennessee Regular Down 17 Cents in a Week and Chattanooga Near $3.15; TVA’s Fuel Charge for December Power Drops About a Quarter-Cent per kWh; WSMV Finds an $11.44 Gap on Eight Thanksgiving Staples; Markets Expect a December Fed Hike, So Savers Should Shop Their Rate; Medicare’s 2027 Part B Premium Is Still Pending; and 22 Days Left to Change Medicare Plans

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, November 15, 2026

Good Sunday morning, neighbors. It’s a chilly start, the kind of morning made for a second cup of coffee and a slow look at the week ahead. The wallet news is gentle today, and most of it leans in your favor.

Here’s what’s on the porch rail: Tennessee gas slipped again to about $3.45, down about 17 cents from a week ago, with Chattanooga near $3.15; TVA’s fuel charge for December electricity is coming down from November’s level; a Nashville TV station priced the same eight Thanksgiving staples at four stores and found an $11.44 difference between the cheapest and priciest; markets expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates on Dec. 9, which makes this a good week to check what your savings account pays; the official 2027 Medicare Part B premium still hasn’t been announced; and holiday shoppers get a few easy rules for spotting fake online stores. Medicare plan changes end in 22 days.

Gas prices are Tennessee statewide and Chattanooga-area, with the national number for comparison. The TVA fuel charge applies across the Tennessee Valley, including Sequachee Valley Electric customers, though each co-op posts its own exact number. The grocery comparison was done in Nashville, so your local prices will differ. Interest rates, Medicare and the holiday-shopping tips are national.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• At the pump (Sun., Nov. 15): Tennessee regular about $3.45, national about $3.82, Chattanooga about $3.15 (AAA).
• Power bill: TVA’s residential fuel charge for December use is about 2.56 cents per kWh, down from about 2.83 cents in November (as posted by a TVA co-op). That’s roughly $2.70 less per 1,000 kWh.
• Thanksgiving: The same eight side-dish staples cost $14.78 at Aldi and $26.22 at Publix in WSMV’s Nashville check. Store choice matters.
• Savings: If your savings account pays next to nothing, ask about a better rate this week. A Fed hike would raise card costs faster than savings rates.
• Remember: Medicare changes end Mon., Dec. 7 (22 days). Social Security pays birthdays on the 11th–20th this Wed., Nov. 18.

⛽ Sunday Pump Check: Tennessee About $3.45, Down 17 Cents in a Week

AAA’s Sunday, Nov. 15, numbers put Tennessee regular at about $3.45 a gallon, down from about $3.46 on Saturday, about $3.61 a week ago and about $3.89 a month ago. The national average is about $3.82. The Chattanooga (TN only) metro average is about $3.15, the lowest of any Tennessee metro AAA tracks and down about 21 cents from a week ago, with Cleveland about $3.24. Tennessee diesel is about $5.72. We’re still paying more than a year ago, when Tennessee averaged about $2.69, but the slide has kept rolling all month. WBBJ in Jackson reported Friday that the state average had fallen 43 cents in one month.

What it means for you: A 15-gallon fill-up at the Tennessee average now runs about $51.70, roughly $2.50 less than a week ago. Gas this fall is like a porch thermometer on a fall evening: dropping a notch at a time, no big jumps. There’s no need to rush. Fill up when you need to, and if you’re already headed toward Chattanooga or Cleveland this week, that’s a fine place to top off before the Thanksgiving driving starts.

👉 Read more: AAA — Tennessee average gas prices

💡 A Little Help on the Power Bill: TVA’s December Fuel Charge Comes Down

Every power company in the Tennessee Valley passes along TVA’s monthly fuel charge, the cost of the coal, natural gas and uranium used to make electricity. Volunteer Energy Cooperative, another TVA co-op, has posted TVA’s residential fuel charge for December 2026 use at 2.558 cents per kWh, down from 2.830 cents for November. Here at home, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative lists its November residential fuel charge at 2.842 cents per kWh; its December number hadn’t been posted yet when we checked this morning, and co-op figures can differ slightly. TVA’s base rates are unchanged. This applies across the Tennessee Valley.

What it means for you: A drop of about a quarter-cent per kWh works out to roughly $2.70 less for every 1,000 kWh you use. That’s small change, like finding a few dollars in a winter coat pocket, but it’s going the right way. The bigger lever is still usage: colder nights mean the heat runs more, so a few simple habits, like setting the thermostat a couple of degrees lower at night and keeping drafts out with a rolled towel at the door, will matter more than the fuel charge. Check svalleyec.com later this month for SVEC’s December figure.

👉 Read more: Volunteer Energy Cooperative — TVA monthly fuel cost

🛒 Same Thanksgiving List, Four Stores, an $11.44 Difference

WSMV in Nashville took the same list of eight Thanksgiving staples, eggs, canned pumpkin, stuffing mix, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, gravy and canned cranberry sauce, to four stores and picked the lowest price at each. Aldi came in lowest at $14.78. Walmart was $19.95. Kroger was $24.50, or $19.55 with a Kroger Plus card. Publix was highest at $26.22. The station also noted the USDA expects grocery prices nationwide to average about 2% higher this year than last. These are Nashville prices on one day; your local stores will be different.

What it means for you: The turkey gets the headlines, but the side dishes add up quietly, like loose change in a church offering plate. Two easy moves: use the free store card wherever you shop (it knocked about $5 off at Kroger), and if you’re going to town anyway, buy the canned and boxed items at the cheapest store and save the specialty items for your favorite. Canned pumpkin, stuffing and cranberry sauce keep fine, so you can pick them up this week while they’re on sale.

👉 Read more: WSMV — Where to find the best deals for your Thanksgiving meal

🏦 Rates Are Heading Up, So Make Your Savings Work Too

After two firm price reports last week, markets now expect the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark rate a quarter point at its Dec. 8–9 meeting; 24/7 Wall St. reported that market pricing put the odds near 89%, with the Fed’s top rate now at 4.00%. The 10-year Treasury yield, which mortgages tend to follow, ended Friday’s trading at about 5.15%, according to Mortgage Daily’s weekly recap. The article laid out what a hike would mean: credit card rates usually follow within a billing cycle or two, while savings account rates rise slowly, and some banks never raise them at all. The FDIC’s national average for a 12-month CD was 1.76% in October, while many competitive banks and credit unions pay well above that. A quarter-point increase adds about $12.50 a year in interest on a $5,000 card balance. These are national numbers.

What it means for you: Money sitting in a near-zero savings account is like a good dog asleep on the porch: perfectly safe, but not doing any work. This week, look up the exact rate your savings account pays. If it’s near zero, ask your bank or a local credit union what their savings or CD rates are, and make sure any bank you use is FDIC-insured (or NCUA-insured for credit unions). If you carry a card balance, paying it down before the December meeting is a sure-thing return. And if you pay your card in full every month, a Fed hike won’t touch your card costs at all. A fixed-rate mortgage or car loan doesn’t change either.

👉 Read more: 24/7 Wall St. — What a December rate hike would mean for your savings, CD and credit card

🩺 Medicare: 22 Days Left, and the 2027 Part B Premium Is Still on the Way

Medicare open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7. Separately, the government still hasn’t announced the official 2027 Part B premium, the monthly amount most people have taken out of their Social Security check. A federal regulatory listing shows the Part B premium notice has been under final review at the White House budget office since Nov. 4. Medicare’s trustees have projected a standard premium of $209.50 a month, up $6.60 from this year’s $202.90, and a deductible of $292, up from $283, but AARP notes those are projections and the real figures should come later this month. Last year’s numbers came out Nov. 14. This is national.

What it means for you: No need to wait on the premium to review your plan. The Part B premium is the same no matter which drug or Advantage plan you pick, so it’s like the price of the gas: it affects your budget, not your choice of truck. For now, pencil in about $6 to $7 a month more for Part B in January and expect the official amount on your Social Security notice. Then spend your energy on what does differ between plans: your doctors, pharmacy and prescriptions. Free, no-sales help is TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044, and Medicare’s line is 1-800-633-4227.

👉 Read more: AARP — 7 Medicare changes to watch in 2027

🎁 Holiday Shopping Season Is Here: Three Rules for Spotting a Fake Store

The National Retail Federation forecasts that November and December retail sales will top $1 trillion for the first time, growing 4.2% over last year. With all that shopping, a University of Mississippi marketing professor, Barry Babin, warned this week that fake online storefronts and fake reviews are getting more convincing. A report from Scamwise, a free scam-checking tool, found that most fake stores it reviewed used AI-written pages and that about 7 in 10 went offline within 90 days. His advice was simple: don’t click through ads or texts; if you see a deal from a store you know, go to that store’s website on your own and check that the deal is really there. Pay with a credit card, which usually offers the most protection, and skip wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency as payment. This is national advice.

What it means for you: Shopping online is like buying from a roadside stand: the honest ones are easy to find again next week, and the fly-by-night ones aren’t. If a deal looks too good, type the store’s address yourself instead of tapping the link. If something goes wrong, call your card company right away to ask for a refund, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And there’s nothing wrong with buying in person in town, where you can see what you’re getting and keep a local business going.

👉 Read more: KNOX News Radio — Holiday shopping scams are getting harder to detect

📅 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 go paperless at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your raise letter online early (3 days). Your raise is the same either way.
• Thursday, Nov. 19: Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage-rate survey.
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: Social Security paid for birthdays on the 21st–31st.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving (11 days). Banks and post offices closed.
• Friday, Nov. 27: Black Friday.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: SSI payments.
• Thursday, Dec. 3: Social Security for people who started benefits before May 1997 or get both Social Security and SSI.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Last day of Medicare open enrollment (22 days).
• Tuesday–Wednesday, Dec. 8–9: Federal Reserve meeting; the rate decision comes Wednesday afternoon. Dec. 9 is also Social Security day for birthdays on the 1st–10th.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: HealthCare.gov deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1 (30 days).

✅ Your Wallet Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Need gas? Tennessee is about $3.45 and Chattanooga about $3.15. Fill up when you need to.
• ✅ Look at your next power bill for the fuel charge line, and check svalleyec.com later this month for SVEC’s December number.
• ✅ Make your Thanksgiving list now and buy the canned and boxed items at whichever store is cheapest. Use the free store card.
• ✅ Look up the exact rate on your savings account. If it’s near zero, ask a bank or credit union what they pay. Check for FDIC or NCUA insurance.
• ✅ Carry a card balance? Send a little extra before the Dec. 9 Fed meeting.
• ✅ On Medicare? 22 days left. List your doctors, pharmacy and prescriptions, then call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
• ✅ Shopping online? Type the store’s web address yourself and pay with a credit card.

Practical rule: Shop the store, not the sign; ask your savings for a raise; and type the address yourself.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Money Glossary

• Metro average: AAA’s average gas price for a city and its surrounding area.
• Fuel cost adjustment (fuel charge): The part of your power bill that passes along TVA’s monthly cost for the fuel used to make electricity. It goes up and down each month.
• kWh (kilowatt-hour): The unit your power use is measured in. Many homes use around 1,000 or more a month in winter.
• Store loyalty card: A free card or phone number you give at checkout that unlocks member prices.
• Federal funds rate: The Fed’s benchmark interest rate. Many other rates, like credit cards, follow it.
• CD (certificate of deposit): A savings account that pays a set rate if you leave the money in for a set time, such as 12 months.
• FDIC / NCUA insurance: Federal protection for money in banks (FDIC) and credit unions (NCUA), up to the standard limits.
• Part B premium: The monthly cost for Medicare’s doctor and outpatient coverage, usually taken out of your Social Security check.
• Fake storefront: A website made to look like a real store that takes your money and doesn’t deliver.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much is gas in Tennessee today?

AAA’s Sunday average has Tennessee regular at about $3.45, down about 17 cents from a week ago. The national average is about $3.82, and the Chattanooga metro is about $3.15.

Is my electric bill going down?

The fuel part of it should be a little lower for December use. TVA’s residential fuel charge, as posted by Volunteer Energy Cooperative, drops to about 2.56 cents per kWh from about 2.83 cents. That’s about $2.70 less per 1,000 kWh. Your total bill still depends mostly on how much power you use, and colder weather usually means more use. SVEC’s exact December figure will be posted on its website.

Where is the cheapest place to buy Thanksgiving groceries?

In WSMV’s Nashville check of eight staples, Aldi was lowest at $14.78, then Kroger with its store card at $19.55, Walmart at $19.95, Kroger without the card at $24.50 and Publix at $26.22. Prices vary by town and by week, so compare your local stores’ ads.

Will a Fed rate hike raise my mortgage payment?

Not if you have a fixed-rate mortgage or car loan; those don’t change. Variable-rate debt like credit cards and home equity lines usually goes up within a billing cycle or two. Savings rates may rise too, but often more slowly.

What will Medicare Part B cost in 2027?

It hasn’t been announced yet. Medicare’s trustees projected $209.50 a month, up from $202.90, but the official number should come later this month and could differ.

How can I tell if an online store is fake?

Be wary of deals that arrive through ads, texts or social media. Go to the store’s website yourself to check the deal, pay with a credit card, and never pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency. If something goes wrong, call your card company and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

When does Medicare open enrollment end?

Monday, Dec. 7. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. TN SHIP’s free number is 1-877-801-0044, and Medicare is 1-800-633-4227.

📎 Other Resources

• AAA: Tennessee average gas prices and metro averages
• WBBJ: Tennessee gas prices drop 43 cents in one month
• Volunteer Energy Cooperative: TVA fuel cost by month
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative: Fees and rates
• TVA: What the total monthly fuel cost is
• WSMV: Best deals for your Thanksgiving meal
• 24/7 Wall St.: What a December rate hike would mean for savers and borrowers
• Mortgage Daily: Mortgage rates weekly recap, Nov. 9–13
• AARP: 7 Medicare changes to watch in 2027
• Reginfo.gov: 2027 Part B premium notice under review
• Medicare.gov: Open enrollment
• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling
• NRF: 2026 holiday sales forecast
• KNOX News Radio: Holiday shopping scams and how to protect yourself
• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• SSA: 2026–2027 payment schedule

🌿 Keep Learning, Keep Calm

It’s a kind Sunday for your wallet: gas still easing, the power company’s fuel charge heading down, and a little homework that could put a few dollars back in your pocket. Rates may tick up in December, but that’s good news for savers who take five minutes to check their account. Pick one thing from the checklist today, maybe that Thanksgiving list or a look at your savings rate, and let the rest wait for Monday. A little planning on a quiet morning keeps the whole holiday season calmer.

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