💵 Thursday Money Check: Chattanooga Gas Slides to About $3.23, a December Rate Hike Looks Likely, a Plan to Drop the Tax on Milk, Eggs and Bread, and a Little Water-Bill Credit

Or: AAA Has Chattanooga Regular at $3.23 and the Nation at $3.91; Fed Officials Point Toward a December Hike, So Savers Smile and Card Balances Matter More; Speaker Sexton Files House Bill 6 on Milk, Eggs and Bread; Tennessee American Water Adds a $13.07 Credit; 25 Days Left for Medicare

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, November 12, 2026

Good Thursday morning, neighbors. Banks and the mail are back on their regular schedule after Veterans Day, so if you saved an errand for today, today’s the day.

Here’s what’s on the porch rail this morning: Chattanooga gas slid again to about $3.23, with AAA’s national average near $3.91; after Tuesday’s hot price report, Federal Reserve officials are pointing toward a rate increase in December, which is good news for savers and a nudge to pay down card balances; Tennessee’s House speaker filed a bill to drop the state grocery tax on milk, eggs and bread; Tennessee American Water customers just got another $13.07 bill credit; and there are 25 days left to change Medicare plans. We’ll also put the money dates on the fridge.

Gas prices are Chattanooga-area and Tennessee statewide, with the national number for comparison. The Fed, mortgage rates and Medicare are national. The grocery-tax bill is statewide and only a proposal for now. The water credit is regional: it applies only to Tennessee American Water customers.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• At the pump (Thu., Nov. 12): Chattanooga regular about $3.23, Tennessee about $3.52, national about $3.91 (AAA). About 25 cents less than a week ago here.
• Interest rates: Markets now expect the Fed to raise rates at its Dec. 8–9 meeting. Savings accounts may pay a bit more; credit-card rates usually follow. A fixed-rate mortgage does not change.
• Groceries: House Bill 6 would end the 4% state tax on milk, eggs and bread. It’s only a proposal; lawmakers take it up in January. Nothing changes at the register yet.
• Water bill: Tennessee American Water customers got a $13.07 credit on Nov. 10. No action needed.
• Remember: Medicare changes end Dec. 7 (25 days). Want your Social Security raise letter online early? Sign up for paperless by Wed., Nov. 18 (6 days).

⛽ Thursday Pump Check: Chattanooga About $3.23, the Nation About $3.91

AAA’s Thursday, Nov. 12, metro average puts Chattanooga (TN only) regular at about $3.23 a gallon, down about 5 cents from Wednesday and about 25 cents below a week ago ($3.47). Cleveland is about $3.33, Nashville about $3.46 and Knoxville about $3.59. Statewide, Tennessee averages about $3.52, down from $3.68 a week ago. AAA’s national average is about $3.91. Chattanooga diesel is about $5.42, down about 15 cents in a week. A year ago, Chattanooga regular was about $2.66, so we’re still above last fall, but the slide has now run for weeks.

What it means for you: A 15-gallon fill-up at the Chattanooga average now runs about $48.39, roughly $3.69 less than a week ago. That’s about a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs riding home free with every tank. Think of it like the creek going down after a wet spell: it’s dropping a little every day, and nobody can say exactly where it’ll settle. Fill up when you need to, and glance at two stations on your route.

👉 Read more: AAA — Tennessee gas prices

🏦 A December Rate Hike Looks Likely: Good for Savers, a Nudge for Card Balances

October’s consumer price report came in hotter than expected on Tuesday, with prices up 0.4% in one month, the third straight month of outsized increases, CNBC reported. Several Federal Reserve officials then pointed toward raising interest rates at the Fed’s next meeting on Dec. 8–9. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said in a speech that he was leaning toward a quarter-point increase in December and that a half-point move should be considered if inflation stayed hot. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said at least two more quarter-point increases are needed, while Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said she favors going gradually. According to CNBC, futures markets now unanimously expect a hike in December, with about a 15% chance of a larger half-point move. The Fed’s key rate now sits at 3.75% to 4%. Home-loan rates have already moved: Zillow’s data, reported by Yahoo Finance, put the 30-year fixed purchase rate at about 7.09% on Thursday, up 11 basis points from the day before, and the 30-year VA rate at about 6.29%. These are national numbers; nothing has been decided until the Fed votes.

What it means for you: When the Fed raises rates, it’s a little like the tide coming in: it lifts the boats on both sides of the dock. Savers may see savings accounts and CDs pay a bit more, so it’s a good week to ask your bank or credit union what your savings is earning. Credit cards and other variable-rate debts usually go up soon after a Fed hike, so any extra dollar you put toward a card balance now is a dollar that won’t cost more interest later. If you have a fixed-rate mortgage or car loan, your payment stays exactly the same. If you’re shopping for a home loan, get quotes from two or three lenders on the same day.

👉 Read more: CNBC — Fed weighs more rate hikes after October inflation report

🥛 A Proposal to Drop the Tax on Milk, Eggs and Bread

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton has filed House Bill 6, which would exempt milk, eggs and bread from Tennessee’s state sales tax on food, WSMV reported Wednesday. Tennessee now charges a 4% state tax on groceries. Under the proposal, shoppers would save 40 cents in state tax for every $10 spent on those three items. It would not apply to all groceries, just those three. Lawmakers are expected to take it up when the legislative session begins in January, and it would have to pass the legislature and become law before anything changes at the register. Lawmakers have debated cutting the grocery tax before, with disagreement over how to replace the money it brings in. This is statewide.

What it means for you: For now, this is a seed in the ground, not a crop in the barn. Nothing changes at the checkout yet, so don’t plan your budget around it. If it does pass, a family that spends $20 a week on milk, eggs and bread would save about 80 cents a week, or roughly $40 a year. We’ll let you know if it moves. If you have an opinion either way, your state representative’s office is the place to share it.

👉 Read more: WSMV — Proposed grocery tax exemption for milk, eggs and bread

💧 Tennessee American Water Customers: Another $13.07 Credit Just Landed

Tennessee American Water applied an additional $13.07 credit to customers’ accounts on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Local 3 News reported. The money comes from settlements with manufacturers of PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals.” The company says this brings the total settlement credits to around $84 per customer, and that receiving a credit does not necessarily mean a customer’s water is contaminated. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission approved passing these funds straight to customers as bill credits. This is regional: it applies only to Tennessee American Water customers, mainly in the Chattanooga area.

What it means for you: Check the name at the top of your water bill. If it says Tennessee American Water, look for the $13.07 credit on your next statement; you don’t need to apply or call. If your water comes from a different utility, this one doesn’t apply to you. Small credits are like finding a dollar in last winter’s coat pocket: not life-changing, but worth noticing.

👉 Read more: Local 3 News — Tennessee American Water adds $13 credit

🩺 Medicare: 25 Days Left, and a Second Opinion Is Free

Medicare open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7, and changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. A CBS News report this week gathered a few tips worth keeping. First, the online Plan Finder is a starting point; if a doctor, drug or pharmacy is crucial to you, a KFF analyst advised calling the plan and your doctor’s office directly to confirm. Second, brokers can be helpful, but they’re often paid on commission, so it’s worth getting a second opinion from someone without a financial stake, such as your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Third, if you’re in Medicare Advantage, there’s a separate window from Jan. 1 through March 31 to switch to another Advantage plan or return to original Medicare. And a reminder from The Washington Post: average Advantage premiums are expected to fall next year, to about $12 a month from $14.37, according to CMS, but copays and deductibles can shift, so look at the whole cost, not just the premium. This is national.

What it means for you: Picking a Medicare plan is like buying a pair of work boots: the price tag matters, but how they fit for a whole year matters more. Make a short list of your doctors, your pharmacy and your medicines, and have it handy when you call. In Tennessee, that free, no-sales second opinion is TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

👉 Read more: CBS News — What to consider before the Dec. 7 Medicare deadline

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

• Today, Thursday, Nov. 12: Banks and mail back to normal. Freddie Mac usually posts its weekly mortgage-rate survey on Thursdays.
• 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 (6 days).
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: Social Security paid for birthdays on the 21st–31st.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving (14 days). Banks and post offices closed.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Last day of Medicare open enrollment (25 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 (33 days from today).
• Thursday, Dec. 31: First SSI payment with the 3.6% increase.

✅ Your Wallet Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Saved a bank or post office errand? Today’s the day; both are open again.
• ✅ Need gas? Chattanooga is about $3.23. Fill up when you need to and compare two stations.
• ✅ Ask your bank or credit union what your savings is earning. If rates rise in December, make sure your money rises with them.
• ✅ Carrying a card balance? Put one extra payment toward it before December, when card rates usually follow the Fed.
• ✅ Tennessee American Water customer? Look for the $13.07 credit on your next bill. No call needed.
• ✅ On Medicare? 25 days left. Write down your doctors, pharmacy and medicines, then call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
• ✅ 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: When rates go up, let your savings ride the tide and keep your card balance off the boat.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Money Glossary

• Federal Reserve (the Fed): The nation’s central bank. It sets a key interest rate that affects what banks pay savers and charge borrowers.
• Rate hike: When the Fed raises its key interest rate, usually by a quarter of a percentage point at a time.
• Basis point: One-hundredth of a percentage point. 25 basis points equals a quarter of a percent.
• Consumer price index (CPI): The government’s monthly measure of how much everyday prices have changed.
• Variable rate: An interest rate that can go up or down over time, like most credit cards.
• Fixed rate: An interest rate that stays the same for the life of the loan.
• Bill credit: Money taken off what you owe on a bill, without needing a check.
• PFAS: A family of long-lasting man-made chemicals, sometimes called “forever chemicals.”
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s free, unbiased Medicare counseling program.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much is gas in Chattanooga today?

AAA’s Thursday metro average has Chattanooga regular at about $3.23, down about 5 cents from Wednesday and 25 cents from a week ago. Tennessee averages about $3.52, and AAA’s national average is about $3.91.

Has the Fed raised interest rates?

Not yet. The Fed meets Dec. 8–9. After Tuesday’s inflation report, several Fed officials pointed toward a December increase, and futures markets now expect one, but nothing is decided until the vote.

Will a Fed rate hike change my mortgage payment?

Not if you have a fixed-rate mortgage. It mostly affects credit cards, variable-rate loans, and people shopping for a new loan. Savings accounts and CDs may pay a little more.

Is the tax on milk, eggs and bread going away?

Not yet. House Bill 6 is a proposal. Lawmakers are expected to consider it starting in January, and it would have to pass and become law before shoppers see any change.

Do I need to do anything to get the Tennessee American Water credit?

No. The $13.07 credit was applied to customers’ accounts on Nov. 10. It applies only if your water service is from Tennessee American Water.

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.

When does Medicare open enrollment end?

Monday, Dec. 7. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. If you’re in Medicare Advantage, there’s another chance to switch from Jan. 1 through March 31.

📎 Other Resources

• AAA Tennessee gas prices
• AAA national gas prices
• CNBC: Fed weighs more hikes after October inflation report
• Federal Reserve: Governor Waller’s speech on the economic outlook
• Yahoo Finance: Zillow mortgage rates, Nov. 12
• Freddie Mac: Weekly mortgage rates
• WSMV: Proposed tax exemption for milk, eggs and bread
• Local 3 News: Tennessee American Water $13 credit
• CBS News: Medicare open enrollment tips
• The Washington Post: Medicare Advantage premiums and hidden costs
• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling
• SSA: 2027 COLA announcement and how to view your notice
• SSA: 2026 payment schedule
• HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines

🌿 Keep Learning, Keep Calm

It’s a steady Thursday for your wallet: gas still sliding, a little credit on some water bills, and a grocery-tax idea to keep an eye on come January. Interest rates look likely to tick up in December, but for most of us that just means asking what our savings earns and paying a little extra on a card. Pick one item off the checklist today, and let the rest wait its turn. 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.