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The View From the Wall - Tuesday, October 6, 2026

By Jeff Bingham, President

Gas came down this week. In Kingsport we're at 3.89, down 11 cents. National and state came down too, so this was oil, not our corner station. Oil dropped to around 90 bucks a barrel, and we felt it at the pump.

Here's what that means to you. Filling a 20 gallon tank cost about $2 less this week than last. Not life changing, but it's the first week in a while the number went the right way. A year ago that same fill was $24 cheaper, so don't mistake a good week for a trend.

That's the weather, and weather changes all the time. A good week at the pump is a nice day. Enjoy it. But don't confuse it with what's underneath.

The cost of borrowing money is still climbing, and the longer you borrow for, the more it bites. We've got two costs moving in opposite directions, gas easing while the cost of money keeps grinding higher. One cause sits behind a lot of it, how much Washington borrows pushes the cost of money up for everyone. That's not weather. That's the grade of the hill, and the grade doesn't change because one afternoon turned nice.

Here's the good news, and it's real. Households are on firmer footing than they've been in a long time, less bad debt, more cushion. Steadier than the headlines make it feel. That's the kind of thing we watch so you don't have to.

You've got protection for the steep stretches and participation for the climb. You built that. Therefore everything above only happens to you as much as you let it. Go have your week. We're on the wall. You go live your life.

Keep the Faith. God Bless America.

Jeff

The Weekly Quiz

Last week's answer: The 10 year Treasury last closed above 5% in 2007.

This week's question: The last time you could get a 30 year mortgage under 3% was what year?

Give us a call with your answer at 423-247-1152. Every right answer goes into a drawing for a prize. Answer next week.

 

Sources: Gas prices, AAA, this week as of October 4, 2026; last week as published in the September 29, 2026 edition; a year ago, same week 2025. Oil price, WTI crude, October 2, 2026. Market background: Aptus Capital Advisors, The Market in Pictures (October 2, 2026). Fill-up arithmetic assumes a 20 gallon tank at the Kingsport price.

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