Living facts & stats

Question 1

As of August 2026, US core inflation, which excludes food and energy, ran at about what rate year-over-year?

Accepted Answer

2.4%. Core inflation strips out the most volatile categories to show an underlying trend.

Question 2

In the Economist Intelligence Unit's cost-of-living survey, which city is used as the base reference point for comparison?

Accepted Answer

New York City. Every other city in the index is scored relative to New York's cost level.

Question 3

The Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living survey compares prices across how many products and services?

Accepted Answer

more than 160 products and services. The survey has run for more than three decades to track how living costs shift globally.

Question 4

In the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2017 survey, which city ranked as the world's most expensive for the 4th year running?

Accepted Answer

Singapore. Asia was also home to eight of the ten cheapest cities in that same survey.

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