SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: WE KNOW INFLATION IS SOARING. PRICES ARE UP ON PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, BUT THE COSTS OF THESE ITEMS ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN! HERE’S MY FIVE FOR FRIDAY.

COMING IN AT NUMBER 5, FRANKFURTERS. MOST MEAT HAS BEEN WAY MORE EXPENSIVE SO THIS IS A SURPRISE, HOT DOGS ARE DOWN 3.3% FROM LAST YEAR. BUT GET THEM WHILE THE DEAL’S HOT, SUPPLIERS SAY THEY’RE RAISING PRICES IN JANUARY.

AIRLINE FARES ARE AT NUMBER 4, DOWN 4.6% FROM LAST YEAR. WE’VE SEEN AIRFARE TANK OVER THE PANDEMIC. AND WHILE HOLIDAY BOOKINGS ARE REPORTEDLY STRONG RIGHT NOW, BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE STILL NOT BACK, SO DEMAND IS DOWN.

AT NUMBER 3, WE HAVE SEWING MACHINES, FABRIC AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE CLOTHES, DOWN 5.7% YEAR OVER YEAR. WITH APPAREL PRICES UP ACROSS THE BOARD, NOW MIGHT BE THE PERFECT TIME TO MAKE YOUR OWN.

NUMBER 2 ON THE LIST IS HEALTH INSURANCE PRICES, DOWN 6.4 PERCENT. THANKS TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER NOW QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL SUBSIDIES THAT’LL REDUCE WHAT THEY SPEND ON HEALTH INSURANCE IN 2022, INCLUDING MILLIONS WHO ARE SELF EMPLOYED.

AT NUMBER ONE WITH A 20.6 PERCENT DECLINE FROM LAST YEAR: SMARTPHONES.  HAVE YOU SEEN THE BIG PROMOTIONS ON TRADE-INS AND UNLIMITED PLANS? CARRIERS ARE COMPETING HARD FOR NEW CUSTOMERS, MAKING SMARTPHONES CHEAPER.  BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO FIND ONE.

THAT’S YOUR FIVE FOR FRIDAY. I’M SDR FROM NEW YORK FOR JUST BUSINESS.  SEE YOU MONDAY.