Are hotels cheaper if you book direct? (1 12 26)

Author

Sally McDonald
January 12, 2026

💵 Today’s Top Stories
Hotel booking

You and I like finding deals on hotels as much as Clark. (OK, let’s be honest, almost as much.) Does that mean we should book through the hotel itself or through a travel site like Priceline? Read more.

Fill up gas station

Squeezing the most out of your gas budget can make a real financial difference. Here are some ways to save that you probably haven’t considered. Read more.

Jobs

Worried your industry isn’t on solid footing as we enter the A.I. era? Or simply looking for an exciting new career path? These jobs should offer lots of opportunities in the next 10 years. Read more.

Credit card cash rewards

Taking full advantage of your credit card rewards can become a part-time job. But Clark teaches you how to get more out of your rewards without too much work. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.16% and 15-year rates are 5.46% as of January 8, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Rates 010826
📦️ U-Haul Data: Top States Americans Are Moving To, From

Some strong migration trends within the United States continued in 2025, at least according to U-Haul data.

Citing one-way transactions between states, the gigantic moving company ran stats on the states Americans are moving to (and abandoning) most.

At the top and bottom of those lists are some familiar states.

The five states Americans are moving toward in the greatest numbers (last year’s rank in parentheses):

  • 1. Texas (2)

  • 2. Florida (4)

  • 3. North Carolina (3)

  • 4. Tennessee (5)

  • 5. South Carolina (1)

As you can see, it’s the same top 5 as 2024, albeit in a different order.

The five states Americans are moving away from in the greatest numbers (last year’s rank in parentheses):

  • 50. California (50)

  • 49. Illinois (45)

  • 48. New Jersey (48)

  • 47. New York (47)

  • 46. Massachusetts (49)

Pennsylvania rose from 46th to 44th and Illinois fell from 45th to 49th. Otherwise there were no changes in the bottom five.

There were, however, some states showing upward or downward mobility. Oregon (34th to 11th) led all states by gaining 23 spots. Ohio (14th to 43rd) trailed all states by falling 29 spots.

In total, 12 states rose or fell at least 10 spots.

📊 Stat of the Day

💸 8.3 million: Minimum number of Americans who started 2026 with a raise. That’s because 19 states increased their minimum wage, leading to an estimated $5 billion in additional pay. Seattle ($21.30 per hour) headlined cities that also raised the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Clark Howard travel advice
Happy piggy bank cash
🎙️ Podcast

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, after years of relentless price hikes on our auto insurance, will rates finally start to fall for drivers as we enter 2026? Clark predicts auto insurance prices and shares an emerging trend that’s keeping us safer on the roads while slashing the cost of insurance for drivers who embrace the future.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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