Consumer prices in the Midwest are now 30.6% higher than in early 2020. As a result, the typical Iowa household is spending about $1,508 more per month—totaling over $56,000 in additional costs—just to maintain the same standard of living. Learn more in CSI's latest inflation report: bit.ly/4xn0LXH

Inflation accelerated in May 2026. Year-over-year inflation rose to 5.0% in the Midwest—the highest level since February 2023—while the U.S. climbed to 4.2%, the highest since April 2023. Learn more in CSI's latest inflation report: bit.ly/4xn0LXH

🎙️ NEW EPISODE OF COMMON SENSE UNFILTERED IS LIVE! Join CSI CEO Cinamon Watson as she sits down with CSI Iowa Executive Director Matt Everson and Iowa Bankers Association VP of Government Affairs Casey Ficek for a conversation on one of the biggest policy debates of the legislative session: HSB 324. They break down CSI's latest research on interchange fees, what the bill could mean for Iowa businesses and consumers, and where CSI Iowa is headed under Matt's leadership. Check out the full episode: bit.ly/4ukXbux Read CSI's report: bit.ly/4dcz2RF

🎉 Happy Birthday to CSI CEO Cinamon Watson! Your leadership has helped grow CSI's impact, expand our reach, and bring data-driven research to important conversations across the country. Thank you for all you do to advance common sense policy conversations. Here's to another great year ahead! 🎂🎈

How could Iowa's recent property tax reforms affect the state's tax burden? CSI projects the reforms enacted in 2023 and 2026 could move Iowa from the 20th-most burdened state for total local taxes in FY 2023 to 29th by FY 2033. Learn more: bit.ly/4g38Ieu

In an op-ed, CSI Economist Thomas Young breaks down the data behind Iowa’s “clean energy dividend.” CSI’s research found that homeowners in school districts with large-scale wind production pay about 26% lower property taxes on average than those in districts with no wind turbines — roughly $194 less per year for the typical homeowner. The analysis also found Iowa’s renewable energy sector has generated $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue over the last decade while helping keep electricity price growth 37% below the national average. Learn more in the full op-ed: bit.ly/4uJBJAl Read CSI's report: bit.ly/4aZ7huz

Today, we welcomed our 2026 summer interns! We're excited to have an incredible group of Junior Fellows joining us this summer as they dive into research, policy, communications, and economic issues shaping the future. Stay tuned to see what they accomplish!

This quote says it all. Read the rest of the new @CSInstituteIA report and see how Iowa is leaving more money in the pockets of the families and business who truly create prosperity! commonsenseinstituteus.org/i…

The average Iowan needs to work 38 hours a month to afford a new home. That's 14 hours less than the national average. See how Iowa's housing affordability stacks up in CSI's latest report: bit.ly/4xcrB52

The typical Iowa household has spent over $54,000 more since 2020 just to maintain the same standard of living. Meanwhile, Midwest inflation hit 4.1% in April, the highest reading since 2023. Check out the full April inflation update here: bit.ly/4wwlvMr

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised Iowa's March nonfarm employment up by 1,100 jobs, and the state added 3,400 in April. Iowa has now gained 2,300 jobs in the first four months of 2026—more than triple last year's 700. Get the full details in CSI's latest update: bit.ly/3Q5BH6K

Did you know? Iowa had the 10th-highest property tax burden in the nation in 2023, according to CSI's latest analysis. Local property taxes consumed 3.32% of statewide personal income, compared to a national average of 2.53%. The report examines how recent property tax reforms could affect Iowa's standing relative to other states in the years ahead. Learn more in the full report: bit.ly/4g38Ieu

Iowa is on pace to eliminate its housing shortage by the end of 2028. The statewide deficit is projected at 8,102 homes in 2026 under current trends. Explore the recovery in CSI's latest housing affordability update: bit.ly/4xcrB52

Iowa's unemployment rate held at 3.3% in April—the 10th lowest nationally—while labor force participation sits at 67.5%, still 3rd highest in the U.S. Even as annual job counts weaken, Iowa's workforce remains among the most active and employed in the country. Get the details in CSI's latest update: bit.ly/3Q5BH6K

Iowa remains one of the most affordable housing markets in the country—but the cost of owning a home has grown 39% faster than wages over the past six years. Home values themselves rose only 17.9% faster. Read more in CSI's latest housing affordability update: bit.ly/4xcrB52

Over the past 12 months, Iowa has lost 15,100 jobs (-0.9%), ranking 46th nationally in job growth. Only 4 of Iowa's 11 major sectors grew over the year: education & health services, construction, mining & logging, and other services. See the full analysis in CSI's April report: bit.ly/3Q5BH6K

Policymakers should weigh not just the costs of card payment systems, but also the economic benefits they provide and the disruption that comes from interfering with them. Our latest analysis finds that artificially limiting interchange fees would mostly benefit a handful of large retailers while creating net negative downstream effects for Iowa's economy overall. Learn more in the full report: bit.ly/4dcz2RF Read more about it: bit.ly/4v14xUL

Price increases remain broad-based across the Midwest. From April 2025 to April 2026, energy (15.7%), transportation (5.8%), fuels and utilities (5.7%), and apparel (5.4%) led the way, while durables (-0.3%) was the only major category to see deflation. Learn more in CSI's latest inflation report: bit.ly/4wwlvMr

Consumer prices in the Midwest are now 29.2% higher than in early 2020. As a result, the typical Iowa household is spending about $1,435 more per month—totaling over $54,000 in additional costs—just to maintain the same standard of living. Learn more in CSI's latest inflation report: bit.ly/4wwlvMr

A new CSI Iowa report finds implementation costs for merchants alone could reach about $82 million under HSB 324, as businesses would likely need significant system and payment processing upgrades to comply with the law. Meanwhile, projected merchant savings from restricting interchange fees on taxes collected during card transactions total about $36.2 million annually statewide. For many smaller businesses, CSI finds it could take a decade or longer for those savings to outweigh the upfront costs. Learn more: bit.ly/4dcz2RF