Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: a study shows essential household costs are driving Wisconsin's affordability challenge. Plus: ChatGPT & Insurify launch an auto insurance comparison app.

Report: Essential Household Costs are Driving Wisconsin’s Affordability Challenge

A new report from Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association, reveals that while median wages in Wisconsin have generally kept pace with inflation over the past 25 years, many essential household expenses have increased at a much faster rate.

The study points to rising costs for necessities such as housing and healthcare as major factors putting pressure on household budgets across the state.

Preliminary estimates show that median household income in Wisconsin increased by 90% from 2000 to 2025, while overall costs of goods and services—measured by the Consumer Price Index—rose by 87% during the same period. However, essential expenses have outpaced both wage growth and inflation. Read more here.

ChatGPT and Insurify Launch Auto Insurance Comparison App  

Insurify, an online insurance comparison platform, has launched a new ChatGPT app that allows users to browse, research, and compare auto insurance directly through the platform’s app library.

This marks the first insurance-related app in ChatGPT’s library, sparking discussion across the industry, including concerns about potential market disruption.

The ChatGPT app library features a collection of tools and third-party integrations available within the ChatGPT app. The new Insurify digital insurance comparison tool lets consumers shop for and compare insurance quotes in one place. Read more here.

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to join our emailing list.