Ballpark — August 31, 2026
Answers to that day's 5 daily estimation questions.
Costco cardholders worldwide at the end of fiscal 2024
~137 million people
Cardholders include primary members and additional household cardholders.
Average annual transportation spending by a U.S. consumer unit in 2024
~13,325 USD
Transportation accounted for 17% of average consumer-unit spending that year.
Average annual premium for employer-sponsored family health coverage in 2024
~25,575 USD
Employers paid most of the premium, while workers contributed $6,296 on average.
Maximum earnings subject to U.S. Social Security tax in 2025
176,000 USD
Medicare payroll tax has no equivalent earnings ceiling.
U.S. federal estate-tax basic exclusion for a person dying in 2025
14.0 million USD
Only the portion of an estate above the applicable exclusion is potentially subject to federal estate tax.