CenterHigh
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com)News report · Aug 18, 9:00 AM
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
← Today's headlines
5 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 10m ago
Still Watching
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
All headlines are identical, reporting the same factual information without any framing differences.
0 Left4 Center1 Right
STILL WATCHING
As of August 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
The headline split The headlines are mostly aligned. The differences are small wording choices, not a major framing split.
Match confidence Medium confidence. 5 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium
5 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.
Framing confidenceMostly same
0/99 — the outlets mostly agree on the headline takeaway.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftNo matching source in this bucket yet.
Optics keeps watching for pickup.
CenterThe cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightThe cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Al.com (Alabama News) · Center-right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
CenterMostly Factual
OregonianNews report · Aug 18, 9:00 AM
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
Center-rightMostly Factual
Al.com (Alabama News)News report · Aug 18, 9:00 AM
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
CenterMostly Factual
The Post-Standard (Syracuse)News report · Aug 18, 9:00 AM
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
CenterHigh
The Grand Rapids Press (MLive)News report · Aug 18, 9:00 AM
The cost of living is highest in these 3 states, research find
Inflation actually cooled slightly last month, dropping from 3.5 percent to 3.4 percent.
Details0/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 5 sources
0/99 Wording GapMedium confidence5 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 5 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Aug 18, 9:00 AM: The Star-Ledger (NJ.com) joined the source map.
Aug 18, 9:00 AM: Oregonian joined the source map.
Aug 18, 9:00 AM: Al.com (Alabama News) joined the source map.
Aug 18, 9:00 AM: The Post-Standard (Syracuse) joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 0/99 and story health is live match · 5 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.