Car prices are surging in the United States. Rising demand, in conjunction with a limited supply of new vehicles on dealer lots, has led to a 45% increase in the consumer price index for used vehicles since June 2020. Perhaps now more than ever, car buyers should bear in mind that the cost of vehicle ownership goes well beyond sticker price.

These costs are not uniform across the country, however, and in some states, motorists can expect to spend thousands more per year than in others.

Between insurance, fuel, and maintenance and repairs, the typical motorist in Oklahoma can expect to spend about $2,766 per year on vehicle ownership – the 22nd highest annual cost estimate among states. Nationwide, the average cost is about $2,807.

One of the largest drivers of vehicle ownership expenses is insurance, and just as the overall cost of ownership in Oklahoma is closely in line with the national average, so too are insurance costs. The average annual insurance payment for a single, 40-year old male with a clean record and good credit in the state is $1,393, compared to the national average of $1,428.

Estimated annual driving costs at the state level were calculated based on the average cost of insurance, gasoline, and repair when the check engine light comes on. Data on the average cost of repair, including parts and labor, came from automobile software developer CarMD. Data on the average annual insurance costs by state came from car review website insure.com and are based on full coverage for a single, 40 year-old male with a clean record and good credit and are for the 2021 model-year versions of the 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. Data on average gasoline expenditure per driver was calculated using total vehicle miles traveled by state in 2019 from the Federal Highway Administration; the total number of licensed drivers; the average price of a regular gallon of gasoline by state as of July 20, 2021 from AAA; and the average fuel economy for all U.S. vehicles in 2019 from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Due to incomplete data, Alaska was excluded from analysis.

RankStateAvg. annual cost of car ownership ($)Avg. gas price as of June 20, 2021 ($ per gal.)Avg. annual insurance costs ($)Annual fuel expenditure per licensed driver ($)1Louisiana4,1232.822,8398922Wyoming3,9843.451,7681,8333California3,7984.321,9661,4184Michigan3,4713.272,1121,0085Florida3,3692.992,0828946Missouri3,3692.841,8951,0987Texas3,1932.841,7101,0898Georgia3,1612.981,7051,0469Colorado3,1393.531,5741,16410Montana3,1263.201,6271,11011Utah3,0973.791,2501,44712South Dakota3,0353.091,5751,08313Rhode Island3,0293.041,80184014Connecticut2,9143.161,58093215New Mexico2,8963.091,3911,12516Mississippi2,8812.781,3781,10717Maryland2,8533.041,4101,04418Nevada2,8463.891,3801,07019Minnesota2,8273.001,4071,04920Arkansas2,8222.861,46297821West Virginia2,8123.051,2991,13622Oklahoma2,7662.871,39399423North Dakota2,7653.081,2341,17424South Carolina2,7432.921,40994125Kentucky2,7162.931,3211,00626Washington2,7093.841,2981,01827Nebraska2,7093.001,38396228Oregon2,6933.701,2291,07029Kansas2,6862.941,45486030New Jersey2,6823.181,31996031Delaware2,6793.001,44384632Alabama2,6492.841,35889333Massachusetts2,6443.031,31495034North Carolina2,6052.901,32687635Tennessee2,5852.881,20698036Arizona2,5753.131,41777237Hawaii2,5474.081,25489038Illinois2,5323.401,20595539Virginia2,4922.981,0331,05640Idaho2,4533.679851,08141Iowa2,3862.991,03299742Indiana2,3703.141,18982343New York2,2703.201,16373144Wisconsin2,2533.0293896545Pennsylvania2,2483.261,02884146Ohio2,2293.1099288847Vermont2,1333.071,15164048New Hampshire1,9972.9988574749Maine1,9603.12858745

(The Center Square) – Oklahoma is quickly becoming a hot spot for the TV and film industry. SB 608, the Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021, seeks to encourage more filmmakers to consider the state for their stories' backdrop.

The Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021 increases the film incentive cap. Beginning this month, film and television projects can apply for production tax incentives. According to a release from the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, the program offers a base rebate of up to 20% to qualified film and television productions working in Oklahoma. Eligible productions must have a minimum budget of $50,000. More rebate funds are available for productions that film in rural parts of the state and create television series or multiple movies.

Tava Sofsky, director of the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, told The Center Square she hopes the incentive program will bring "more sustainable jobs and economic growth for more small businesses statewide, which we hope will help diversify Oklahoma’s economy long term – resulting in Oklahoma becoming a top production hub in the U.S. for film, TV, music and tech production."

The previous Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program allowed qualifying productions a 35% rebate on qualified labor, goods and services.

Sofsky said that tripling the annual cap to $30 million annually will lead to a boost in job creation and increased business around the state.

When asked who would benefit from this program, Sofsky said, "Rural communities in Oklahoma."

"Small businesses in Oklahoma – companies that are direct support services to the film and music industry," she said, citing equipment rental houses, catering companies, costume and prop houses, transportation companies, and talent agencies. "But also indirect beneficiaries, such as hotels, restaurants, rental car companies, retail, accounting firms, insurance companies, and more."

(The Center Square) – Oklahoma tax collections dropped 15% from July 2020 to 2021, state Treasurer Randy McDaniel's reported.

Despite this, Tim Allen, deputy treasurer for communications and program administration at the office of Oklahoma State Treasurer, told The Center Square that gross receipts to the treasury in July send a strong signal of an expanding state economy.

"Gross receipts to the treasury don’t provide an exact picture of state revenue," Allen said. "Rather, the treasurer’s monthly report reflects a macro view of state economic activity."

Though the report appears negative at first glance because gross income tax receipts were down 50% at $324.2 million from July 2020, the comparison is skewed because of last year's adjusted income tax filing deadline.

"The only reason collections are lower than in July of last year is because of the shifting of last year’s income tax filing deadline from April to July," Allen said. "Therefore, July 2020 revenue was artificially boosted by the late filing."

According to a release from the treasurer's office, July collections total $1.22 billion. Increased sales tax and use receipts compared to the same time last year indicate that consumer confidence is strong.

All sources of revenue, including income taxes, exceed 2019 collections.

"This July, every major revenue stream, including sales and use taxes, show significant growth from the prior year, and that means people are spending more," Allen said. "In this, the first month of the state’s fiscal year, officials are expressing no concerns about revenue. In fact, allocations made to the General Revenue Fund, the state’s main operating account, are well above estimates."

Additionally, the Oklahoma Business Conditions Index indicates expansion is expected during the next three to six months.

June's unemployment rate was down to 3.7% and remains below the U.S. unemployment rate of 5.9%.

There were over 120,000 reported auto fraud and scam cases in the U.S. in 2020. Drivers who are unfortunate to do business with a dishonest mechanic or dealership can be tricked out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Auto fraud comes in many different forms. Mechanics may overcharge or double charge for services, make unnecessary repairs, fake malfunctions, price gouge, or charge for unused parts. Car dealerships may lie about a buyer's credit score, sell useless warranties or unnecessary products, and charge high interest rates. These practices are much more common in some states than others.

To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases.

The rate of auto fraud varies widely from state to state. Most states reported between 140 and 250 cases per million residents in 2020. In three states, there were fewer than 100 cases per million, but in eight states, there were more than 300 cases of auto fraud per million residents.

In Oklahoma, auto fraud complaints are slightly less likely than in the typical state. Drivers in the state reported 179.9 incidents of auto fraud per million residents in 2020 -- the 23rd lowest rate among all states. The median among all states is 187.9 cases per million residents. In total, Oklahoma residents reported 712 cases of auto fraud in 2020, the 24th lowest figure among states.

To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases.

StateTotal 2020 auto fraud cases2020 auto fraud cases per 1 millionRankAlabama820167.231Alaska107146.339Arizona1,897260.614Arkansas491162.734California6,374161.335Colorado1,510262.212Connecticut1,137318.94Delaware329337.92Florida7,2383373Georgia3,221303.48Hawaii200141.342Idaho341190.825Illinois2,042161.136Indiana1,332197.923Iowa496157.237Kansas21373.149Kentucky882197.424Louisiana680146.338Maine17212847Maryland1,893313.16Massachusetts10615.450Michigan1,427142.940Minnesota779138.143Mississippi591198.622Missouri1,940316.15Montana143133.846Nebraska350180.927Nevada1,066346.11New Hampshire404297.19New Jersey2,352264.811New Mexico477227.518New York3,392174.429North Carolina2,569244.917North Dakota105137.845Ohio3,5543047Oklahoma712179.928Oregon688163.133Pennsylvania3,338260.713Rhode Island8075.548South Carolina1,314255.216South Dakota122137.944Tennessee1,773259.615Texas4,765164.332Utah454141.641Vermont130208.319Virginia2,376278.410Washington1,305171.430West Virginia358199.821Wisconsin1,177202.120Wyoming107184.926

(The Center Square) – Rural Oklahoma ambulance and EMS services are having difficulty keeping up with the demand for medical emergency workers, challenged by the ever-shrinking number of volunteers and paid staff.

"Many rural areas rely on volunteers, and those are increasingly hard to find for anything in today's climate," Allison Seigars, executive director of Rural Health Projects, Inc, told The Center Square. "In health care in general, in addition to other health care workforce shortages, many of the baby boomers are retiring and I would say this applies to rural EMS volunteers and paid staff."

Many times, survival depends on how quickly aid is rendered. With the current shortage of first responder staff, some Oklahomans are forced to wait for initial emergency care even longer, putting them at greater risk.

"As far as vitality and impact on rural health, when you start looking at accident statistics as cause of death, it becomes clear that rural and remote areas where services are sparse have higher incidence of deaths because of the proximity of care," Seigars said. "In general, having services and people trained to provide those services, such as with EMS and volunteer firefighters who often have a paramedic or EMT certification, is a vital first step in providing care. Some hospitals have begun taking over EMS services in order to be able to provide the service in the community as well as pay the EMS staff."

One proposed solution to the shortage is to create emergency medical response agencies staffed with a single, full-time paramedic who can render aid until an ambulance from another community is available. Others are still looking at alternative ways to enlist people from the community.

"Many of the CareerTechs in the state offer incentives for their programs," Seigars said. "For example, Autry Technology Center here in Enid, provides free tuition for recent graduates for up to three years if they live in the district. There are other local incentives and programs for attaining the certifications or joining an EMS team."

The U.S. may have the largest economy in the world, but in other key measures indicative of quality of life, it is far from number one. Based on the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index, a tool used for gauging and comparing quality of life across geographies, the United States ranks as the 17th best country to live in worldwide.

While quality of life across the U.S. as a whole trails over a dozen other nations, there are parts of the country that, if analyzed through the lens of the HDI, would rank at or near the top of the list of the best places to live globally.

Inspired by the HDI, 24/7 Wall St. created an index consisting of three measures — life expectancy at birth, bachelor's degree attainment, and poverty rate — to identify the best counties to live in in every state.

Cleveland County, located in central Oklahoma and covering parts of Oklahoma City, ranks as the best county to live in in the state. The county is one of only two in the state where more than one in every three adults have a bachelor's degree. Across Oklahoma, only about one in every four adults have a bachelor's degree.

Health outcomes and financial security tend to improve with educational attainment, both at an individual level and across populations. In Cleveland County, life expectancy at birth is 78.7 years, nearly three years greater than the state average. Additionally, the local poverty rate of 12.0% is less than the 15.7% statewide rate.

Data on bachelor's degree attainment and poverty are from the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Data on average life expectancy at birth came from the 2021 County Health Rankings, a joint program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, and are based on mortality data from the years 2017 to 2019. Supplemental data on population and income are from the ACS, and unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted for May 2021 and are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only independent cities, counties, and county equivalents with populations of 10,000 or more were considered.

PlacePoverty rate (%)Adults with a bachelor's degree (%)Life expectancy at birth (years)Alabama: Shelby County7.542.980.7Alaska: Juneau City and Borough7.738.481.1Arizona: Maricopa County13.832.780.5Arkansas: Benton County9.433.479.9California: Marin County7.259.585.4Colorado: Pitkin County6.760.894.4Connecticut: Fairfield County8.947.983.0Delaware: New Castle County11.436.278.4Florida: St. Johns County8.244.781.9Georgia: Forsyth County5.753.182.3Hawaii: Honolulu County8.335.082.5Idaho: Teton County4.541.083.8Illinois: DuPage County6.449.482.5Indiana: Hamilton County4.659.382.0Iowa: Dallas County5.250.482.3Kansas: Johnson County5.456.081.7Kentucky: Oldham County5.942.479.8Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish11.533.878.3Maine: Cumberland County9.047.680.2Maryland: Howard County5.062.683.2Massachusetts: Middlesex County7.456.382.4Michigan: Leelanau County6.144.782.7Minnesota: Carver County4.148.983.3Mississippi: Madison County9.648.476.5Missouri: Platte County6.243.180.2Montana: Gallatin County11.350.182.6Nebraska: Sarpy County5.939.881.3Nevada: Douglas County8.729.480.7New Hampshire: Rockingham County4.641.480.9New Jersey: Hunterdon County4.552.783.5New Mexico: Los Alamos County4.467.483.8New York: New York County15.861.385.3North Carolina: Orange County13.759.782.3North Dakota: Burleigh County8.135.881.6Ohio: Delaware County4.854.382.3Oklahoma: Cleveland County12.033.478.7Oregon: Washington County8.944.482.7Pennsylvania: Chester County6.453.081.4Rhode Island: Bristol County7.549.081.5South Carolina: Beaufort County10.241.282.9South Dakota: Lincoln County4.137.684.3Tennessee: Williamson County4.459.881.7Texas: Collin County6.352.382.7Utah: Summit County5.655.085.1Vermont: Chittenden County12.151.381.8Virginia: Arlington County6.875.385.9Washington: San Juan County10.249.886.2West Virginia: Jefferson County9.731.878.0Wisconsin: Ozaukee County5.349.082.1Wyoming: Teton County6.157.087.5

(The Center Square) – Oklahoma's three-day sales tax holiday begins early Friday and continues through Sunday night.

The holiday means sales taxes will not be applied to most clothing items under $100, including shoes, sneakers, diapers and winter wear.

The holiday applies to both in-store and online purchases.

"Sales of any article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body and the sales price of the article is less than one hundred dollars are exempt," the Oklahoma Tax Commission says on its website. "This does not apply to the sale of any accessories, special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for athletic activity or protective use, or to the rental of clothing or footwear.

The state sales tax is 4.5%, but the holiday applies to local sales taxes as well.