$139,001. That's what it now costs just for the right to own a small car in Singapore—a record high for the category. Dreaming of keys of a different kind? This week's BTO launch puts thousands of flats on the table, and it's the first since the income ceilings went up. Also this week: a recent study suggests Singapore's youngest workers feel trusted at work, but not quite understood by their bosses. Here's what you need to know.
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[ms-toc title="Issue #95: What's Happening This Week?"]
Cat A COE hits record S$139,001, overtaking the Open category for the first time
Thinking of buying a small car? Brace yourself. Category A COE premiums hit an all-time high of S$139,001 at the 4 November 2026 bidding exercise, up 5.3% and well past the previous record of S$133,009 set on 9 September 2026. It's also the first time Cat A has cost more than Cat E, the Open category that can register any vehicle type except motorcycles.
Here's how every category closed:
The results come just after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) closed its public consultation on COE categories on 2 November 2026. Proposals on the table include merging Cat A and Cat B, plus a fee-and-rebate system where buyers of pricier cars pay more than those picking mass-market models. The review is expected to wrap up by the first half of 2027.
ALSO READ: COE Guide in Singapore (2026): What It Means, Bidding Process & Price Trends
Nearly 8,000 BTO flats launched in the first exercise since income ceilings went up
If you've been waiting to ballot, now's your chance. HDB has launched 7,964 flats across 7 projects in its November 2026 BTO exercise, the first since monthly household income ceilings were raised in August 2026 to S$16,000 for families and S$8,000 for singles.
Some starting prices, before grants:
Eligible first-timer families can get up to S$120,000 under the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, bringing 3-room Standard flats down to as low as S$161,000 and 4-room Standard flats to S$232,000, depending on household income and eligibility. Want your keys sooner? Sembawang Anchor offers 1,310 shorter waiting time flats ready in under 3 years. Applications close on 11 November 2026, and you'll need a valid HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter to apply.
ALSO READ: Buying an HDB BTO Flat in Singapore: A Step-By-Step Guide (2026)
Deel study: Nearly half of Singapore's Gen Z workers think bosses see them as lazy
Trusted, but not quite respected? That's the gist of Deel's What Gen Z Workers Want 2026 report, which surveyed 1,045 Singapore workers aged 18 to 29 with YouGov and ThinkerTank in August 2026.
- 82% feel trusted to work without being micromanaged
- 71% feel expected to be grateful just to have a job
- 47% believe leaders see their generation as entitled and lazy
- 92% have at least 1 worry about their jobs, with financial instability (49%) and burnout (46%) running almost neck and neck
So what are they doing about it? Building their own safety nets. Some 77% have or are looking for extra income, and 42% already have a side hustle—more so among young men (48% vs 34% of young women) and young parents (53% vs 38% of those without kids). Pay that keeps up with living costs is their top job priority, named by 72% among their top 3, while 21% name working in another country as a 10-year goal.
ALSO READ: 12 Highest and Lowest Paying Jobs in Singapore (2026)
That's it for this week! Stay tuned for next week's What's Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond.
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