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Consumer Daily Reports
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Scammers may use fake Amazon alerts, delivery notices, and urgent offers to pressure shoppers into acting quickly.
AI shopping tools can make it easier to shop, but consumers should think twice before sharing personal or financial information with them.
Taking a moment to pause, question suspicious messages, and verify offers independently can help keep your information safe.
Prime Day may be a major shopping event, but consumers shouldnt wait to start watching for .
TrendLife found that 84.2% of the 3,887 Amazon-related it tracked in the U.S. in June occurred during the two weeks leading up to Prime Day. That means shoppers may already have gotten suspicious texts, emails, and other messages designed to look like they came from Amazon or a delivery company.
So what should shoppers watch for?
ConsumerAffairs spoke with Lynette Owens, vice president of consumer education and marketing at TrendLife, who shared some tips for spotting potential and protecting personal information before clicking on that next Prime Day deal.
Scammers exploit trust
Owens explained that scammers prey on one consumers trust of brands like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, etc.
are designed to trigger an emotional response and make people less likely to question the legitimacy of the source, she said. They tap into feelings of scarcity, fear, and excitement to pressure consumers into acting before they have time to think.
A message claiming a Prime membership payment has failed, a delivery is being held, or an exclusive offer is about to expire can create just enough pressure for someone to click a link or share personal information without verifying if the claim is reputable.
Owens said the key is recognizing that urgency is often a deliberate tactic. She encourages consumers to give pause when a message pressures you to act immediately and verify it independently rather than responding through the message itself.
Be careful of AI shopping tools
Many consumers utilize AI shopping tools for discounts, extra coupons, or extra assistance tracking down the best buys. However, Owens warns against sharing too much personal information with an AI chatbot.
From names and financial details to shopping habits and daily routines, these details can reveal a lot about a person, she said.
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- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
USPS is temporarily increasing prices on several package shipping services for the 2026 holiday season.
The increases vary based on the service, package weight, and shipping distance.
The temporary rates are scheduled to remain in place through Jan. 17, 2027.
If you're planning to send holiday gifts through the U.S. Postal Service this year, you may notice that some packages cost a little more to ship.
USPS announced a temporary price adjustment for its peak 2026 holiday shipping season. The change applies to certain domestic package services, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.
The Postal Service said the temporary adjustment is intended to help cover the additional handling costs that come with the holiday shipping season.
The temporary prices went into effect on Oct. 4 and remain in place until 12 a.m. Central time on Jan. 17, 2027. No other USPS products or services are affected by the change.
How much more will shipping cost?
The increase depends on what you're sending, how much it weighs, and how far it's traveling.
Heres a look at whats changing;
Retail:
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4
$0.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$0.80 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$1.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.
Priority Mail: Zones 5-9
$1.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$2.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$4.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$9.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Flat Rate:
$2.10 increase for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
$1.00 increase for all other Flat Rate Products.
USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9
$0.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$1.40 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$2.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.
Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9
$1.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$2.35 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$2.45 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$6.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$5.05 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$11.70 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$12.70 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
$20.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate:
$2.35 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.
Commercial:
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4
$0.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
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- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
The basics add up fast: A new analysis estimates 14 common baby essentials could cost U.S. parents about $5,150 during the first year.
Formula is potentially the biggest expense: A full year of formula feeding was estimated at $2,740, while diapers, wipes, and rash cream totaled another $1,228.
Don't automatically buy the biggest box: Comparing unit prices, avoiding overstocking, and being selective about what you buy new can potentially save hundreds.
Babies are tiny. Their expenses aren't.
A new analysis from Remitly estimates that U.S. parents could spend about $5,150 on just 14 basic baby essentials during their child's first year.
And that doesn't include some of the really expensive stuff, like childcare, healthcare, or housing.
The biggest potential budget-buster? Formula.
Remitly estimates a full year of formula feeding could cost about $2,740 in the U.S., accounting for more than half of its first-year essentials budget. Diapers, wipes, and rash cream add another $1,228 to your annual total, while baby clothes were estimated at $548.
These numbers provide a good reminder that the seemingly small purchases you make over and over again can become some of the biggest baby expenses.
Here are six smart ways to fight back.
1. Compare formula by prepared ounce
When buying formula, don't automatically assume the biggest container, or most familiar brand, is the best deal.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends comparing formula based on the cost per prepared ounce. That matters because container sizes, powder concentrations, and preparation instructions can make two similarly priced formulas very different in terms of value.
Also, its worth asking your pediatrician whether a less expensive formula is appropriate before assuming you need a premium version.
2. Check whether you qualify for WIC
This could potentially dwarf every other savings trick on the list.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, provides eligible families with specific foods and can include infant formula.
Eligibility is based on factors including income and nutritional risk, and families who assume they make too much shouldn't automatically rule themselves out. In other words, its worth applying just to see where you stand.
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- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
Pumpkin-flavored products cost an average of 8.4% more than comparable nonpumpkin products.
One pumpkin spice trail mix had a price difference of more than 76% compared with its regular counterpart.
Not every pumpkin product costs more, giving shoppers opportunities to enjoy the seasonal flavor without paying a premium.
Pumpkin spice season may be a favorite part of fall, but there can be a downside for shoppers: some pumpkin-flavored products cost more than similar products without the seasonal twist.
A LendingTree analysis found that pumpkin-flavored products cost an average of 8.4% more than their non-pumpkin counterparts. Thats higher than the 7.4% average difference found in 2024, although its considerably lower than the 14.1% difference LendingTree found in 2022.
The extra cost isnt consistent across every product, though. Some pumpkin items cost the same as their regular counterparts, while others actually cost less.
Pumpkin spice season is something millions of Americans look forward to, but that excitement can cost you, Matt Schulz, LendingTrees chief consumer finance analyst, said. The average pumpkin premium is 8.9%, and some products cost far more. That may not wreck your budget by itself, but little splurges can add up quickly.
Enjoy your fall favorites, but know what youre paying for and decide whether the pumpkin version is really worth the extra money.
Measuring the pumpkin spice tax
To calculate the average difference, LendingTree researchers collected prices and package sizes for 146 products 73 pumpkin products and 73 comparable non-pumpkin products.
The products came from Dunkin, Starbucks, Target, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods. Researchers collected the information through a combination of online and in-store shopping. Because prices can vary by location, the analysis focused on several ZIP codes in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rather than simply comparing sticker prices, researchers looked at the cost per ounce or per item. That helped account for products being sold in different package sizes.
Some pumpkin products cost a lot more but shoppers have options
The biggest price gap in the study was for Targets Favorite Day pumpkin spice trail mix. It cost 68 cents per ounce, compared with 39 cents per ounce for the regular monster trail mix a 76.4% difference.
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- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
A recruiter recently sparked a viral debate: A recent TikTok video warned job candidates that walking into an interview carrying an iced coffee can make the meeting appear too casual.
Hiring experts are divided: Some say it's a needless distraction, while others say employers shouldn't judge candidates based on what's in their cup.
The safest strategy isn't complicated: Finish your coffee before walking in, keep your hands free, and eliminate anything that could distract from the conversation.
You researched the company. Practiced your answers. Picked out what you're going to wear.
But could the iced coffee you grabbed on the way to the interview actually hurt your chances of getting the job?
While this may seem obvious for older generations, apparently, its now up for debate with Gen Z.
Recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen recently sparked an online argument after advising job seekers, particularly Gen Z applicants, not to walk into interviews carrying an iced coffee.
Her reasoning wasn't really about caffeine. She argued that arriving with a drink can make the interview look like just another stop between errands rather than an important professional meeting.
That might sound ridiculously picky to some. And plenty of hiring experts think it is.
But if you're trying to land a job, its worth asking yourself, Why give an interviewer something irrelevant to judge you on?
Here are five easy ways to avoid doing exactly that.
1. Finish the coffee before you walk in
You don't need to give up your morning caffeine. Just finish it in the car, lobby, or outside.
Megan Slabinski, a district president at staffing company Robert Half, told Fortune that an iced coffee probably won't make or break an interview, but she wouldn't recommend bringing one into the room. Drinks can be distracting, messy, and leave you juggling something when you're trying to introduce yourself.
The easy rule is to walk into the interview with no drink, your phone put away, and your hands free.
If the interviewer offers you coffee or water once you're inside, that's different. Feel free to accept the drink at that point.
2. Don't obsess over the coffee think about distractions
This is probably the more useful lesson. An interviewer may not care whatsoever about your Starbucks cup.
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- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
of ConsumerAffairs
October 7, 2026
Household drinking water bills rose an average of 62% from 2015 to 2025 among utilities studied by Food & Water Watch, outpacing inflation and grocery prices.
Privately-owned water systems charged households 67% more than public systems on average in 2025, according to the report.
Low-income households faced unaffordable water costs in 93% of the systems analyzed, based on the groups affordability threshold.
Consumers watching their grocery and electricity bills climb have another unlikely expense squeezing their budgets: water.
A report released by Food & Water Watch, an environmental advocacy organization, found that household drinking water bills increased at 1.6 times the overall inflation rate and more than twice the rate of grocery prices over the past decade.
A water affordability crisis is rapidly expanding throughout America, said Mary Grant, the organizations water policy director. Grant attributed rising bills to corporate ownership and insufficient federal investment in aging infrastructure.
The analysis examined the nations 500 largest community water systems, serving approximately 155 million people. Researchers calculated annual bills for a household using 60,000 gallons, allowing comparisons at a consistent consumption level.
Average charges
The average system charged $531 in 2025, or about $44 a month. Those figures exclude wastewater and stormwater charges, which can substantially increase a households total utility bill.
Costs varied sharply. Annual bills ranged from $133 at a public system in Hempstead, New York, to $1,416 at San Jose Water Company in California.
For-profit systems charged an average of $823 annually, compared with $494 at publicly-owned systems. Food & Water Watch advocates public ownership; the comparison describes average charges across different systems and does not isolate ownership from every other factor affecting costs.
The burden was particularly pronounced for poorer households. Researchers classified drinking water bills exceeding 1.5% of income for the poorest fifth of households in each state as unaffordable. By that measure, nearly all surveyed systems exceeded the threshold.
Declining access
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) separately estimated in its 2024 affordability assessment that between 12.1 million and 19.2 million U.S.
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