2025 marks the smallest fuel burden on household budgets in two decades.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• In 2025, drivers are expected to spend less than 2% of disposable income on gas the smallest share in two decades.

• The average price of regular gasoline is $3.12 per gallon, down compared to last week, last month, and last year, with most states seeing decreases except parts of the West Coast facing infrastructure-related increases.

• Prices range from as low as $2.68 in Mississippi to as high as $4.64 in California and Washington, though the median U.S. price is $2.95 per gallon, with many common prices under $3.

While restaurant bills can put a dent in your wallet, paying for the gasoline to get you to the restaurant wont. A report by the Energy Information Administration found that drivers are expected to spend the smallest share of their disposable income on gasoline this year than at any time in the past two decades.

The agencys report said less than 2% of people's personal disposable income will be spent on gasoline in 2025, down from an average of 2.4% over the previous decade. Excluding 2020, when the pandemic made gas incredibly cheap, thats the lowest percentage since 2025.

According to GasBuddy data, the national average price of gasoline is down 3.6 cents in just the last week and stands at $3.12 per gallon.

Thats 1.8 cents lower than a month ago and is 2.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 2.6 cents in the last week and stands at $3.658 per gallon.

The West Coast is still expensive

While gas prices fell in more states than they rose last week, the West Coast continues to face challenges, with Oregon and Washington seeing some of the largest increases due to regional infrastructure issues, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the companys blog.

The good news is that the transition to cheaper winter gasoline begins across most of the nation, and with improvements underway in the West Coast market, I expect that average gas prices will continue to decline in the weeks ahead in most states assuming hurricane season remains quiet.

Drivers have benefited in two ways. First, gas prices have remained stable for months, making it easier to budget for fuel. Second, adjusted for inflation, gas prices are about the same as they were five decades ago.

In 1970, the national average retail price of regular gasoline in the United States was about $0.36 per gallon. To put that in perspective, adjusted for inflation, thats roughly $2.80$3.00 per gallon in todays dollars.

Below $3 a gallon

According to GasBuddy, the most common U.S. gas price encountered by motorists is $2.99 per gallon, unchanged from last week, followed by $2.89, $2.79, $3.09, and $2.69, rounding out the top five most common prices.

The median U.S. gas price is $2.95 per gallon, down 4 cents from last week and about 17 cents lower than the national average.

The top 10% of stations in the country average $4.45 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $2.58 per gallon.

The states with the lowest average prices: Mississippi ($2.68), Oklahoma ($2.73), and Arkansas ($2.75).

The states with the highest average prices: California ($4.64), Washington ($4.64), and Hawaii ($4.45).

Airlines insist the fume events are rare

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Toxic fumes from engine oil and hydraulic fluids have been reported inside commercial aircraft cabins.

• Flight attendants and passengers have described symptoms ranging from headaches to breathing difficulties.

• Safety advocates are calling for more stringent monitoring and filtration systems.

For most travelers, stepping onto a plane means trusting in a finely tuned system of engineering and safety. But a little-known issue is troubling aviation experts: toxic fumes, sometimes known as fume events, can seep into commercial aircraft cabins, exposing passengers and crew to harmful chemicals, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Commercial jet engines use synthetic oils and hydraulic fluids that can contain toxic additives. Under certain conditions, such as faulty seals, overheating, or mechanical wear, small amounts of these substances can leak into the air supply. Because most modern airplanes use a system called bleed air, drawing cabin air directly from the engines, fumes can enter the cabin circulation system undetected.

Symptoms among passengers and crew

Flight attendants unions have long warned about the health effects of fume events. Symptoms reported include dizziness, nausea, headaches, breathing problems, and, in some cases, long-term neurological issues. Passengers often chalk these experiences up to motion sickness or jet lag, meaning the true extent of the problem may be underreported.

Airlines maintain that fume events are rare, but they do occur worldwide. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have both acknowledged the issue.

However, there are currently no mandatory systems on most aircraft to detect or filter toxic fumes. Some newer planes, like the Boeing 787, avoid bleed-air systems altogether, but the majority of the global fleet still relies on older designs.

What consumers should know

• If you notice a strong chemical, oily, or dirty socks smell in the cabin, report it to the crew.

• Document any symptoms you experience during or after the flight.

• Flight attendants organizations recommend seeking medical attention if symptoms are severe or persistent.

Consumer safety groups are urging airlines to be more transparent about fume events and to install onboard sensors that can detect contaminated air in real time. Advocates argue that until detection and prevention become standard, passengers and crew remain vulnerable to invisible hazards at 30,000 feet.

Dems say the practice is unfair and ineffective

• Elizabeth Warren and Steve Cohen reintroduce bill to prohibit employers from using credit reports in hiring

• Lawmakers say the practice is unfair, ineffective, and disproportionately harms minorities and women

• Nearly half of US employers rely on credit history despite no link to job performance

As the US labor market faces mounting strain, two senior Democrats in Washington are reviving efforts to block employers from screening job applicants based on their credit history. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee reintroduced legislation today that would ban the use of credit checks in hiring.

The lawmakers argue that financial struggles should not be a barrier to employment. Nobody should be discriminated against and miss out on a job opportunity because of their financial history, Warren said in a statement. Cohen added that credit scores are an inaccurate way to predict future job performance or ability.

Bill would amend fair credit law

The proposal would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to forbid employers from requiring or even suggesting applicants disclose their credit history. It would also bar credit reporting agencies from providing consumer reports to employers, and prohibit hiring decisions based on such information.

Versions of the legislation have surfaced since the aftermath of the 200809 recession, when household debt surged. Supporters say the practice has persisted despite evidence showing no correlation between credit history and job performance.

Disproportionate impact on minorities and women

According to Warrens office, credit checks disproportionately disqualify people of color from job opportunities, while women are also more likely to suffer poor credit. Medical debt and periods of unemployment are the most common factors dragging down credit scores.

A 2012 survey by the think tank Demos found that one in 10 respondents reported being denied a job because of credit information. Nearly half of employers use credit reports in hiring, a 2023 Urban Institute report estimated.

Patchwork of state-level bans

Several states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, have already moved to ban or restrict the use of credit checks in employment. New York City enacted its own ban in 2015, and lawmakers are now pushing for a statewide prohibition.

Supporters of the federal bill say national action is needed to ensure fairness across industries and regions. We should be making the job application process fairer so people can succeed with good jobs, not adding obstacles, Cohen said.

An expert shares practical tips for allergy sufferers

• While fall allergies present a number of disturbances, an expert shares the ways that it can also be detrimental to your sleep.

• Several factors can make your sleep worse during fall allergy season, including more post-nasal drip when laying down.

• There are small daily habits consumers can adopt to keep their symptoms at bay and get better sleep.

For those with seasonal allergies, the runny nose, itchy eyes, and general malaise can be a daily struggle.

But what about the ways that allergies affect your sleep?

Dr. Carleara Weiss, a Sleep Science Advisor at Aeroflow, spoke with ConsumerAffairs to discuss the ins and outs of combatting poor sleep during fall allergy season.

The link between allergies and sleep

So, how are the two related?

Fall allergies, often related to ragweed pollen, mold, and dust mites, can trigger histamine-induced inflammation, nasal congestion, and upper airway constriction, Dr. Weiss explained. These reactions increase breathing difficulties and the risk of snoring, negatively impacting sleep quality, making sleep more fragmented and less restorative.

She also said that people with preexisting sleep issues may have a harder time during fall allergy season.

People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may experience more sleep problems when they have an allergy, she said. OSA is caused by upper airway blockage and difficulty breathing. Thus, the congestion caused by allergy makes it even more challenging to breathe and can worsen OSA symptoms.

In addition, people with insomnia often suffer from severe insomnia symptoms when experiencing allergies.

What makes sleep worse during fall allergy season?

Sleep isnt just worse for those with insomnia or sleep apnea. According to Dr. Weiss, there are a number of factors during fall allergy season that can make it more difficult to get restful sleep.

Heres a look at what could be contributing to poor sleep:

• Increased nighttime exposure to allergens, such as pollen and dust, can occur in the bedroom, particularly in areas like the carpet, curtains, bedding sheets, or mattress.

• Increased congestion and post-nasal drip when lying down to sleep at night.

• Increased histamine production at night is a natural part of the circadian rhythm. However, during allergy season, that translates into more histamine-induced inflammation and congestion at night.

• People with asthma may also have a stronger reaction to allergens at night, triggering wheezing, coughing.

Daily tips for better sleep

Hope isnt lost! Just because you have sleep struggles or fall allergies (or both), doesnt mean youre doomed to poor sleep.

Dr. Weiss shared a few daily habits that can ease symptoms and make for restful sleep:

• Keep windows closed to prevent outdoor allergens from getting into the sleep environment.

• Use a HEPA air filter in the heating and the AC system if your house has one. You can also get a portable HEPA air purifier for your room.

• Shower daily before going to bed and change your clothes before going to bed (avoid sleeping in the same clothes from the day).

• Keep your sleep environment clean dust and vacuum the room frequently.

• Wash bedding sheets frequently with a non-toxic, fragrance-free laundry detergent.

Once the allergy symptoms start, using saline for nasal rinse, keeping the head elevated during sleep, and using a humidifier in the room can be very helpful to ease the symptoms and promote better sleep, Dr. Weiss said.

The reason why could come as a surprise to consumers

• Supply chain and severe weather in parts of the world that distribute the most chocolate are the reason behind higher Halloween candy prices this year.

• Consumers can save money by opting for sugar-based candies for trick-or-treaters instead of chocolate-based candies.

• This trend is likely to continue through the holiday season, leading to higher costs of popular holiday favorites.

The price of just about everything has gone up in recent years.

The latest item on the list: Halloween candy.

John Lash, Group VP of Product Strategy of supply chain platform e2open, spoke to ConsumerAffairs about why Halloween candy is going to be pricer this year, as well as how consumers can still save money.

Why are prices going up?

Lash explained that the price hike can be attributed to weather and the supply chain.

In the past few years, extreme weather in West Africa has impacted cocoa harvests and shrunk the global supply, he explained.

Late last year, cocoa prices peaked at almost $13,000 per metric ton. While theyve recovered to the $7,000 levels of this time last year, long-term contracts mean that input costs for chocolate remain high. Looming on the horizon are more dark clouds, with threatened double-digit tariffs on US imports from cocoa-producing nations.

What products are the priciest?

Based on this, Lash explained that chocolate candies are likely to be the priciest this Halloween.

The biggest impact is on chocolate-based products, so financially-sensitive shoppers can lean towards sugar-based candies, like gummy bears and candy corn, he said.

To keep prices for Halloween candy more or less the same this year, expect to see some shrinkflation in individual candy size and the number of pieces in the bag. For homeowners, a bag may not go as far, so you might need to pick up one more. For parents of trick-or-treaters, smaller-sized pieces might actually be a welcome relief, with a bit less sugar overload for their little ones.

How to save money

Consumers can still have a festive Halloween celebration despite the price hikes! In addition to opting for sugar-based candies, Lash has some other recommendations for shoppers.

First, look for less expensive goodies to hand out to trick-or-treaters, he said. This way, you can stay true to the spirit of Halloween without feeling a pinch in the pocketbook.

Second, buy more local decorations and props, like picking up an extra pumpkin or two instead of imported goods. While that giant skeleton is fun, tariffs are a buzzkill on imports this year.

Expect this to run through the holidays

According to Lash, this trend isnt supposed to turn around any time soon. As consumers prepare for the holiday season, prices are likely to be higher than usual.

Concerns of weakening consumer confidence, persistent inflation, and the full impact of tariffs could lead to a more frugal holiday season, Lash said. Specific to sweets, input costs remain a headwind.

As mentioned, threatened tariffs on cocoa risk raising prices by double-digit percentage points. Despite strong harvests, the trade war will likely put upward pressure on sugar. It also means were in for higher costs across the board for the holidays. This applies to imported staples like coffee and seasonal favorites, such as cookies or cakes from Europe.

For context, roughly a quarter of sugar consumed in the US is imported, with half coming from Mexico, Canada, and Brazil. The effects of a 50% tariff rate on imports from Brazil have yet to trickle through the supply chain, and the future of tariff policy with Mexico and Canada remains unclear.