Consumer News: The threat of a port strike looms for Jan. 15

In a rural area, it can take a long time

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Most pet owners can book vet appointments fairly quickly, a new study shows.

• But rural pet owners face longer waits and farther drives for basic veterinary care.

• Researchers say boosting the veterinary workforce could help close the gap.

A new multi-state study suggests that while most dog owners can get timely veterinary appointments, access to care drops sharply in rural communities, revealing a growing concern for pet health, owners well-being, and even public health.

Access to veterinary care appears to be generally pretty good and the wait times arent too long, particularly if you compare it to how long people often have to wait to establish primary care, said Simon Haeder, lead author and associate professor at Ohio States College of Public Health. But theres clearly room for improvement in less populated areas. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Secret shoppers reveal uneven access

To measure real-world availability, researchers posed as dog owners and called more than 5,000 randomly selected veterinary practices across California, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington in early 2025.

Overall, callers were able to secure an appointment 67% of the time. When unsuccessful, it was usually because no one answered or callers were left on hold for more than five minutes, long enough to count as a failed attempt in the study. In nearly 4% of cases, clinics reported they were not accepting new patients.

Among successful appointments, wait times averaged 6.4 days, and the typical travel distance was also 6.4 miles, suggesting most pet owners dont have to go far or wait long for routine care.

Rural pet owners face steeper challenges

The picture changed dramatically in rural communities:

• Appointment success rate dropped to less than 62%

• Average wait time increased to 8.6 days

• Average travel distance more than doubled to 13 miles

These barriers could leave pets without timely preventive care or treatmentissues that can snowball into more serious health problems for animals and financial or emotional strain for their owners.

Haeder notes that after cost, access is the most common concern among pet owners. Delayed or inconsistent care doesnt only affect petsit can have wider public health implications, especially when it comes to vaccine-preventable diseases like rabies.

When pets dont receive prompt preventive care, diagnoses and treatment, both the pets and their owners suffer, Haeder said. And gaps in access can pose broader public health threats.

Potential solutions on the horizon

Efforts to expand the veterinary workforce may help narrow the rural gap. Ohio States College of Veterinary Medicine is part of a new statewide initiative, Protect One Health in Ohio, aimed at strengthening the veterinary workforce, safeguarding public health, and supporting the agricultural economy.

In a recent companion paper, college leaders outlined plans to train more veterinarians specifically to serve rural areas, where shortages are most pronounced.

As pet ownership continues to rise and rural communities struggle to attract veterinary professionals, the researchers suggest that expanding training programs could play a major role in ensuring all pets whether in cities or quiet farm towns receive the care they need.

Turn a Costco screenshot into a price match at many popular retailers

• Costco wont price match, but Best Buy, Staples, JCPenney, Kohls, PetSmart, GNC, Dyson.com, and Tractor Supply often will on identical items

• Rules: exact same model, in stock at both, price open to non-members, and you must show proof of the Costco price

• The win is stacking: use Costcos low price as your base, then add store rewards, coupons, or extra beat the difference promos

Costco wont price match, but a surprising number of other retailers will quietly match the Costco price on the exact same item. With the bonus of sometimes letting you stack coupons or rewards on top of the match.

Below is a rundown of who still price matches Costco, plus specific brands and products where the overlap between the two stores is strong enough to actually make it worth your while.

Ground rules before you try to price match Costco

Most stores that match Costco follow the same playbook:

• Must be an identical item Must be exact same brand, model, size, color, count, etc. If Costco has a weird club-only bundle or Costco-only SKU, youre going to be out of luck.

• Price has to be available to everyone Keep in mind that many stores wont match members-only or limited to Executive members pricing.

• Needs to be in-stock at both stores If Costco is currently out of stock, most retailers wont match the item until it comes back into stock.

• Must show proof of lower price Bring a current Costco ad, a photo of the in-store price tag, or pull up the item (and the lower price) on Costco.com via your phone.

Also, heres a quick reality check you should know: Target, Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, Sams Club, BJs and Petco do NOT price match Costco anymore, even though some of them still have general price-match guarantees.

Here are the stores that will price match Costco, along with the overlapping products and brands worth considering.

Best Buy: TVs, laptops, tablets, headphones

Best Buy has one of the clearest policies: they list Costco as a qualified competitor and will match its price on identical items, in-store or online, as long as the price is available to non-members.

Overlapping brands:

Youll find a ton of crossover between Best Buy and Costco on big-ticket electronics, including:

• TVs Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense 4K and OLED sets.
• Laptops & tablets HP, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft Surface.
• Gaming PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch consoles and controllers.
• Headphones & speakers Bose, Sonos, Sony, and JBL.

How to work it:

1. Find a TV or laptop at Costco with a killer price.
2. Pull up the product page or snap a clear photo of the price tag.
3. At Best Buy, confirm the model number is the same (or very close sometimes theyll be flexible).
4. Ask at customer service or via online chat:

Costco has this Samsung [model #] for $XXX can you price match it?

If you have a good Best Buy rewards offer or credit card promo, this is how you stack Costcos price with Best Buy perks.

Dyson.com: vacuums and hair tools

Dyson is one of the better places to get a Costco price match as Costco always sells a few of their most popular vacuum models.

They actually give you a liberal 30 days after your purchase to get the match, or you can do it at the time of purchase.

Overlapping brands/models:

• Cordless vacuums Dyson V8, V10, V11, V12, V15 series.
• Hair tools Dyson Airwrap, Supersonic hair dryer, Corrale straightener.

How to work it:

1. Screenshot the Dyson item and price at Costco (warehouse tag or Costco.com).
2. Buy from Dyson.com if you want their bundles, colorways, or financing.
3. Within 30 days, contact Dyson chat or phone support and say:

I bought [model] on Dyson.com, but Costco has it for $XXX. Can I get a price match refund?

In the end youll get Costco pricing + Dysons warranty support and accessories.

Staples: printers, office chairs, shredders, paper

Staples has a long-running in-store price match guarantee and they include Costco among the competitors theyll match on identical items.

Overlapping brands:

Here are the typical brands youll see at both Costco and Staples:

• Printers HP, Canon, Epson
• Ink & toner HP, Canon, Epson
• Office equipment Fellowes shredders, some mid-tier office chairs
• Paper & supplies reams of copy paper, Post-it, Scotch, Sharpie

How to work it:

• Find a printer or shredder at Costco with a great price.
• At Staples, show the Costco ad or page and ask for a price match.

In many cases, Staples will match the price and beat it by 10% of the difference, so if Costco is $200 and Staples is $240, you end up around $196 before coupons.

This is a solid move if you dont have a Costco nearby, but theres a Staples in every strip mall.

JCPenney: small kitchen appliances, luggage, home

JCPenneys official policy says theyll match any retailers in-store or online price (excluding marketplaces / auctions).

While there is very little overlap in most departments, you can definitely find the same brands at both stores when buying stuff for your kitchen, in particular.

Overlapping brands:

Look for these national brands that show up at both stores:

• Coffee & kitchen Keurig, Ninja, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach.
• Cookware & small appliances air fryers, stand mixers, blenders, toaster ovens.
• Luggage & home goods big national brands often rotate through both.

How to work it:

• Spy a Keurig or Ninja coffee maker at Costco for less than JCPs sale price.
• Buy at JCPenney (especially during a coupon or rewards promo).

Within 14 days, if you confirm the Costco price is lower on the same model, ask JCPenney for a post-purchase price adjustment using Costco as the competitor.

If they say yes, you just combined Costcos price + JCP coupon + JCP rewards. Winning.

Kohls: certain brands, in-store only

Kohls will price match a direct competitors in-store price on identical items, and that includes Costco in some cases.

But keep in mind, from personal experience, it typically needs to be an in-store Costco prices and not a price you get from Costco.com.

Overlapping brands:

Kohls and Costco dont overlap on everything, but watch these:

• Small appliances Ninja and Keurig coffee makers as well as some Cuisinart items.
• Athletic apparel Check out brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour occasionally cross over, though SKUs may differ slightly.

How to work it:

• Bring a printed or clear photo of the Costco in-store tag and be ready to show model number.
• Ask customer service for a price match on that exact Ninja or Keurig model.

The win here is stacking with Kohls Cash and rewards, which Costco doesnt offer.

Pro tip: Its been my experience that Kohls is stricter about competitors than most. They may say no if they consider Costco a wholesale price under their current policy. Treat this more as a worth-a-shot and not a guaranteed play.

PetSmart: pet food and supplies

PetSmarts price match guarantee covers identical, in-stock items from big-box, grocery, and pet specialty competitors. This list absolutely includes your local Costco.

Overlapping brands:

Costco carries a mix of Kirkland Signature pet food and some national brands like Blue Buffalo and other WSAVA-approved foods.

Look for:

• Dry dog and cat food Blue Buffalo is your best bet but also keep an eye on other mainstream pet food brands.
• Pet treats & flea meds This includes Frontline, Advantage, and Pet Armor. Just make sure the SKU is the same at both stores.

How to work it:

• Snap a pic of the shelf tag at Costco, or grab a screenshot of the pet food bag and price at Costco.com (be sure to include the size, flavor, and brand).
• When youre doing your shopping at PetSmart, just grab the same bag and ask for a price match at checkout.

GNC: vitamins and protein

GNCs price match policy states theyll match a competitor like Costco, just so long as the item is identical and in-stock at both stores.

Overlapping brands:

• Protein powders popular brands in common include Optimum Nutrition, Isopure, Premier Protein, and Quest Nutrition.
• Supplements / vitamins think multivitamins, fish oil, etc. in national labels.

There isnt a ton of overlap here, but if you see a brand you like at Costco cheaper than your local GNC, its worth trying. This is especially true if you can stack some GNC rewards on top of your purchase.

Tractor Supply: tools, outdoor, pet

Tractor Supply is another store that will match a Costco in-store or Costco.com price on identical items. And surprisingly, they actually have a few brands in common.

Overlapping brands:

• Outdoor power tools and accessories Husqvarna, Scotts, Duracell, DeWalt, and Gorilla Glue.
• Pet & farm supplies certain feed, fencing, or equipment when the brand/SKU lines up.
• Some clothing In particular, both stores often carry Wrangler and Carhartt shirts and jackets (and sometimes jeans).

This ones more niche, but if you live in a rural area and have a Tractor Supply down the road, using Costco pricing as leverage is worth the effort.

Quick dont bother list

Based on current price-match policies, dont expect a Costco match from the following stores:

• Amazon
• Walmart
• Sams Club
• BJs Wholesale
• Home Depot
• Lowes
• Office Depot
• Petco

Also, for you Target shoppers, a Costco price-match used to be in play, but no more. As of July 28, 2025, their policy changed and now theyll only match their own prices, both online and in-store.

4 Steps to use this hack without driving yourself crazy

1.Start with Costco

The first thing I like to so when shopping for a big purchase (TV, Dyson, printer, small appliance, pet food), check Costco first and screenshot all the prices you can potentially use as ammo later.

2.Check for overlapping brands at a price-match friendly store

• Best Buy for electronics
• Staples for office gear
• JCPenney/Kohls for small appliances
• Dyson.com for Dyson gear
• PetSmart for pet food

3.Check the model numbers

• Ive found that if the SKU is not identical, but darn close, its still worth asking. Remember that humans with discretion are always involved here, so you got nothing to lose by asking politely for a Costco price match.

4.Stack rewards and promos

Combine Costcos lower price with one of these if possible:

• Best Buy/My Best Buy deals
• JCPenney/Kohls coupons and rewards
• Staples rewards or extra 10% off the difference

Get in the habit of treating Costcos price as your base and then add store rewards on top. By doing it this way, youll get Costco-level pricing plus some cool perks, sometimes without ever having to flash a Costco membership card at all.

The average price is down 5 cents from the previous week

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• National average gas price falls 5 cents to $2.90 per gallon

• Prices now at multi-year lows heading into Christmas

• Diesel drops another 5.1 cents to $3.67 per gallon

The cost of groceries may still be high, but the price consumers pay at the gas pump continues to move lower.

The national average price of regular gasoline dropped another five cents this week to $2.90 per gallon, according to new data from GasBuddy. Prices are now 17.6 cents lower than a month ago and 7.3 cents cheaper than this time last year, an early holiday gift for millions preparing to hit the road.

Diesel prices also continue to ease, slipping 5.1 cents to $3.671 per gallon.

Gas prices continued to decline in most states last week, while some price-cycling states saw temporary spikes to restore margins, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the companys blog.

With the national average falling further, were now at multi-year lows heading into Christmas. Diesel prices are also easing Barring any major disruptions, prices are likely to stay relatively low into the new year.

Oil prices hold steady

Oil prices remained relatively steady last week, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) moving between the upper-$58 and low-$60 range. A mix of geopolitical tension, including disruptions to overseas energy infrastructure, and economic uncertainty kept prices from breaking meaningfully higher or lower.

WTI posted a slight weekly gain, rising from $58.91 to about $59.55, though early Monday trading saw a 53-cent dip. Brent crude followed a similar path, slipping 53 cents to $63.22 while still edging above last weeks level.

Analysts say the market is awaiting a catalyst. With the Ukraine/Russia peace deal negotiations still ongoing, oil prices remain rangebound with the lack of large onshore oil inventory builds, said Giovanni Staunovo, UBS commodities analyst, noting that upcoming energy agency reports could show stronger-than-expected demand revisions.

Supplies remain tight

The latest Energy Information Administration data for the week ending Nov. 28, 2025, points to modest increases in U.S. fuel inventories:

• Crude oil stocks: +0.6 million barrels; still ~3% below seasonal norms

• Strategic Petroleum Reserve: +300,000 barrels to 427.5 million

• Gasoline inventories: +4.5 million barrels; ~2% below the five-year average

• Distillates (diesel/heating oil): +2.1 million barrels; ~7% below average

Refinery utilization climbed to 94.1%, while implied gasoline demand fell by 400,000 barrels per daya seasonal slowdown that typically eases retail prices.

What drivers across the U.S. are paying

The most common pump price nationwide is $2.79 per gallon, followed by clusters around $2.89, $2.69, $2.99, and $2.59.

The median price matches the most common at $2.79, putting it 11 cents below the national average.

Price disparities remain wide:

• Top 10% of stations: Average $4.23

• Bottom 10%: Average $2.25

Lowest state averages

• Oklahoma: $2.30

• Colorado: $2.40

• Texas: $2.42

Highest state averages

• California: $4.41

• Hawaii: $4.34

• Washington: $4.04

Biggest weekly price drops

• Nevada: 16.3

• Colorado: 14.8

• Utah: 14.6

• Michigan: 13.0

• Washington: 12.2

With fuel prices sliding and oil markets showing no major signs of heating up, drivers are likely to see relatively low prices through the holidays and possibly into early 2026. In some of the nations cheapest markets, stations are already posting prices in the low-$2 rangeand a few remain under $2.

Unless a major geopolitical event or supply issue disrupts the market, the seasonal dip in demand and healthy refinery output should help keep pump prices stable for now.

Low vaccination rates threaten pets and their owners, vets warn

Make sure your dogs food is safe check your freezer now before feeding again

• Fromm Family Foods is recalling certain frozen dog food after plastic contamination was found.

• The recall affects only one product: Bonnihill Farms BeefiBowls Beef Recipe (16 oz chubs, Best By 12/25/2026).

• While there havent been any illness reports eating plastic could cause vomiting, stomach upset or even intestinal blockages in dogs.

Fromm Family Foods has voluntarily pulled 300 cases of its Bonnihill Farms BeefiBowls Beef Recipe off the shelves after discovering the possibility of foreign plastic contamination.

The recall applies only to the 16-ounce chubs marked with UPC 072705135004 and labeled Best By 12/25/2026 B01.

These BeefiBowls were sold through independent pet stores across multiple U.S. states and even in Ontario, Canada. Affected states include: Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

Why it matters & what you should do

Although no sickness among pets has been officially reported, the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn that ingesting plastic can lead to symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy or stomach pain.

In more serious cases, it might cause gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage which can be dangerous.

If you have any of the recalled BeefiBowls in your freezer, stop feeding them to your pet immediately. The safest bet is to return the product to where you bought it for a refund or dispose of it carefully so pets, kids, or wildlife cant get to it.

Fromm recommends contacting them at 1-800-325-6331 or via email at info@frommfamily.com if you have questions.

If your dog shows any odd symptoms after eating the food, call your veterinarian right away.