Consumer News: Cookie prices fell in December but eggs and coffee cost more

Why your mindset may matter more than the ache in keeping you moving

• The amount of physical activity someone with chronic pain does depends far more on how well they cope with pain (their resilience) than how much pain theyre actually in.

• A study of 172 adults with long-term musculoskeletal pain found that higher pain resilience predicted more activity while fear of movement (kinesiophobia) mattered much less when resilience was taken into account.

• The findings suggest that for managing chronic pain, building resilience (attitudes, coping) may be as important or more so than simply reducing pain intensity.

When youre dealing with persistent pain, its easy (and logical) to assume the more it hurts, the less youll move.

But fresh research out of the University of Portsmouth suggests that your mindset might play a much bigger role. Their work reveals that it isn't strictly how much it hurts, but how you deal with it your resilience that makes the biggest difference in staying active.

In plain terms: two people might have similar pain levels but the one who thinks, I can still keep going, is far more likely to stay physically active than the one whose pain bursts their motivation.

What we found is that it's not how much pain you're in that determines whether you stay physically active it's how you think about and respond to that pain, indicating that how individuals respond to and think about pain matters more than their actual pain sensitivity, researcher Dr. Nils Niederstrasser said in a news release.

We suspected resilience plays a major role, and this study helped confirm that.

The study

The study enrolled 172 adults who had experienced musculoskeletal pain for more than three months. Participants completed validated questionnaires that measured:

• Their average and worst pain over the past week using a visual analogue scale.
  

• Their level of pain resilience (how well they maintain emotional and physical functioning despite pain) via the Pain Resilience Scale.
  

• Their degree of kinesiophobia (fear of movement because it might cause pain or injury) with the Tampa Scale.
  

• Their physical activity levels by using the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire, converting responses into energy expenditure (kJ/kg/day).
  

Statistical models probed how pain related to activity, and whether resilience or fear of movement served as bridges in that relationship.

The results: Resilience in the drivers seat

The headline finding: while pain was negatively associated with activity (i.e., more pain less movement), a large portion of that link ran through resilience. Specifically:

• Approximately 42.8 % of the association between pain and lower activity was explained by lower pain resilience.
  

• When both resilience and fear-of-movement were included, only resilience remained a significant indirect pathway. Fear alone explained just about 6.4 % of the link.
  

• In a regression model including pain intensity, number of painful areas, pain duration, frailty and the psychological measures, only higher pain resilience (and being male, in this sample) significantly predicted greater activity. Fear of movement dropped out.
  

People with greater resilience can maintain a positive attitude and push through discomfort, and this psychological factor is a better predictor of physical activity than pain intensity itself," Dr.Niederstrasser said.

This is a significant shift from historically focusing on negative factors like fear of movement, to understanding the power of positive psychological resilience in managing chronic pain."

Consumer takeaway

If youre managing chronic pain, this study suggests a shift in focus might help.

Rather than only asking How much does it hurt, you might also ask How do I respond when it hurts?

Building resilience the mindset of I can still move, even though Im in pain could be a game-changer in staying active and improving wellbeing. Of course, the study was cross-sectional (a snapshot in time), so it doesnt prove resilience causes more activity. But it strongly points to the idea that how you think about pain matters.

Real-world data reveals fewer food allergies after guideline changes

• Researchers at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found a significant decline in diagnoses of IgE-mediated food allergies after guidelines encouraged early peanut exposure.

• The study used electronic health records from children aged 0-3 and compared periods before and after the 2015/2017 early-food-introduction recommendations.

• After guideline rollout, peanut allergy diagnoses dropped from about 0.79% to 0.45% and any IgE-mediated food allergy dropped from about 1.46% to 0.93%.

Food allergies in children can be scary and complex hives, swelling, breathing troubles all triggered when the immune system reacts to a food.

Thats the case with IgE-mediated food allergies, the kind the body treats like a threat when really its just eating something ordinary (like peanuts or eggs).

But theres been a shift in thinking lately: instead of avoiding allergenic foods, some pediatric experts now suggest introducing them early and in some cases earlier than we used to to help the immune system learn tolerance rather than fear.

A recent study conducted by researchers at CHOP showed that these guideline-driven changes may already be having a real impact.

Everyone has been wondering whether these landmark public health interventions have had an impact on reducing rates of IgE-mediated food allergies in the United States, researcher Stanislaw Gabryszewski, MD, PhD, said in a news release.

We now have data that suggest that the effect of this landmark public health intervention is occurring.

The study

The CHOP team looked at electronic health records from a multi-state pediatric primary-care network (the American Academy of Pediatrics Comparative Effectiveness Research through Collaborative Electronic Reporting (CER) database) to see how often IgE-mediated food allergies were diagnosed among children aged 0-3.

They divided the data into cohorts by time periods: one before the introduction of early-allergen guidelines (roughly 2012-2014), one after the initial 2015 guideline, and one after the 2017 addendum guideline.
They compared the number of new peanut allergy diagnoses with any IgE-mediated food allergy, tracked trends over time, and adjusted for certain risk factors like atopic dermatitis.

Importantly: this is observational data (not a controlled experiment), so the study shows associations, not definitive cause-and-effect.

The results

Among children seen in the pre-guideline period, the diagnosis rate for peanut IgE-mediated allergy was about 0.79%; in the post-addendum period, it dropped to 0.45% a roughly 43% relative reduction.

For any IgE-mediated food allergy (not just peanuts), the rate went from about 1.46% down to 0.93% about a 37% reduction.

Also noteworthy: peanuts went from being the most common food allergen diagnosis to the second most common (with eggs ahead) in this cohort post-guideline.

The authors estimate that for about every 200 infants introduced to allergenic foods early, one child might be prevented from developing a food allergy.

Still, the reduction in the real-world setting is less dramatic than the 2015 landmark LEAP trial (which showed about an 80% reduction in a tightly controlled setting). The authors emphasize the need for improved implementation, awareness, and further study.

Our findings have relevance from those of us who treat patients to those caring for infants, and more awareness, education, and advocacy could further increase the positive results we observed in this study, senior study author David Hill, MD, PhD, said in the news release.

Future studies could potentially explore specific feeding practices that help us better understand the timing, frequency and dose of foods that optimize protection against food allergies.

Google's Gemini AI will provide heightened interactivity, GM says

• "Eyes-off" driving coming to some models in the next few years
• No more Apple Carplay or Android Auto - replaced by Google Gemini AI
• GM claims its system is superior to competitors

General Motors says its future models will be a step ahead of Tesla and other supposedly self-driving cars, claiming that added onboard intelligence will addtrue "eyes-off" driving and "conversational AI,"cars that not only drive themselves but understand and adapt to their drivers.

In 2028, GM said, it plans to debut its first eyes-off driving capability on the Cadillac Escalade IQ, starting with highway driving. When the feature is active, turquoise lighting across the dashboard and exterior mirrors will indicate that its safe for the driver to relax even to read or message while the vehicle takes control.

Unlike systems that rely solely on cameras, GMs design incorporates lidar, radar, and cameras in a redundant setup known as sensor fusion, the company said. The combination builds a detailed perception layer, while real-world driving data and simulation testing ensure the system performs reliably even in rare or hazardous conditions.

GM said thenext-generation system builds on thefoundation of Super Cruise, GMs existing hands-free technology, which it said has logged more than 700 million miles without a crash attributed to the system since its 2017 launch. The automaker is also integrating Cruise, its autonomous-vehicle subsidiary, whose AI models are trained on five million driverless miles and backed by a robust simulation framework.

Conversational AI hits the road

Starting next year, GM vehicles will incorporate Googles Gemini AI, enabling natural, voice-driven interactions inside the cabin. Drivers will be able to compose messages, plan routes, or locate a charging stop near a favorite caf all through seamless conversation.

In the future, GM plans to introduce its own custom-built AI assistant, integrated with the cars intelligence and the drivers personal preferences. Linked through OnStar, the system will deliver tailored insights, from maintenance alerts and route optimization to preconditioning the vehicle before a morning commute.

With driver permission, the AI can even explain features, detect issues early, or suggest dinner spots based on prior trips bringing a personal touch to connected mobility.

But no more Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

GM has confirmed that its future vehicles willnotsupport Apple CarPlay (and similarly Android Auto) as smartphone-projection platforms.

Here are the details & implications:

What this means for you

How GMs eyes-off driving compares with other systems

Summary takeaway: GMs system differentiates by placing a strong emphasis on built-in redundancy (lidar + radar + cameras), clear driver-status cues (turquoise lights), and a phased introduction (highways first) leveraging its Super Cruise base. Many competitors are further along in certain domains (city/autonomous) but may rely less on sensor redundancy or have less defined eyes-off cues at scale.

• Eyes-off driving coming to Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028
• Conversational AI powered by Google Gemini arrives next year
• No more Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

  • GM says it began phasing out CarPlay/Android Auto in its electric-vehicle (EV) lineup in 2023.

  • In October 2025, GM stated that it will remove support for CarPlay/Android Auto from future gas-powered vehicles as well effectively across its portfolio.

  • In the U.S., GM currently keeps CarPlay/Android Auto in existing gas models for the foreseeable future but signals that new models (especially starting around the new centralized computing platform rollout) will not include it.

  • GM says the reason: moving toward a deeply integrated infotainment system (based on Android/Google or GM-built), to improve safety, system stability, and control over data/experience.

  • If youre buying a future GM vehicle (especially EV or major new model around 2028-era), expectnoCarPlay/Android Auto support youll instead get GMs native infotainment system plus the new conversational AI and eyes-off driving features.

  • If you already own a GM vehicle with CarPlay/Android Auto, that feature remains supported for now (in gas models), but may not be extended to upgraded/new vehicles under GMs new architecture.

  • If CarPlay is a must-have for you (iPhone integration, familiar interface), this may affect your buying decision for future GM models.

Grab credits now, glide through December

• Through November 1, paid Circle 360 members can earn extra Target Circle credits with simple actions (like $10 in rewards for a 10-item wish list )
• Circle 360 now comes with no-markup same-day delivery, early access, freebies, and longer returnshandy for early holiday shopping
• Grab the easy no-spend wish list bonus, bundle two small deliveries youd do anyway, and watch prices to make sure delivery matches in-store

Target just sweetened its paid membership, Circle 360, with a limited-time rewards event that lets members earn up to $100 in Target Circle rewards by hitting simple milestones before November 1.

The rewards include the following:

• Complete two Starbucks at Target orders, earn $10 in rewards
• Create a holiday wish list and add 10 items, earn $10 in rewards
• Complete two Same-Day Delivery orders, earn $10 in rewards
• Spend $50 on Up & Up items, earn $15 in rewards
• Spend $50 on All in Motion items, earn $15 in rewards
• Spend $75 on Good & Gather items, earn $25 in rewards
• Spend $50 on Threshold items, earn $15 in rewards

If you planned on shopping in any of these categories between now and November 1^st , its a smart way to recoup a chunk of your $99 annual fee. Heck, the create a wish list task doesnt even require you to make a purchase to collect your $10.

Why is this newsworthy?

Its newsworthy for two reasons.

First, Circle 360s perks have quietly become more competitive in 2025. Members now get unlimited same-day delivery on $35+ without price markups. Getting in-store pricing delivered to your front door is a big deal in the grocery delivery game, especially when you start pricing comparing groceries, paper goods, and seasonal dcor with other retailers.

Second, Target is encouraging you to start shopping early and steering you towards their private-labels (Up & Up, Good & Gather, All in Motion). All in an attempt to engage shoppers a month before the Black Friday madness begins.

This shows that retailers want your early dollars locked in, and shoppers who stack loyalty bonuses now are more likely to keep buying from them through December.

What you actually get with Circle 360

Beyond the no-markup same-day delivery from Target, members also get monthly freebies, early access to select drops, and free two-day shipping on eligible items.

Youll also get an extended return windows (extra 30 days) on most purchases which is handy if youre gift-buying in October.

A few ways to maximize savingsthis week:

Treat the tasks like a shopping list. If youre already grabbing coffee during a Target run, plan two Starbucks at Target pickups to trigger the $10. Then schedule two modest Same-Day Delivery orders (household restock, pantry staples) to bank another $10. I wouldnt wait until October 31 as delivery slots will probably tighten.

Consider Target private-label spending. Up & Up for paper goods and cleaning, Good & Gather for pantry and grocery items, All in Motion for basics.

Compare delivered vs. in-store prices. Check that the price on your phone matches the price on the shelf. With Circle 360, delivery is supposed to use the same in-store prices, so if you see a higher price in the app, skip it or buy that item in person.

Dont ignore free Circle. If youre not ready to pay, the free Target Circle still auto-applies deals, includes a 5% birthday reward, and stacks with promos. I recommend using it as your baseline and upgrade only if delivery volume makes the math work.

The CPI report was delayed until today by the government shutdown

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Inflation edged up 0.3% in September, driven largely by higher gasoline prices

• Annual inflation rate now stands at 3.0%, up slightly from Augusts 2.9%

• Shelter, recreation, and apparel costs also rose, while car insurance and used car prices declined

U.S. consumer prices continued to climb in September, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the delayed report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The latest figures show inflation running at a 3.0% annual rate, signaling that while price pressures remain moderate, they continue to affect household budgets, particularly through energy and housing costs.

The sharpest price jump came at the gas pump. The gasoline index surged 4.1%, helping push the overall energy index up 1.5% for the month. Over the past year, however, gasoline prices are still down 0.5%, reflecting earlier declines in 2025. So far in October, gasoline prices have fallen significantly.

Electricity prices fell 0.5% in September, while natural gas slipped 1.2%.

On a yearly basis, the energy index is up 2.8%, driven mainly by higher electricity (+5.1%) and natural gas (+11.7%) costs.

Food inflation remains mild

Food prices rose 0.2% in September, following a 0.5% increase in August. Grocery prices (food at home) were up 0.3%, led by cereals, bakery products, and nonalcoholic beveragesall up 0.7%. Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.3%, while dairy products dipped 0.5%. Restaurant prices (food away from home) increased just 0.1%.

Over the past year, the food index is up 3.1%, with grocery costs up 2.7% and dining out costs up 3.7%.

Excluding food and energy, the so-called core CPI rose 0.2% in September, easing from 0.3% in the prior two months. The core inflation rate now stands at 3.0% year-over-year.

Shelter costs one of the biggest components of the index rose 0.2%, marking the smallest increase in owners equivalent rent since early 2021. Prices also increased for airline fares (+2.7%), recreation (+0.4%), household furnishings (+0.4%), and apparel (+0.7%).

At the same time, consumers caught a break in a few areas: the cost of used cars and trucks declined 0.4%, motor vehicle insurance fell 0.4%, and communication services dropped 0.2%.