Consumer News: Walmart expands same-day pharmacy delivery nationwide

On day one, robots took center stag

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• AI dominates every corner of the show floor, from chips to robots.
• Next-gen hardware from TVs to AR glasses showcases immersive future experiences.
• Robotics and smart play tech hint at a future where physical devices act intelligently.

The first official day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 brought a torrent of announcements that underscore how artificial intelligence has permeated nearly every category of consumer and industrial technology. From next-generation computing platforms to humanoid robots and interactive toys, this years show running January 6-9 is shaping up to push boundaries across industries.

At a high-energy keynote, Nvidia set the tone for the week by unveiling Vera Rubin, its next-generation AI computing platform. The system integrates multiple cutting-edge chips and networking components into what the company describes as a rack-scale AI supercomputer, capable of vastly accelerating model training while lowering operational costs.

Nvidias CEO also spotlighted a new emphasis on physical AI systems designed to learn in simulated environments and act in the real world including models tailored for autonomous driving and robotics.

Meanwhile, rivals AMD and Intel also stepped into the spotlight. AMD introduced a fresh line of Ryzen AI processors, including a powerful gaming-oriented chip, and Intel announced its Panther Lake AI-enhanced silicon and future handheld gaming designs.

Robots grab the spotlight

Perhaps no technology drew bigger crowds than robotics. Hyundai and Boston Dynamics offered the first public demonstration of Atlas, a humanoid robot that walked, waved, and navigated with fluid motions a glimpse of machines that may soon assist in industrial settings like auto assembly.

Elsewhere on the show floor, synchronized dog-like robots and other autonomous systems highlighted how AI and mobility are converging into real-world robotics.

Beyond the AI infrastructure, CES exhibitors revealed some standout products aimed at everyday consumers:

• Lego unveiled its Smart Brick, a tiny computer embedded inside classic bricks that enables lights, sounds and gesture responses in new interactive sets starting with Star Wars themes.

• Samsung expanded its Bespoke AI lineup with upgraded laundry systems, climate control units and an advanced robot vacuum that better navigates obstacles using enhanced object sensing.

• Asus ROG and Xreal teased 240 Hz AR gaming glasses, designed to transform how players interact with virtual game worlds via ultra-fast, immersive displays.

• LG continued its leadership in visuals with new OLED TVs that boast brighter panels, next-gen gaming features and ultra-thin form factors.

In many cases, consumers may find these products on the market later this year.

The Venezuela raid is expected to have little impact

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The nations average price of gasoline fell 1.2 cents over the past week to $2.74 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million price reports covering over 150,000 stations nationwide.

• Gas prices are now 21.2 cents lower than a month ago and 29.2 cents cheaper than this time last year, while the national average price of diesel dropped 2.3 cents to $3.498 per gallon.

• The decline marks the sixth consecutive weekly drop in the national gasoline average as seasonal factors continue to weigh on prices at the pump.

The steady slide in gas prices continued this week, offering motorists across much of the country some welcome relief as winter progresses. According to GasBuddy, the national average for gasoline has now fallen for six straight weeks, a trend largely driven by seasonal demand patterns and ample fuel supplies.

Another week, and motorists have been greeted with the sixth straight weekly decline in the national average price of gasoline as seasonality continues to drive trends at the pump, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in the companys blog.

While some states experienced increases, De Haan noted that many of those hikes occurred in so-called price-cycling markets, where temporary jumps often follow sharper declines. In most other states, prices edged lower again.

Market uncertainty

Attention in energy markets has recently turned to geopolitical developments, particularly involving Venezuela. Over the weekend, the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro and OPEC+s decision to extend its pause on oil production increases into the first quarter of 2026 added fresh uncertainty to global oil trading.

Early Monday, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 57 cents to $57.89 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 55 cents to $61.30 per barrel both slightly below where they started trading a week earlier.

Short-term uncertainty surrounding Venezuela could push oil prices modestly higher, but De Haan cautioned against expecting dramatic relief at the pump anytime soon. Even under the most optimistic outcomes, it could take years of positive developments for additional supply to meaningfully move the needle, he said, adding that the long-term impact on U.S. gasoline prices may be limited. GasBuddy expects prices to bottom out in the coming weeks before beginning their typical seasonal climb toward March.

Short-term outlook favors consumers

Supply data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) supports the recent softness in fuel prices. For the week ending December 26, U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 1.9 million barrels and remain about 3% below the seasonal average. Gasoline inventories, however, rose sharply by 5.8 million barrels and now sit roughly 2% above the five-year seasonal norm.

Distillate inventories increased by 5.0 million barrels but remain about 4% below average. Refinery utilization ticked up slightly to 94.7%, while implied gasoline demand fell to 8.563 million barrels per day.

At the pump, the most commonly encountered gasoline price nationwide was $2.79 per gallon, followed by $2.59 and $2.49. The median U.S. gas price stands at $2.65 per gallon, about nine cents below the national average.

Prices vary widely by location, with the lowest state averages found in Oklahoma ($2.15), Colorado ($2.27), and Iowa ($2.31). The highest averages remain in Hawaii ($4.37), California ($4.18), and Washington ($3.74). Delaware saw the biggest weekly increase at nearly 15 cents, while Ohio and Michigan posted double-digit weekly declines.

Why cheaper travel sites keep losing to Costco

• The extras set Costco Travel apart. Prices often include breakfast, resort credits, waived fees, free extra drivers, and Shop Cards that other sites charge for later

• Many of their travel bookings let you reprice or cancel without penalties, saving hundreds on flexible fare or trip insurance add-ons

• Try to stack your rewards. Executive cash back, the Costco Visa, and post-trip Shop Cards can turn a higher price into the cheaper trip overall

You cant impulse-buy a vacation the way you toss a rotisserie chicken into your cart. Theres no travel desk next to the tire center, no cruise samples by the bakery. In fact, the only clue that Costco even sells travel is a small rack of brochures near the exit that most shoppers walk past.

Thats why Costco Travel remains one of the most overlooked Costco perks, even among longtime members. But skipping it could mean leaving serious money on the table when planning your next vacation.

Costco Travel has quietly grown into a major player in the vacation space over the past 25 years. According to company executives, U.S. members booked more than $100 million in travel in just the five days after Thanksgiving last year, and annual bookings now run into the billions. Thats still small compared to mega booking sites, but Costco isnt trying to be everything to everyone.

How Costco Travel works differently

Costco applies the same philosophy to travel that it uses in its warehouses. This means much fewer travel options for you, but what they do offer is usually a low negotiated price, with a ton of built-in value.

This means you might not find every airline or every hotel and flights are typically bundled into vacation packages.

Also, be aware that resorts are pre-selected and rental cars are offered through a short list of major brands.

But by being selective, Costco is able to negotiate some awesome extras that most travelers usually end up paying for separately.

Those extras often include things like the following:

• Free daily breakfast for two.
• Resort credits.
• Waived resort fees.
• Costco Shop Cards after your trip.

Smart tips for using Costco Travel to save money

If youre considering booking through Costco, heres how to get the most out of it.

1.Start with rental cars

If youre new to Costco Travel, rental cars are probably the easiest place to start.

Prices are often lower than booking direct, additional drivers are usually free, and you dont need a credit card to reserve. For many travelers, this alone can save $100$300 per trip.

Pro tip: Re-check rental cars weekly as Costco Travel does NOT penalize you when you cancel and rebook. Rental car prices swing wildly as inventory changes so youre smart to re-check frequently. For example, lets say you book a midsize SUV for $620/week. Two weeks later, the same car could drop to only $430. Cancel, rebook, done.

2. Book Costco Travel packages for the perks then reprice flights later

Costco Travel bundles flights into your package, but many packages allow you to modify or rebook flights after you purchase them.

So be sure to lock in the resort you want go to + any perks (often the best part), then monitor your airfare separately.

For example:

You book a Mexico all-inclusive package primarily for the resort, and $150 shop card. Three weeks later, airfare drops by $180 per person.

All you have to do is call Costco Travel at 866-921-7925 and reprice the flight portion, keeping everything else intact.

3.Compare packages, not line items

Costco Travel shines with bundled vacations.

To that end, when you compare prices, dont just look at the nightly rate. Factor in breakfast, resort fees, credits, and any free Costco shop cards.

What looks more expensive upfront can end up being significantly cheaper overall.

4. Be flexible on resorts and destinations

Be aware that Costcos inventory is curated to give you the best value, its definitely not endless.

If youre dead-set on one specific boutique hotel or a specific airline, Costco might not have it. But if youre flexible, thats where the value appears and Costco Travel is a must use.

5.Stack travel rewards and Costco membership benefits

If you have a Costco Executive membership or a cashback travel card (like the Costco Anywhere Visa), you can layer rewards on top of Costco Travel prices.

Example:

When you book a cruise through Costco Travel and you can stack the following:

• Earn 2% back with an Executive membership
• Get 3% cashback on the travel bill with the Costco Visa
• Receive a Digital Costco Shop Card after sailing

When you combine these, thats potentially hundreds of extra dollars back.

6. Use it for big trips, not complex itineraries

Costco Travel is best for Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, cruises, Europe packages, and Vegas-style trips.

Its less ideal for multi-city, custom itineraries with lots of moving parts.

7. Use Costco Travel as a refund insurance policy

Try to book big trips through Costco Travel when youre worried about plans changing.

This is because Costco Travel is unusually generous with changes and cancellations compared to most discount travel sites.

Specifically, with many of their packages, you can actually cancel or modify your plans up to a certain date with no penalty, or a fairly small 10% charge. This is a huge advantage over most travel sites who often lock you into a non-refundable rate unless youre willing to pay extra.

Example:

Lets say youre planning a trip to Europe six months out. Booking elsewhere, youll often pay $300$500 extra for cancel for any reason coverage or flexible fares.

But when you book through Costco Travel, you book the standard package and you get to keep the flexibility built in.

If your plans end up changing you can oftencancel and rebook later. No sunk trip insurance cost and no lost deposit.

8.Use Costco Travels boring hotel list to dodge resort junk fees

This tip sounds backwards, but it works, just hear me out.

Costco Travel intentionally limits which hotels it works with which is good for the traveler as it filters out a lot of properties that rely on add-on fees to make money.

For example, hotels that partner with Costco Travel tend to bundle things other sites charge separately for. Things like parking, Wi-Fi, resort fees, and daily credits. On other booking sites, those fees often show up AFTER you think you found a deal.

So, Costco Travel might look more expensive at first glance because it doesnt play the hide the fees game. But once you add everything up, it often wins on price. Especially at resorts, beach destinations, and tourist cities where fees are out of control.

Why cheaper travel sites keep losing to Costco

• The extras set Costco Travel apart. Prices often include breakfast, resort credits, waived fees, free extra drivers, and Shop Cards that other sites charge for later

• Many of their travel bookings let you reprice or cancel without penalties, saving hundreds on flexible fare or trip insurance add-ons

• Try to stack your rewards. Executive cash back, the Costco Visa, and post-trip Shop Cards can turn a higher price into the cheaper trip overall

You cant impulse-buy a vacation the way you toss a rotisserie chicken into your cart. Theres no travel desk next to the tire center, no cruise samples by the bakery. In fact, the only clue that Costco even sells travel is a small rack of brochures near the exit that most shoppers walk past.

Thats why Costco Travel remains one of the most overlooked Costco perks, even among longtime members. But skipping it could mean leaving serious money on the table when planning your next vacation.

Costco Travel has quietly grown into a major player in the vacation space over the past 25 years. According to company executives, U.S. members booked more than $100 million in travel in just the five days after Thanksgiving last year, and annual bookings now run into the billions. Thats still small compared to mega booking sites, but Costco isnt trying to be everything to everyone.

How Costco Travel works differently

Costco applies the same philosophy to travel that it uses in its warehouses. This means much fewer travel options for you, but what they do offer is usually a low negotiated price, with a ton of built-in value.

This means you might not find every airline or every hotel and flights are typically bundled into vacation packages.

Also, be aware that resorts are pre-selected and rental cars are offered through a short list of major brands.

But by being selective, Costco is able to negotiate some awesome extras that most travelers usually end up paying for separately.

Those extras often include things like the following:

• Free daily breakfast for two.
• Resort credits.
• Waived resort fees.
• Costco Shop Cards after your trip.

Smart tips for using Costco Travel to save money

If youre considering booking through Costco, heres how to get the most out of it.

1.Start with rental cars

If youre new to Costco Travel, rental cars are probably the easiest place to start.

Prices are often lower than booking direct, additional drivers are usually free, and you dont need a credit card to reserve. For many travelers, this alone can save $100$300 per trip.

Pro tip: Re-check rental cars weekly as Costco Travel does NOT penalize you when you cancel and rebook. Rental car prices swing wildly as inventory changes so youre smart to re-check frequently. For example, lets say you book a midsize SUV for $620/week. Two weeks later, the same car could drop to only $430. Cancel, rebook, done.

2. Book Costco Travel packages for the perks then reprice flights later

Costco Travel bundles flights into your package, but many packages allow you to modify or rebook flights after you purchase them.

So be sure to lock in the resort you want go to + any perks (often the best part), then monitor your airfare separately.

For example:

You book a Mexico all-inclusive package primarily for the resort, and $150 shop card. Three weeks later, airfare drops by $180 per person.

All you have to do is call Costco Travel at 866-921-7925 and reprice the flight portion, keeping everything else intact.

3.Compare packages, not line items

Costco Travel shines with bundled vacations.

To that end, when you compare prices, dont just look at the nightly rate. Factor in breakfast, resort fees, credits, and any free Costco shop cards.

What looks more expensive upfront can end up being significantly cheaper overall.

4. Be flexible on resorts and destinations

Be aware that Costcos inventory is curated to give you the best value, its definitely not endless.

If youre dead-set on one specific boutique hotel or a specific airline, Costco might not have it. But if youre flexible, thats where the value appears and Costco Travel is a must use.

5.Stack travel rewards and Costco membership benefits

If you have a Costco Executive membership or a cashback travel card (like the Costco Anywhere Visa), you can layer rewards on top of Costco Travel prices.

Example:

When you book a cruise through Costco Travel and you can stack the following:

• Earn 2% back with an Executive membership
• Get 3% cashback on the travel bill with the Costco Visa
• Receive a Digital Costco Shop Card after sailing

When you combine these, thats potentially hundreds of extra dollars back.

6. Use it for big trips, not complex itineraries

Costco Travel is best for Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, cruises, Europe packages, and Vegas-style trips.

Its less ideal for multi-city, custom itineraries with lots of moving parts.

7. Use Costco Travel as a refund insurance policy

Try to book big trips through Costco Travel when youre worried about plans changing.

This is because Costco Travel is unusually generous with changes and cancellations compared to most discount travel sites.

Specifically, with many of their packages, you can actually cancel or modify your plans up to a certain date with no penalty. This is a huge advantage over most travel sites who often lock you into a non-refundable rate unless youre willing to pay extra.

Example:

Lets say youre planning a trip to Europe six months out. Booking elsewhere, youll often pay $300$500 extra for cancel for any reason coverage or flexible fares.

But when you book through Costco Travel, you book the standard package and you get to keep the flexibility built in.

If your plans end up changing you can simply cancel and rebook later. No sunk trip insurance cost and no lost deposit.

8.Use Costco Travels boring hotel list to dodge resort junk fees

This tip sounds backwards, but it works, just hear me out.

Costco Travel intentionally limits which hotels it works with which is good for the traveler as it filters out a lot of properties that rely on add-on fees to make money.

For example, hotels that partner with Costco Travel tend to bundle things other sites charge separately for. Things like parking, Wi-Fi, resort fees, and daily credits. On other booking sites, those fees often show up AFTER you think you found a deal.

So, Costco Travel might look more expensive at first glance because it doesnt play the hide the fees game. But once you add everything up, it often wins on price. Especially at resorts, beach destinations, and tourist cities where fees are out of control.

Cars, buses, trucks, they all have problems. Here's this week's fleet

Quick lap around the latest NHTSA campaigns with live links to each recall number so readers can jump straight to the federal notice.

Top Hazards This Week

• Fire risk: Inadequate fuse protection on certain Altec units could allow an electrical fire.
• Camera failures: Rearview camera images may not display on multiple Porsche models (and Lamborghini Urus).
• Heavy-vehicle braking concern: New Flyer buses may lose ABS/ESC functionality without warning lights.
• Steering risk: Power steering pump failures reported on certain Micro Bird buses.

The Field (Recalls by Campaign)

Check Your Vehicle

To find out if your specific vehicle is part of a recall, enter your license plate or vehicle identification number (VIN) in NHTSAs Recall Look-up Tool. If your vehicle has an unrepaired recall, contact your local dealership and make an appointment to get it fixed for free.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer filings. (Links above go directly to each NHTSA recall number.)