Consumer News: Americans to buy less if tariffs raise prices, survey says

Why February is a secret clearance goldmine

• February is prime time for big-ticket home upgrades, with Presidents Day sales driving major discounts on appliances, furniture, and mattresses.

• Winter clearance is in full swing, meaning deep savings on cold-weather clothing, seasonal gear, and even Valentines candy right after the holiday.

• Smart shoppers can also score on select electronics like TVs and home audio, as retailers clear out older models before spring releases.

Every month brings its own unique bargain opportunities, and February is no exception.

After the holiday rush, retailers hit the brakes and start clearing out winter inventory, launch some early spring promotions, and offer nice discounts around Valentines Day and Presidents Day.

If you know where to look, February can be one of the best months to shop for big-ticket items and some everyday essentials.

Heres what to buy this February, and how to maximize your savings.

Major appliances

February is a great month to shop for major appliances and the best stores to consider include Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, and even Best Buy.

What you can expect to find:

Refrigerators:Look for $300$800 off those mid to high-end models.

Washers and dryers:Presidents Day promos often bundle these with $200$500 off per unit or extra savings when you buy the pair.

Dishwashers:Discounts commonly land in the $100$300 off range, with bonus rebates on select brands.

Ranges and ovens:Expect $150$400 off depending on features like convection or air-fry modes.

Why February deals are strong:

Appliance sales always slow down after the holiday rush, so retailers use Presidents Day promotions to pump some life back into this quieter shopping period.

Because of this, youll often see:

• Manufacturer rebates stacked on top of already reduced sale prices.
• Free delivery or haul-away of your old appliance.
• Special financing offers (like 2-3% interest for 1224 months).

Pro tip: If you know your fridge, washer, or dishwasher is nearing the end of its life, February is a smart time to buy before it breaks. Emergency replacements usually mean youre stuck paying full price and settling for whatever is in stock.

Shopping now can beat waiting for spring or summer, when demand rises during home improvement season and the best inventory and promos start to thin out.

Televisions and some electronics

While not all technology products are good deals in February, top tier TVs and some other electronics stand out as bargains this month.

Why its a deal:

Televisions historically go on sale right beforethe Super Bowl and again around Presidents Day as retailers clear older inventory for new models.

Deals to look for:

• TVs:Big premium brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony often see 20-40% discounts on their 65 to 75 models.
• Home theater bundles:Look for TV + soundbar bundles for $100$400+ off.
• Some older model tech gear:Look for last years smartphones at 10%25% off or trade-in deals adding a ton of value.
• Previous-gen laptops/tablets: These older model laptops and tablets are typically 15%35% off in February making them a solid buy.

Winter clothing, even while its still cold

February is when retailers start to clear out winter apparel and gear to make room for the new spring inventory.

This makes it a great time to look for deals at places like Old Navy, GAP, Kohls, Walmart, and even at Target. You can easily save 20-30% off stuff that will keep you warm.

Whats usually on sale:

• The usual suspect of winter coats, boots, gloves, and scarves.
• Discounts are also to be had on heated blankets and space heaters.
• Dont forget about savings on cold weather sports gear for snowboarding, skiing, sledding, and snow shoeing.

Timing matters

Try to shop early in the month. This is because many of the most popular sizes disappear quickly once the markdowns start to happen.

If you have kids, consider stocking up for next winter by buying a size up and storing it for when it gets cold again next year. My wife and I used to do this all the time (when our kids were younger) at Old Navy and always saved a bunch of money in the process.

Valentines Day clearance items

The day after Valentines Day is a goldmine for bargain hunters, but probably not for the reasonyou might think.

Its not about buying candy thats 75% off that you dont really need, but instead its all about repurposing stuff that many stores are practically giving away.

What goes on sale:

• Obviously candy and chocolates
• Cards and party decorations
• Giftable items like plush toys or boxed truffles
• Gift bags and gift wrap that you can re-purpose later

Think about deals on stuff like candy for family movie nights, an upcoming birthday, lunchbox treats, or even baking projects.

Also, consider clearance deals on items like gift wrap, gift bags, and ribbons. All of which you can easily stash for birthdays and holidays later in the year.

If you dont mind the occasional red heart on the packaging, this is one of the easiest seasonal savings wins of the year.

Mattresses, bedding, and household linens

Presidents' Day weekend isnt just about furniture, as you can also finds deals on mattresses and bedding.

Why you see discounts

Major brands like Sealy, Serta, Tempur-Pedic, Beauty Rest, and Sleep Number all compete hard for your money this time of year and offer some of their best deals.

If you need a new mattress, this is the perfect time to start shopping.

Also, look for discounts in the 20-30% off range on bedding sets, pillows, and sheet sets.

What to look for:

• Pillow top mattresses on sale
• Memory foam sets with discount
• Bundles (e.g., mattress + protector + pillows)

Mattress Firm already has their Presidents Day sale going on with savings up to $700 plus a free adjustable base on select mattresses.

Dont forget to also check any local mattress stores as well as Costco and Sams Club as they run deals this time of year too.

Online mattress brands like Helix Sleep, Nectar, and Saatva also compete hard during this window with site-wide percentage-off and dollar-off discounts.

Furniture and home goods

One of Februarys most overlooked smart buys is deep discounts on furniture and home goods.

Why its a deal:

Retailers start pushing out spring merchandise as winter winds down. Tomake room on their showroom floors, you'll find thatsofas, dining sets, desks, and other furniture often go on sale.

Presidents' Day weekend, traditionally falling mid-February, amplifies these price cuts even more.

How to shop:

Compare prices betweenstores like Macys, Home Goods, Wayfair, and IKEAstarting now, as somehave alreadylaunchedtheir Presidents' Day deals.

And how to use these menu changes to save money

• Restaurants are adding smaller, protein-focused meals as drugs like Wegovy change how people eat, and these items often cost less than full-size entres.

• You can save money by ordering a side of grilled protein with veggies instead of a full combo meal.

• Even when not on a medication, choosing smaller portions means less food waste and a lower total at the register.

Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are shrinking appetites nationwide and big restaurant chains are adjusting.

NBC News recently reported that instead of giant plates and bottomless sides, more menus now feature lighter portions, protein add-ons, and snack-size meals. Even if youre not on a GLP-1 medication, this shift can help you eat better and spend less.

Heres how to take advantage.

Look for 'lighter,''fit,'or 'protein'sections

Many big-name chains are adding smaller, or more protein-packed meals, to their menus.

And their using health-focused wording to grab the attention of those who dont eat big meals anymore.

Examples:

• Chipotle sells high-protein sides that work as small meals.
• Shake Shack now offers lettuce-wrapped burgers on what they call their Good Fit Menu.
• Subway has smaller protein-focused wraps they call Protein Pockets.
• Smoothie King features high-protein, no-sugar smoothies they actually call GLP-1 Smoothies.
• Olive Garden now offers 7 existing dishes with smaller portions, all at lower prices.
• Panera Bread Theyve been leaning heavily into their You Pick 2 Combos which acts like a mini-meal at a lower price.
• Jack in the Box has new Protein Bowls and Jack Wraps on the menu for those looking for less food thats high in protein. Some of the bowls deliver up to 35 grams of protein.

Savings tip: These smaller meals often cost $3$7 less than full-size entrees.

Order protein 'sides'as your main meal

Many chains built for big portions now sell single servings of chicken, steak, or eggs as protein add-ons.

So, instead of dropping $12$15 on a combo meal, you could order this:

• A side of any grilled protein.
• Add a side salad or veggies.

Youll often cut the price nearly in half while still getting full.

Dont automatically 'size up'

For decades, upsizing or Super Sizing was marketed to consumers as the best bang for your buck. Thats clearly changing.

With smaller appetites trending right now, restaurants are making these changes:

• Adding half portions
• Offering smaller bowls
• Selling snack-size wraps

Pro tip: Get in the habit of asking, Do you have a smaller portion option? Many locations do if you ask, even if its not clearly on the menu.

Be careful with 'protein'drinks

High-protein smoothies and shakes sound healthy but can pack more calories than a fast food meal.

Specifically, watch for the following:

• Large serving sizes (20 oz+)
• Added nut butters, syrups, or sweeteners

A smarter order: Choose the smallest size, skip add-ins, and pair it with real food instead of drinking all your calories.

Use the trend to fight food waste

Restaurants are responding to people eating less and you dont have to be on a GLP-1 to join the trend.

Smaller portions mean:

• Less overeating
• Fewer leftovers tossed
• Lower bills

Even if GLP-1 meds arent part of your life, the smaller-meal movement can help your wallet.

The bottom line

The era of bigger is better at chain restaurants seems to be fading.

Smaller, protein-packed meals are becoming normal and theyre often cheaper and easier to portion control.

The good news is you dont need a prescription to benefit. Just start ordering like someone who has a smaller appetite and keep the extra cash in your pocket.

HOA fees add to the cost of owning a home

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 44% of homes for sale in the U.S. now come with a homeowners association (HOA) fee, making monthly dues an increasingly common part of the cost of buying a home.

• HOA fees continue to rise, with the median monthly payment hitting $135 in 2025, up sharply from pre-pandemic levels.

• Florida stands out for both the prevalence and cost of HOAs, with several metros where dues consume a significant share of typical mortgage payments.

If you live in a neighborhood without a homeowners association, youre still in the majority, but barely.

Homeowners associations with monthly or annual dues are becoming a defining feature of the modern U.S. housing market. In 2025, 43.6% of homes listed for sale included a non-zero HOA fee, according to the newly released Homeowners Association Report from Realtor.com.

That marks a steady climb from 34.3% in 2019 and reflects how HOA obligations have moved well beyond condos and gated communities into the mainstream of homeownership.

HOAs are no longer confined to condos or brand-new developments, said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com.

HOA-heavy construction

He noted that a surge in HOA-heavy construction earlier in the decade is now reshaping the resale market, as those newer communities age and change hands. At the same time, rising insurance premiums, stricter building safety requirements, and higher labor and material costs are forcing many associations to raise dues, increasing the long-term financial commitment for homeowners.

The growth of HOAs is not just about how many homes are subject to them, but also how much they cost. The median HOA fee rose to $135 in 2025, up from $125 in 2024 and $108 in 2019, continuing a multi-year upward trend. Realtor.compreviously found that both HOA prevalence and fees were increasing between 2023 and 2024, and the latest data show that momentum carried into 2025.

Condo and townhomes

HOAs remain most common among condos and townhomes, where 84.8% of listings include monthly dues. Still, their presence among single-family homes is expanding, with about one-third (33.4%) of those properties now carrying HOA fees.

Homes governed by associations also tend to be larger and more expensive. Single-family houses with HOAs have a median size of 2,306 square feet, compared with 1,818 square feet for those without, and they sell for a higher price per square foot. Condos with HOAs, while similar in size to those without, also command higher per-square-foot prices.

New construction continues to lead the market in HOA prevalence. Nearly 68% of newly built homes are subject to HOA fees, compared with about 39% of existing homes. However, the share of resale homes with HOAs is growing faster, a sign that the construction boom of 2020 to 2022 is now feeding into the broader housing inventory.

On average, homes with HOAs list for $450,000, well above the $374,900 median for homes without associations. Much of that difference is tied to age: existing homes with HOAs were typically built around 1998, while those without date back to about 1968. Despite the added monthly cost, HOA status had little impact on how long homes stayed on the market overall in 2025.

Nevada has the most HOAs

Regionally, HOA prevalence varies widely. Nevada tops the list, with more than two-thirds of listings subject to HOA fees, while South Dakota has the lowest share at just over 12%. The West and South have seen the largest gains since the pandemic, reflecting high levels of new development in those regions.

When it comes to cost, Florida dominates. Several Florida metro areas rank among the most expensive in the country for HOA fees relative to mortgage payments, including Miami, Naples, and Cape Coral. In some markets, monthly dues account for more than a quarter of a typical mortgage payment.

Floridas status as an outlier is driven by a combination of climate-related insurance costs and regulatory changes. Following the 2021 Surfside condo collapse, new state requirements for inspections and reserve funding have increased expenses for condominium associations, which are often passed directly to homeowners.

Between rising insurance premiums and stricter safety and reserve requirements, many associations are facing higher operating expenses that ultimately get passed on to homeowners, Berner said.

As HOAs continue to spread across housing types and regions, buyers are increasingly forced to factor monthly dues into their affordability calculations making associations a central, and growing, part of the U.S. housing landscape.

Experts say these videos are getting better, but there are some giveaways

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• AI-generated financial videos often sound unnaturally polished, lack natural pauses, and promise guaranteed or high returns claims real financial professionals almost never make, especially on social media.

• Watch for mismatched facial expressions, odd eye or mouth movements, overly smooth skin, strange hair textures, or audio that doesnt quite sync with lip movements.

• Deepfakes are getting harder to spot, so experts recommend skepticism verify advice through trusted sources and be wary of public figures suddenly offering direct investment tips or urgent calls to action.

Scroll through a social media feed and youre likely to come across videos featuring well-known and respected financial figures commenting on the market or offering investment advice.

After Fridays gold and silver market crash, there was a proliferation of these videos, especially on YouTube. The experts that ConsumerAffairs consulted told us nearly every one of them was fake, created using artificial intelligence.

These experts offered a number of ways that viewers can spot a deep fake.

One of the first signs is how unnaturally smooth the delivery is, Sharmin Attaran, professor of marketing and director of the Digital Marketing Program at Bryant University, told ConsumerAffairs. Real people pause, hesitate, or slightly stumble over words especially when theyre speaking casually. Many AI videos sound overly polished in a way that feels off, particularly if the person being impersonated is known for a more conversational style.

Another common cue is emotional mismatch. The facial expressions dont always align with the message being delivered. You might see a calm, almost flat expression paired with urgent or high-stakes financial advice. Human communication relies heavily on emotional synchrony, and AI often struggles to replicate that convincingly.

A major giveaway is what the person is saying, Langley Allbritton, digital safety educator and advisor at AI Comms Consulting, told us. Well-known financial figures rarely offer direct investment advice, guaranteed returns, or 'once-in-a-lifetime'opportunities, especially not via social media ads or unsolicited videos.

According to Ira Bondar-Mucci, Fraud Platform lead at Veriff, some technical aspects of the video may be off.

AI is also still struggling with hair it looks like hand-painted paint strokes at points, Bondar-Mucci told us. Skin is looking smoother than it usually does in real life as well, until the person moves closer to the camera, and then a lot of texture is added. These drastic changes in textures are not what usually happens when taking a video like this.

To help students identify whats real and what isnt, The Social Institute has developed a playbook for use in schools that includes a checklist of things to look for.

Visual inconsistencies

The checklist includes looking for visual inconsistencies, such as unnatural eye movements, mismatched lighting, blurry areas, and awkward head movements," said The Social Institutes CEO Laura Tierney.

Dmitry Nazarevich, chief technology officer at Innowise, in Warsaw, Poland, said he has been paying attention to these deepfake financial experts for some time. He says he has to admit theyre getting better, but there are flaws if you look closely.

If you look at a person talking in a video, you will notice that the movement of their tongue and teeth is incredibly complicated and messy, he told us. In many of these investment scam videos, you will notice that the teeth are just a static white blur or a mouth plate that doesnt really work well with the lips. If someone is talking about guaranteed returns and their teeth look like they are projected onto a mask, then they are a fake.

Al Pascual, CEO of Scamnetic, has worked with law enforcement to help identify and weed out deepfake videos. He told us that deepfake video is advancing quickly, not just in the quality of the deepfake, but also in how accessible it has become for everyday users. He said that powerful, high-quality tools are now broadly available for free to create these videos, yet many people are not aware of this fact, and that includes law enforcement.

Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag, says prominent people in markets and finance such as Warren Buffett are highly unlikely to offer investment advice in a YouTube video.

Another red flag is certainty, Painter said. Real professionals hedge and talk about risk. Fake videos tend to promise unusually high or guaranteed returns because the goal is persuasion, not accuracy.

Pay attention to the voice

Chris Hutchins, founder and CEO of Hutchins Data Strategy Consulting, says AI giveaways can be either surface-level or structural.

An AI-generated voice may initially sound good, but there is often a lack of natural pacing, emphasis placed incorrectly, or a synthetic overtone that makes the voice seem unrealistic, he said.

And the voice may not pronounce words perfectly. There are words in the English language that are spelled the same but have different meanings in how they are pronounced.

For example, the word record is pronounced differently when meaning a record high or record a message. When the person on the screen mixes up those pronunciations, you know youre watching AI.

Emma Grant, co-director at Figment Agency, suggests focusing on many of the subtle inconsistencies of the presentation, such as odd facial movements and audio mismatches. She also advises viewers to be extremely skeptical of public figures suddenly promoting guaranteed returns, crypto tips, or direct calls to action they would never make.

The honest answer is,you often cant tell just by looking anymore, said Ricardo Amper, founder & CEO of Incode Technologies. Some AI videos can be extremely convincing for the general public and even trained professionals can get it wrong on the first try. So I dont recommend relying on your eyes to spot the fake.

An exposed database with 149 million passwords is the latest reminder that breaches are becoming routine, not rare

• More than 149 million passwords were exposed in an unsecured database, including logins for social media, streaming services, dating apps, and high-risk accounts like banking and crypto platforms.

• Password leaks are no longer rare events experts warn its not a matter of if consumers are affected, but when, making proactive account security essential.

• Cybersecurity experts say quick action can limit the damage, starting with securing devices, prioritizing critical account password changes, and enabling multifactor authentication.

A cybersecurity researcher recently uncovered an exposed database containing more than 149 million passwords and it was sitting out in the open for over a month, continuously updated as new credentials rolled in.

The leaked logins span everyday digital life:

• Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X

• Dating apps

• Subscription platforms like OnlyFans

• Popular streaming and gaming services including Netflix, Disney+, and Roblox

• Banking logins, credit cards, crypto wallets, and trading platforms

As breaches pile up, the question for consumers isnt if their information will be caught up in a leak, but when.

To help make sense of what this latest discovery means and what people should do next, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Gary Orenstein, Chief Customer Officer at Bitwarden, a leader in password management, about how to check whether your accounts may already be compromised, which logins matter most, and the first steps to take when leaks like this surface.

Secure your accounts

In the after month of the password leak, Orenstein shared his top three tips for consumers to secure their accounts:

1. Check devices for malware before changing passwords: If a laptop or mobile device is infected with infostealing malware, changing passwords prematurely can be ineffective, as newly entered credentials may also be captured. Users should run a full antivirus or endpoint security scan, update the operating system, and remove suspicious applications or browser extensions before beginning password changes or account recovery.

2. Change passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on critical accounts: Once devices are clean, start with high-impact accounts such as email, financial services, cloud storage, and social platforms. Each account should have a strong, unique password, and multifactor authentication should be enabled wherever available. MFA helps prevent account takeover even when passwords have already been exposed.

3. Use tools and habits that reduce future exposure: Password managers can help generate and store unique credentials for every service, limiting the blast radius of future leaks. Where supported, passkeys provide an additional layer of protection by replacing reusable passwords with phishing-resistant authentication tied to the user and device. It is also important to educate family members, especially children and older adults, about common phishing and impersonation tactics, since stolen credentials are often used in follow-on .

Managing password resets

Orenstein explained that when it comes to resetting your password, you should prioritize accounts based on cascade risk meaning how access to one account can be used to compromise others.

After securing these account categories, users should continue rotating passwords across remaining accounts, ensuring each is strong, unique, and protected by multifactor authentication (MFA), Orenstein said. Where supported, passkeys can further reduce risk by replacing reusable passwords with phishing-resistant authentication.

• Primary email accounts: Email should be the first priority. Most online services rely on email for password resets, account recovery, and security alerts. If an attacker gains access to email, they can systematically take over other accounts by intercepting password reset links and security notifications, even if those passwords were not initially exposed.

• Financial and payment-related accounts: This includes online banking, credit cards, investment platforms, payment services, and cryptocurrency exchanges. These accounts enable direct financial transactions, meaning compromised credentials can result in immediate monetary loss, fraud, or unauthorized transfers.

• Accounts tied to personal identity or device access: Services such as cloud storage, device ecosystems, and government or academic accounts often contain sensitive personal data or provide access to other systems. Compromise here can enable identity theft, impersonation, and long-term account misuse.

• Social media and communication platforms: While these may not hold financial value directly, compromised social accounts are frequently used for impersonation, harassment, and phishing attacks against friends, family, or coworkers. They also provide attackers with credibility and reach.

Was your data involved?

With nearly 150 million passwords compromised, how can you be sure if yours was involved?

Because the database associated with this incident was not released as a verified public breach and its ownership is unknown, there is no direct way to confirm whether a specific email address or password was included, Orenstein said. However, people can still monitor and manage their risk using established tools.

• Use reputable breach notification services: Tools like Have I Been Pwned allow users to check whether an email address has appeared in known, verified breaches. While this does not confirm inclusion in this specific dataset, it can surface prior exposures that increase overall risk.

• Review security alerts from password managers or security tools: Some password managers, including Bitwarden, offer breach monitoring and vault health reports that flag compromised credentials, reused passwords, or logins associated with known incidents.

• Enable account or dark web monitoring alerts: Many security providers offer alerting services that notify users if their email addresses or credentials appear in newly discovered leaks or criminal forums.