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Scan, stroll, and go: how the Dash Cart changes checkout

• See your total as you shop: The redesigned Dash Cart shows your running total in real time, making it easier to stay on budget and undo impulse buys instantly.

• Skip checkout entirely: Scan as you shop and exit through a Dash Cart lane. Its a real time-saver during busy Whole Foods trips.

• More flexibility, less hassle: Pay with tap-to-pay, a mobile wallet, or your Amazon account, and weigh produce right in the cart to avoid extra stops.

Amazon is rolling out a redesigned version of its smart shopping cart, called the Dash Cart, at Whole Foods locations across the U.S.

By the end of 2026, dozens of stores will offer these carts to customers looking for a faster, more efficient grocery shopping experience. The latest Dash Carts are lighter, more intuitive, and packed with features designed to help shoppers skip the checkout lines altogether and stay on budget.

Heres whats changed and how you can make the most of it.

Track your spending in real time

One of the biggest upgrades is the built-in screen on the smart cart that shows your running total as you shop the store.

If your total starts edging above what you planned to spend, you can remove items immediately and stick to your budget.

Smart tips:

• Use the Alexa shopping list integration to pre-load your list into the cart screen which will help you avoid tempting impulse buys.
• If something is outside your price range, remove it and watch the total drop in real time. Even a small habit like this can save you $10$15 per visit on average.

Skip the checkout line

The Dash Carts scanner lets you scan and pay as you shop, eliminating the need to wait in any checkout lines.

Once youre done shopping, you simply roll through the designated Dash Cart exit lane and the cart automatically processes your payment through the method you select.

Smart tips:

• If you prefer mobile or contactless payments, take advantage of the Dash Carts tap-to-pay or mobile wallet options for a seamless exit.
• Especially use the Dash Cart instead of traditional carts during peak shopping times as youll save minutes during busy hours.

Choose the payment method that works best for you

Unlike the original smart cart model, which was tied mainly to your Amazon account, the redesigned Dash Cart offers multiple ways to pay.

These include tap-to-pay credit or debit cards, mobile wallet payments, and the payment method already linked in your Amazon account.

Smart tips:

• If you like to monitor your spending more tightly, use a dedicated paymentcard for grocery shopping and link it to the Dash Cart only for that trip.
• Track your grocery spending over time by saving and organizing the emailed receipts sent after checkout.

Take advantage of more space with less weight

The new Dash Cart is 25% lighter and offers 40% more capacity than the previous version.

This makes bigger grocery hauls easier now, and you can roll the cart straight to your car when youre done.

Smart tips:

• Use the extra space for both groceries and reusable bags which means no more juggling bags at the checkout.
• After unloading, return the cart to its designated corral so its ready for the next shopper.

Weigh your produce fast

Produce weighing is often the slowest part of checking out at the grocery store.

The redesigned Dash Cart actually has a built-in scale along with cameras that weigh the items inside the cart. Handy feature that eliminates the need to hunt for store scales.

Smart tips:

• When picking out produce priced by weight, drop items directly in the carts scale area. No need to look anything up and no guessing.
• Be sure to double-check the cart screen for accurate pricing and remove anything that looks off to stay within budget.

From AI-powered deal hunting to strategic gift card use, a shopping expert explains whats next

• AI-powered shopping tools will become a go-to for finding better prices and making faster, more confident buying decisions in 2026.

• Cautious consumers will stretch their dollars by timing purchases around holiday sales, using gift cards strategically, and avoiding impulse buys.

• Retailers will lean into immersive shopping experiences and sustainability to win over shoppers who want both convenience and values-driven purchases.

The holiday shopping frenzy may be over, but for many consumers, the spending decisions are just beginning. As shoppers cash in gift cards, hunt for post-Christmas deals, and reassess their budgets for the year ahead, one thing is clear: Americans are still feeling cautious about where and how they spend their money.

ConsumerAffairs interviewed Bobby Ghoshal, CEO of Dupe.com, to learn what shopping trends consumers can expect in the new year. He breaks down what shoppers should expect this year including the best times to save, what to do with unwanted gifts and gift cards, and how to stretch every dollar in a changing retail landscape.

Shopping trends

So, what are the top three shopping trends consumers can expect this year? Ghoshal shared his best insights:

• AI shopping: AI shopping will dominate the conversation, absolutely. This space is going to evolve so much so that we will forget there was a time that an AI shopping agent wasnt helping us make our decisions. This is really going to impact consumer behavior for the good were going to be more educated about our purchases, more confident in what were buying, and were not going to be spending too much time doing all this research that was required before.

• Immersive shopping experiences: Retailers are cluing in that people like the shopping experience, but that online is so much more convenient. Were going to start seeing even more stores offer immersive experiences to drive traffic to stores. Its going to be a hit on the socials, which will certainly influence the buying.

• Sustainability: Because consumers are demanding more ethical and sustainable options, were going to start seeing a lot of retailers implement this into their practices from returns to product design. Its no longer going to be seen as this opportunity to promote what theyre doing. Its almost necessary to convert these sustainability-minded shoppers.

Maximizing savings

While many consumers are still feeling the effects of Christmas shopping on their wallets, there are ways to maximize your savings after the holiday rush.

Stick to shopping during three-day weekend sales promotions, Ghoshal suggested. Were going to see a few of these over the next two months with MLK day, Valentines Day, and Presidents Day sales promotions.

We will also see deals on electronics, specifically TVs, around SuperBowl. So, if there is a store you want to shop at, or an item youre looking for, wait until a holiday weekend. Youll find much better discounts.

Do your research

When all else fails, do your research before making any big purchases.

Its so easy to be an impulsive shopper when we feel pressed for time, or have our kids in tow, Ghoshal said. You could literally be losing thousands of dollars each year by simply not researching the product and verifying that youre getting the best option.

This is something AI shopping tools can do in seconds so there is no excuse NOT to adopt it. Even if your toddler is running through a store, you can use the mobile app to snap a pic, upload and make that choice for you in seconds.

From safety and cost to how well they work, a doctor breaks down what you should know before considering the new Wegovy pill

• GLP-1 weight-loss pills appear to be just as effective as injections, with clinical trials showing similar average weight loss when taken correctly.

• The safety profile of GLP-1 pills largely mirrors injectable versions, with mostly manageable gastrointestinal side effects and rare but serious risks that require medical oversight.

• How you take the pill matters following the specific timing and fasting instructions is key to getting the full weight-loss benefit.

Weight-loss medications have been everywhere lately, but until now, most of the conversation has centered on injections. Thats starting to change.

With Novo Nordisks launch of a pill version of Wegovy, many people who were hesitant about needles are suddenly wondering whether a daily tablet could offer the same benefits without the shots.

As interest grows, so do the questions. Are GLP-1 pills actually safe? Do they work as well as injectable versions? How much do they cost, and what happens if you stop taking them?

To help clear up the confusion, ConsumerAffairs interviewed Dr. Manuel Carranza, Medical Advisor for Obesity at Sesame Care, who shared what he hears most often from patients navigating GLP-1 weight-loss pills along with the biggest misconceptions and knowledge gaps consumers should be aware of before starting treatment.

What are the safety concerns?

When it comes to the GLP-1 weight loss pills, Dr. Carranza says that the top safety concerns are similar to the injections:

• Gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and reflux, which can lead to dehydration if not managed

• Rarer but serious complications, such as pancreatitis and gallbladder disease; and

• The boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors, meaning the medication should not be used in anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2.

The medical consensus is that most side effects are preventable, predictable, and dose-related, and can often be minimized to completely resolved with gradual titration, hydration, and medical professional support, Dr. Carranza said. However, the serious risks, while very uncommon, require patients to know warning symptoms and again have appropriate medical oversight by a medical professional.

Is there a difference in efficacy?

The short answer to this question: no. Dr. Carranza says that this is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the new pill; however, clinical trials indicate that the efficacy is just about even between the injectable and pill form of the drug.

This is one of things that excites me the most, he said. In clinical trials, the new oral semaglutide formulation for obesity produced weight loss in the same general range as injectable semaglutide: in OASIS-4 (oral semaglutide 25 mg daily), average weight loss was roughly in the mid-teens percent at about 64 weeks, which is comparable to the ~15% mean weight loss seen in the STEP-1 trial with injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly.

Follow the proper directions

When it comes to the efficacy of the Wegovy weight loss pill, Dr. Carranza says that following the directions provided with the medication will yield the best results.

The pills performance is more technique-dependent, Dr. Carranza said. This means that it must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water in the morning, and followed by a 30-minute wait before food/other medications.

So, if patients dont follow the instructions, the results can look weaker, even though the medication itself is highly effective. Do yourself a favor and make sure to follow instructions like you would with any medication nowadays.

Trump withdrawal weakens global defenses against dangerous imports, hampers recall actions, groups say

• Consumer groups say leaving international trade and development bodies could undermine efforts to stop unsafe products before they reach U.S. consumers.

• Advocates point to rising cross-border e-commerce as a key vulnerability, with foreign-made goods often bypassing traditional safety checks.

• The Consumer Federation of America warns that reduced international cooperation could strain already limited U.S. enforcement resources.

Consumer safety advocates are raising alarms that President Trumps decision to withdraw the United States from dozens of international organizations could weaken global systems designed to prevent dangerous products from entering the U.S. marketplace.

Groups including the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) say exiting key forumsespecially the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)risks unraveling cooperative efforts that help regulators identify hazards, share data and respond quickly when unsafe products cross borders.

Global coordination seen as frontline defense

While U.S. agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are responsible for enforcing domestic safety laws, consumer advocates say international coordination has become an essential first line of defense as supply chains and online shopping increasingly operate on a global scale.

Products dont wait at the border anymore, said Courtney Griffin, CFAs director of consumer product safety. When a dangerous product is identified overseas, early warning and cooperation are often the only ways to stop it from spreading rapidly through online marketplaces and fulfillment centers.

UNCTAD and similar bodies facilitate information sharing on product standards, regulatory best practices and emerging riskstools advocates say are especially important for identifying unsafe goods before they reach U.S. consumers.

E-commerce strains traditional enforcement

The concerns come as cross-border e-commerce continues to surge, with U.S. consumers increasingly buying goods directly from overseas sellers through large online platforms.

Consumer groups note that many of these shipments enter the U.S. as small parcels, which often receive less scrutiny than bulk commercial imports. According to federal data, millions of low-value packages arrive in the U.S. each day, creating what advocates describe as a growing enforcement blind spot.

International standards and cooperation help compensate for the reality that U.S. inspectors simply cannot open and test every package, Griffin said.

Without international engagement, advocates warn, unsafe productssuch as toys containing lead, faulty lithium-ion batteries or counterfeit safety equipmentcould circulate longer before regulators are able to respond.

Developing economies and safety standards

CFA also stressed that international bodies play a critical role in helping developing countries strengthen their product safety and regulatory systems, reducing risks at the source.

Karim D. Marshall, CFAs director of climate and energy policy, said organizations like UNCTAD help emerging manufacturers adopt safety and accountability practices that align with global standards.

When countries lack strong regulatory systems, unsafe products dont stay localthey end up in global markets, including the U.S., Marshall said. Pulling out of these institutions makes it harder to address problems before they reach American families.

Advocates argue that disengagement could ultimately increase the burden on U.S. agencies, forcing them to police risks that might otherwise have been mitigated earlier through international cooperation.

Limited resources raise stakes

Consumer groups say the withdrawal is especially concerning given longstanding resource constraints at agencies like the CPSC, which oversees thousands of product categories with a relatively small staff.

International data sharing and coordinated standards, they argue, help extend the reach of U.S. regulators by leveraging work done abroad.

When the U.S. steps away from these tables, it loses visibility into emerging hazards and loses influence over the rules that govern global manufacturing, Griffin said. That doesnt reduce riskit shifts it onto consumers.

What comes next

Consumer advocates are urging the administration and Congress to reconsider the withdrawals or, at minimum, preserve channels for international cooperation on product safety.

As online marketplaces continue to blur national boundaries, they warn that product safety increasingly depends on global engagementregardless of where a product is made or sold.

The question isnt whether the U.S. can go it alone, Griffin said. Its whether American consumers can afford for us to try.

Case study: how dangerous products slip into U.S. homes

Childrens toys: millions recalled and tens of thousands injured

In a recent 22-month period, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced44 toy recalls covering more than 21 million unitsof products posing hazards such as choking, lead poisoning and other serious injury risks. These recalls underscore persistent gaps in safety checks even as toy safety standards evolve.

Federal data also showhundreds of thousands of toy-related injuries annually with an estimated231,700 toy-related injuries in 2023and dozens of deaths among children under age 14 in recent years emphasizing that recalls are vital but reactive safety nets.

Many recalled toys weresold online, where international sellers and manufacturers can ship directly into the U.S., complicating oversight and standard enforcement. Advocates say international coordination helps flag hazards earlier and share safety data across borders.

Lithium-ion batteries: fire, burn and fire hazards

Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of consumer products from e-scooters to portable electronics and kids devices but they carry known safety risks, including overheating that can lead to thermal runaway, fires and burns.

For example, more than251,000 Yoto mini speakers designed for children were recalledafter the lithium-ion batteries were found tooverheat, melt or pose fire and burn hazards, prompting the CPSC to advise consumers to stop using them and request replacement batteries.

Other recent lithium-battery recalls have involved products such as portable power banks with hundreds of thousands of units recalled after multiple overheating or fire incidents.

Why it matters

Unsafe batteries and defective toys share a common challenge in todays global marketplace: products made abroad and sold through online platforms can arrive quickly but escape early detection without robust international safety cooperation. Consumer groups say multilateral engagement helps regulators share hazard warnings and coordinate enforcement a capability they worry will weaken as the U.S. exits key international fora.

Job-seekers voice growing uncertainty

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Job growth slowed in December, with payroll employment up by 50,000 and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.4%, signaling a labor market that remains stable but has lost momentum.

• Workers are growing more anxious about job prospects, as expectations of finding a new job fell to a record low while fears of job loss increased, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey.

• Underlying strains are building, including a rise in long-term unemployment, more involuntary part-time work, and worsening delinquency expectations among households.

The U.S. job market ended the year on a relatively steady footing, but new data suggest rising unease beneath the surface as workers confront fewer opportunities and heightened uncertainty.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 50,000 in December, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4%.

Employment gains continued in food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance, partially offset by job losses in retail trade. Overall, the figures point to a labor market that is no longer accelerating but has not yet entered a clear downturn.

Household survey data showed little month-to-month change in the number of unemployed Americans, which stood at 7.5 million. Unemployment rates were largely stable across major demographic groups, including adult men and women, teenagers, and racial and ethnic categories. Labor force participation and the employment-population ratio also held steady, continuing a pattern of limited movement seen throughout the year.

Growing stress

However, longer-term indicators suggest growing stress. The number of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more remained at 1.9 million in December but has risen by nearly 400,000 over the past year. Long-term unemployed workers now account for about one-quarter of all unemployed Americans. At the same time, 5.3 million people were working part-time for economic reasons, a figure that has increased substantially over the year, reflecting reduced hours or difficulty finding full-time work.

Concerns about the labor market were echoed in the Federal Reserve Bank of New Yorks December 2025 Survey of Consumer Expectations. The survey found that the perceived probability of finding a job after losing one fell sharply to 43.1%, the lowest level since the series began.

Lower-income households the most worried

The decline was especially pronounced among lower-income households, older workers, and those with less formal education. Meanwhile, the perceived probability of losing a job over the next year rose to 15.2%, above its recent average.

Despite these worries, expectations about overall unemployment a year from now edged down slightly, suggesting that consumers see risks rising at the individual level even as they remain uncertain about broader labor market conditions. Earnings growth expectations also softened, with respondents anticipating slower wage gains than earlier in the year.

The survey also highlighted mounting financial pressure on households. Delinquency expectations climbed to their highest level since the early days of the pandemic, even as respondents expressed modest optimism about their longer-term financial outlook.

Taken together, the data portray a labor market that is still adding jobs and maintaining a moderate unemployment rate, but one in which workers are increasingly uneasy. Slower hiring, rising long-term unemployment, and declining confidence in job mobility suggest that while the job market remains resilient, it may be entering a more challenging phase as economic uncertainty persists.