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The viral flavors quietly taking over their winter menu

• Whats new: Starbucks 2026 winter menu adds Caramel Protein drinks, Dubai Chocolate Matcha and Mocha, expanded pistachio options, and new food like Truffle, Mushroom & Brie Egg Bites

• Why it costs more: The drinks bundle premium add-ons like protein milk, pistachio sauce, and chocolate cold foam

• How to save: Ordering custom dupes instead of the named drinks can save $0.75$1.50 per order by starting with a basic latte or matcha and adding flavors individually

The Starbucks winter menu officially hit stores nationwide on January 6, 2026. This year theyre blending some viral trends with a few seasonal favorites. From protein-boosted lattes to dessert-inspired cold brews, heres whats new this season along with some clever tips on how to get these drinks for less.

First, the new winter menu drinks

Protein-Forward Beverages

• Caramel Protein Matcha Unsweetened matcha + protein-boosted milk + caramel syrup (hot or iced).
• Caramel Protein Latte Espresso + protein-boosted milk + caramel syrup.

Both can be ordered with the new sugar-free caramel syrup added to the permanent syrup lineup.

Dubai Chocolate Drinks (Limited Time)

Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate dessert trend, Starbucks added official versions of fan-crafted drinks:

• Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha Matcha, pistachio sauce, milk + chocolate cream cold foam & salted brown-butter topping.
• Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha Espresso + mocha sauce + pistachio cream cold foam & salted brown-butter topping.

Expanded Pistachio Line

Pistachio is sticking around longer as a flavor category this year:

• Pistachio Latte
• Pistachio Cream Cold Brew
• Pistachio Cortado (new espresso-intense version)
• Pistachio Frappuccino
• Pistachio Crme Frappuccino (the no coffee version)

New food items

Starbucks also refreshed its food lineup for winter to pair with drinks:

• Truffle, Mushroom & Brie Egg Bites A richer twist on the classic egg bite line.
• Upgraded Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich Now with Cherrywood-smoked turkey bacon and sharper white cheddar.
• Valentine Cake Pop A seasonal sweet treat returning ahead of February.

4 clever ways to save on these Starbucks drinks

Seasonal menus are fun to try but they can also hit your wallet fast. Here are smart ways consumers can save without missing out:

1. Swap the milk, not the drink

Several of the new drinks (especially the protein and Dubai chocolate ones) get pricey because of premium milk + foam combos.

Instead, try ordering the same drink, but with standard 2% milk and adding one flavor like pistachio or caramel. Itll costs less than the fully built version and youll end up with nearly the same taste.

2. Use Starbucks Rewards to stack freebies

Always pay through the Starbucks app to earn Stars on every purchase.

Stars can be redeemed for free drinks, free food, or even syrup and topping add-ons. This means you can try a Dubai Chocolate drink or Pistachio Cortado for free eventually.

3. DIY Dupes with custom orders

Many of the new drinks added to the Starbucks menu started as secret menu customizations. The popular Dubai Chocolate and protein drinks are perfect examples.

Heres how to order them and save $0.75 to $1.50 per drink:

• Dubai Chocolate: Depending on what drink you want, start with a matcha or latte base, then add some pistachio syrup, then top it with some chocolate cold foam.
• Protein Drinks: Start with a protein boost add-in (if available) then ask for the standard drink instead of the official protein latte. This is key, especially if your store charges less for the add-in than the official drink on the menu.

Always remember that Starbucks baristas can easily create these custom combos for you and in the end, youll pay less than the more expensive named drink.

4. Skip or reduce the extras

That salted brown-butter topping, extra syrups or specialty cold foam look Instagram-worthy, but they add cost.

Instead, ask for half the pumps or no topping and get most of the flavor for a cheaper price.

But unless affordability improves, sales may not rise that much

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• There were an estimated 37.2% more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market in November a gap of about 529,770 people according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.

• The imbalance was the largest on record dating back to 2013, aside from this past summer, and widened from 35.6% in October and 17% a year earlier.

• By Redfins definition, the market has been a buyers market since May 2024, as sellers have consistently outnumbered buyers by more than 10%.

At the start of 2026, the U.S. housing market remained firmly tilted toward buyers, if November housing numbers are any indication. A report by real estate broker Redfin shows sellers outnumbered buyers by 37% during that month and theres been no new data to show thats changed very much.

The report defines a buyers market as one where there are at least 10% more sellers than buyers a threshold the market has surpassed for seven consecutive months. While that dynamic generally gives buyers greater negotiating leverage, Redfin cautions that the advantage applies mainly to those who can afford to purchase a home at todays elevated prices and mortgage rates.

When sellers outnumber buyers, buyers typically hold the negotiating power because they have a lot of options to choose from, the report noted. Of course, its only a buyers market for those who can afford to buy.

And therein lies the conflict. Homes in many markets remain over-priced after significant housing inflation in 2021 and 2022. Redfin Senior Economist Asad Khan said affordability remains the key factor keeping many potential buyers on the sidelines.

A modest improvement in housing affordability could bring some homebuyers off the sidelines in 2026, which could narrow the gap between homebuyers and sellers, Khan said. But the housing market is likely to remain in buyers market territory for the foreseeable future, with sellers cutting prices or offering concessions to lure buyers.

Buyers retreat faster than sellers

The number of homebuyers fell sharply in November, dropping 2.5% from October to an estimated 1.43 million. That marked the biggest monthly decline since April 2025 and represented the second-lowest level on record, surpassed only by April 2020, when the pandemic froze much of the housing market. Compared with a year earlier, buyer numbers were down 9.4%.

Sellers also pulled back, but at a slower pace. The number of homesellers declined 1.4% month over month to an estimated 1.95 million, the largest monthly drop since June 2023 and the lowest level since February. Even so, the number of sellers was 6.2% higher than a year earlier.

According to Redfin, buyers are retreating largely due to high housing costs and broader economic uncertainty. Sellers, many of whom also plan to become buyers, are responding to weak demand by delaying listings or pulling homes off the market altogether after months without offers.

Sun Belt dominates buyers markets

Among the 50 most populous U.S. metro areas, 36 were buyers markets in November, with the strongest concentration in the Sun Belt and parts of the West Coast.

Austin, Texas, topped the list, with an estimated 114% more sellers than buyers the widest gap of any major metro. It was followed by San Antonio (106%), Nashville (104%), Fort Lauderdale, Florida (102%), and West Palm Beach, Florida (93.6%).

Redfin attributed much of the imbalance to pandemic-era migration patterns. As buyers flooded into Sun Belt metros from more expensive regions, builders ramped up construction to meet demand. Now, with affordability strained and demand cooling, those areas are left with a surplus of homes.

Northeast and Midwest still favor sellers

At the other end of the spectrum, seven metros qualified as sellers markets, largely in the Northeast and Midwest, where new construction is more limited.

Nassau County, New York, was the strongest sellers market, with 39.1% fewer sellers than buyers. Other sellers markets included Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Newark and New Brunswick, New Jersey; Milwaukee; San Francisco; and Cleveland.

Home price growth reflected those supply-demand differences. Prices rose an average of 4.8% year over year in sellers markets, compared with 3.2% in balanced markets and just 1.1% in buyers markets a sign that buyers have more leverage where listings are plentiful.

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.