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Coffee and cereal lead the increase

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The ConsumerAffairs Datasembly Shopping Cart Index rose 5.9% year over year in January, increasing from $147.71 in January 2025 to $156.43 in January 2026 an $8.72 jump for the same basket of everyday items.

• Coffee, cereal, and paper products drove much of the increase, while a handful of staples including eggs, butter, and bottled water offered modest relief.

• Food inflation remains uneven, with sharp increases in packaged and branded goods offset by flat or declining prices in select dairy and pantry items.

The cost of a typical grocery run continued to rise in January, according to the ConsumerAffairs Datasembly Shopping Cart Index, underscoring how inflation is still shaping household budgets in uneven ways.

The index, which tracks prices for a standardized basket of 24 common grocery and household items, increased from $147.71 in January 2025 to $156.43 in January 2026, a 5.9% year-over-year increase. While that gain is smaller than the double-digit spikes consumers saw earlier in the inflation cycle, it signals that price pressures have not fully eased.

Coffee and cereal lead price gains

Some of the biggest increases came from pantry and breakfast staples. Whole bean coffee jumped 26.9%, rising from $12.22 to $15.51 the largest dollar and percentage increase in the index. Coffee prices have been pressured by weather-related supply issues and higher transportation costs.

Cereal also stood out. Honey Nut Cereal (family size) climbed 24.3%, rising from $5.60 to $6.96, while American cheese singles rose 11.3%, reaching $6.02. Branded packaged foods have been especially sensitive to higher input and marketing costs, according to retail pricing data.

Household essentials keep creeping up

Non-food essentials continued their slow upward march. Paper towels rose 4.3%, increasing by a dollar to $23.99, and toilet paper climbed 6.6%, reaching $12.48 for a 12-count pack. These products tend to move gradually, but their higher price points amplify the impact on monthly budgets.

Laundry detergent also edged higher, rising from $13.05 to $13.33. (Liquid dish detergent was included in the basket, but January 2026 pricing was unavailable and not factored into the year-over-year comparison.)

Some relief at the dairy case

Not every aisle saw increases. Organic eggs fell 7.9%, dropping from $6.68 to $6.15, a notable reversal after years of volatility. Salted butter declined 8.8%, and bottled spring water slipped 3.5%.

Other staples, including milk and bread, were flat year over year a welcome sign for shoppers who rely on these basics.

Inflation isnt gone its just selective

Overall, the January data suggests inflation has become more selective rather than universal. Prices for indulgences and branded packaged foods are climbing faster than staples, while some commodities are stabilizing or retreating.

For consumers, that means grocery bills may feel unpredictable not because everything is getting more expensive, but because the items people notice most often are.

As 2026 unfolds, the Datasembly Shopping Cart Index will continue to track whether these price pressures broaden again or remain concentrated in specific categories.

A step-by-step look at pricing, memberships, and real ways to save

• You dont need a membership but it helps. Anyone can use the Costco Pharmacy, but members get access to deeper prescription discounts that often beat chains like CVS and Walgreens.

• Generic meds are where the real savings are. Costco is known for very low prices on common maintenance drugs. Always compare their price with a GoodRx coupon and your insurance the cheapest option can vary by prescription.

• Great for long-term meds, not urgent ones. Mail-order and low pricing make Costco ideal for routine prescriptions, but slower shipping and limited pharmacy hours make it a poor fit for same-day needs.

Prescription medications can be one of the more expensive items in a familys budget, even with insurance.

Thats why more and more people are turning to the Costco Pharmacy not just for their cheap Kirkland Signature over-the-counter products, but to trim costs on everyday Rx meds without sacrificing safety or customerservice.

What exactly is the Costco Pharmacy?

The Costco Pharmacy is the prescription drug arm of the Costco Wholesale business. They fill prescriptions in Costco warehouses and through theironline system. They also offer mail-order delivery, member-only price discounts on many meds, and additional services like vaccinations and refill management.

Over the years, the Costco Pharmacy has become especially appealing to people who feel like their local drugstore charges too much for generic drugs or maintenance medications.

So, if youre on meds for things like blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol, youll want to price check Costco against your current pharmacy to see if it's worth switching.

The Pros: Why customers love the pharmacy

First, let's break down some of the things Costco shoppers like about using the pharmacy.

Low prescription prices

Many consumers report drug costs far lower than chain drugstores like Walgreens or CVS.

In some Reddit groups, people have shared savings of tens or even hundreds of dollars on certain drugs.

To give you an idea, heres some current pricing (for Costco members) on some popular prescription medications:

• Omeprazole (20 mg, 90 capsules):$14.99
• Metformin HCL (500 mg, 180 tablets):$11.79
• Atorvastatin Calcium (generic Lipitor) (20 mg, 90 tablets):$10.79
• Gabapentin (100 mg, 60 capsules):$10.99
• Sildenafil Citrate (generic Viagra) (100 mg, 30 tablets):$15.79
• Finasteride (generic Propecia), Proscar (1 mg, 90 tablets):$15.99
• Ezetimibe (generic Zetia) (10 mg, 90 tablets):$18.79
• Fluoxetine HCL (generic Prozac) (40 mg, 30 tablets):$8.99

Pro tip: Always check GoodRx before you fill prescriptions at Costco. Even though Costco is known for low prices, GoodRx coupons sometimes beat Costcos cash price.

Heres how to play it smart:

• Look up your medication on GoodRx before heading to the pharmacy.
• Enter your ZIP code and select Costco as the pharmacy.

Compare the following:

• Costcos regular cash price.
• Costco Member Prescription Program price (if you're a member).
• The GoodRx coupon price.

Whichever is lowest is your winner. And the cool part is you dont have to pick just one system forever. You can use insurance for one prescription, Costco member pricingfor another, and GoodRx for a third, depending on which gives you the best deal.

Mail-order convenience

You can have prescriptions mailed to your home or workplace through Costcos mail-order service.

Standard shipping is free and delivered in about seven to10 business days after the prescription is received. So, while delivery is free, it takes some time for your meds to reachyou (more on this later).

For people on maintenance medications (the ones you take long-term) ordering a 90 or 100-day supply at once can be both cheaper and more convenient than frequent pharmacy trips.

Pro tip: In most states, Instacart will absolutely pick up your Costco pharmacy prescription for you and delivery it with your rotisserie chicken and Kirkland toilet paper.

The only caveat is that youll need to be home when they deliver your meds. Specifically, theyll need to scan your ID and they cannot leave your prescription with someone under 18 years of age.

No membership required to fill prescriptions

By law, pharmacies inside membership clubs must serve all customers, even those without a Costco membership card.

That means you can fill prescriptions at Costco without a membershipfor either yourself or a family member. But keep in mind that you wont get the best pricing as they reserve that for their members.

Easy online and refill options

You do NOT have to create an account to refill your prescription online.

Costco lets you refill using a Refill Without Signing In link that will appearwhen prompted to sign-in. This is a great option if you just want to refill a current prescription quickly.

Plus, you can set up automatic refills and reminders so you dont miss doses or run out of your essential meds.

Pro tip: Perhaps the most overlooked perk of the Costco Pharmacy is their selection of pet medications. All Costco members get access to discounts on pet meds like Apoquel, Bravecto, Heartgard, Vetmedin, and more. Expect to save roughly 10% to 40% off the typical retail price.

The Cons: what to watch out for

Now let's talk about some of the reasons why the Costco Pharmacy might not be the right choice for you.

Mail delivery isnt instant (or anything close)

Yes, Costco Pharmacy offers free delivery to your home. However, that free delivery usually means your medications arrives within one to two weeks.

Specifically, Costco says that your order will be delivered sevento 10 business days after Costco receives a prescription at the Mail Order facility.

This is typically fine for your maintenance medications, but not ideal if you need something like an antibiotic for your child quickly.

Rush shipping is available, but it costs extra and it still might take a few days to reach you.

Pharmacy hours are limited

Unlike big drugstores that may be open late or 24/7, Costco pharmacy hours are typically more restricted and follow warehouse staffing schedules.

Their typical hours are:

• 10 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday
• 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays
• Typically closed on Sundays

That can definitely be inconvenient if you need to pick up a prescription in-person after normal business hours.

Insurance complexities

Costcos internal Member Prescription Program isnt insurance.

Its just a discount program that may affect how your insurance deductible and benefits apply.

So, its important to keep mind that if you use their member pricing instead of your insurance benefits, that money does not count toward your insurance deductible.

For this reason, it may not always make sense to use the Costco member pricing for every prescription, especially if your insurance covers it better.

Bottom line: Is the Costco Pharmacy worth it?

For many patients, especially those paying cash for prescriptions or managing chronic conditions, the Costco Pharmacy is a solid value.

To recap, you get the following with Costco:

• Lower drug prices (especially with their membership pricing)
• Mail-order convenience
• Easy online refill options
• No membership barrier to access

The trade-offs are slower mail delivery and more limited walk-in hours. However,if youre like many consumers, and more interested in savings over speed, thats not a deal breaker.

If saving money on meds is a priority, Costco Pharmacy definitely needs to be on your radar.

The study highlighted the role that lifestyle factors and infections play in cancer risk

• Roughly 3740% of all new cancer cases in 2022about 7.1 millionwere linked to preventable causes, suggesting major opportunities for prevention.

• Tobacco use, infections, and alcohol are the largest contributors to these preventable cancer cases globally.

• The study examined 30 modifiable risk factors across 185 countries and 36 cancer types, providing the broadest global picture yet of where prevention could make a difference.

A new global analysis published in Nature Medicine and highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that a surprisingly large share of cancer cases might be linked to things we can change or control from personal habits like smoking to environmental exposures and even certain infections.

Cancer is one of the worlds top causes of sickness and death. The new study looks beyond genetics and aging to focus on what researchers call modifiable risk factors influences that people or governments can reduce or avoid.

By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start, researcher Dr. Andr Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control, said in a news release.

The study

The study included a global data analysis that combined two major components:

1. Cancer incidence data from 2022, covering 36 cancer types in 185 countries.

2. Information about exposure to 30 different modifiable risk factors from roughly a decade earlier the idea being that many cancers take years to develop after exposure.

Those 30 risk factors span behavioral habits like smoking and drinking, environmental exposures such as air pollution and ultraviolet radiation, lifestyle factors like obesity and physical inactivity, occupational hazards, and infections known to cause cancer (including viruses like HPV and bacteria like Helicobacter pylori).

Researchers used established statistical methods to estimate what portion of cancer cases could be attributed to these factors essentially estimating how many diagnoses might not have happened if exposures were lower or eliminated.

The results

The headline finding: about 7.1 million of the 18.7 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2022 (roughly 37.8%) were linked to modifiable risk factors.

Heres how that breaks down in broad strokes:

• Tobacco smoking was the top preventable contributor, accounting for around 15% of all new cases.

• Infections including viruses and bacteria that can cause cancer were responsible for about 10%.

• Alcohol consumption accounted for around 3%.

Certain cancers like lung, stomach and cervical cancers made up almost half of the preventable cases identified.

The analysis also found big differences between men and women and between regions, reflecting how exposures (e.g., smoking rates, infection rates, air quality) vary across populations.

Why it matters

This research doesnt suggest that every case of cancer could be stopped, or that individuals are to blame for their diagnoses.

Instead, it highlights where public health efforts and personal choices might have the biggest impact. Tobacco control, vaccination (e.g., against HPV), cleaner air policies, healthier diets and exercise, and safer workplaces could all play a role in lowering cancer risk for millions of people worldwide.

Its a reminder that while cancer is complex, some of the risk is in our hands to reduce and that sometimes prevention matters just as much as treatment.

Tying the knot might change what you pay for car insurance

• On average, married drivers pay less than single drivers because insurers often view them as lower risk, though rules and savings vary by state.

• State regulations, driving history, credit (where allowed), and claims history all influence whether marriage actually reduces your premium.

• Improving credit, bundling policies, shopping around, and taking advantage of discounts can often lead to bigger savings than marital status alone.

Youve heard all about wedding gifts and tax perks, but heres one benefit of marriage that might surprise you: it can actually influence what you pay for insurance.

Thats not just anecdotal industry data shows that married people often pay less for car insurance than those who are single.

Of course, marriage isnt a magic discount card. Factors like credit scores, driving records, whether you bundle policies, and even where you live all play into your premium.

To learn more about how marital status influences your insurance rates, what insurers look for, and how you can make informed choices whether youre single, married, or somewhere in between, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Susan Meyer, an insurance analyst from TheZebra.com.

How marriage affects your insurance premium

Many factors can influence how much you pay for car insurance, and your marital status can be one of them. According to Meyer, theres a sense of stability financially and otherwise that comes with being married that insurers sometimes take into account.

While your relationship status is seemingly unrelated to how risky a driver you are, married people do often pay less for auto insurance than single, divorced, or widowed people, she said. Thats because data has shown that married drivers tend to file fewer claims than single ones. Because of this, many states allow insurance companies to use marital status as a rating factor when pricing insurance.

However, not all states allow this. Meyer noted that insurance companies in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan arent allowed to charge customers different rates based on their relationship status.

What are the savings?

How much can you actually expect to save on your premium if youre married?

Married people pay on average nearly 9% less per year than single people, Meyer said. Divorced people pay approximately the same as single people, and widowed ones pay only 3% more than married people.

Meyer explained that these numbers are U.S. averages and insurance is a state-regulated industry. This means that different states will have different numbers.

The state where we see the largest difference is in Missouri, where there is a 15% difference on average between what married people pay for car insurance and what single people pay, she said. By contrast, in other states, the difference is much smaller. In Montana, the difference between married and single drivers is only 2%.

Is combining policies always the best choice?

Whether youre planning your wedding or planning for retirement with your spouse, combining auto insurance policies isnt always the best choice to save money.

Combining policies isnt always cheaper if one spouse has a higher rate (such as due to a history of accidents, violations or claims) or has different coverage needs, Meyer said. Some couples maintain separate policies initially after marriage, particularly if they are keeping separate residences temporarily or have complex asset situations.

How can single drivers save on insurance?

No matter what stage of life youre in, there are other ways to save on your car insurance plan. Meyer shared some tips that could potentially save you more than tying the knot:

• Improving your credit score:In states where credit is allowed as a rating factor, drivers can lower their insurance rate an average of 54% by improving their credit score by just one tier.

• Bundling home and auto policies:If you combine your policies with the same company, homeowners can save an average of 10% and renters an average of 5%.

• Discounts: There are a number of different discounts offered by different companies ranging from green vehicle or good student discounts to those based on driver behavior. The average good driver discount saves drivers with clean records between 10 - 26%

Be aware of your options

Meyer shared some final pieces of advice to help consumers ensure theyre always getting the lowest possible insurance rates.

While getting married might save you on insurance (especially if your love is a better driver than you), the best way to save money is to be aware of your options, she said. Make it a habit to consistently compare rates, so youre always aware of your options.

Its especially important to review your policies and compare rates when you make a big life change, like getting married or cohabitating with your partner.

Oxford researchers find subtle errors and oversimplification in the advice

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Researchers at Oxford University warn that popular AI chatbots can deliver medical advice that sounds confident but may be incomplete, misleading, or unsafe.

• The study found that even when AI systems cite credible sources, they can misinterpret guidelines or fail to account for patient-specific factors.

• Experts say the findings highlight the growing need for regulation, transparency, and human oversight as AI tools become more common in health care.

A new study from the University of Oxford is raising new concerns about the reliability of medical advice generated by artificial intelligence, warning that widely used AI platforms may inadvertently put users at risk.

The research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and computer scientists, examined how large language models respond to common health-related questions. According to the study, AI systems frequently produced answers that appeared authoritative and well-structured, yet contained subtle errors, oversimplifications, or advice that conflicted with established medical guidance.

One of the most troubling findings was the tendency of AI platforms to generalize. Researchers found that chatbots often failed to distinguish between symptoms that require urgent medical attention and those that can be managed at home.

In some cases, the systems offered reassurance where caution was warranted, while in others they suggested unnecessary alarm.

How useful is the advice?

Dr Adam Mahdi, senior author on the study, said that while AI is able to give medical information, people "struggle to get useful advice from it."

"People share information gradually,"he told the BBC. "They leave things out, they don't mention everything. So, in our study, when the AI listed three possible conditions, people were left to guess which of those can fit.

The study also highlighted issues with sourcing. While AI-generated responses sometimes referenced reputable organizations or clinical guidelines, the models did not always apply those sources correctly. Advice could be outdated, taken out of context, or mismatched to the users situationparticularly for people with chronic conditions, multiple medications, or atypical symptoms.

Problematic design

The researchers stressed that the problem is not malicious intent, but design. Most AI platforms are not built to practice medicine, yet they are increasingly used that way as consumers turn to chatbots for quick answers about symptoms, medications, and treatments.

Oxfords team is calling for clearer warnings to users, improved training data, and stronger collaboration between AI developers and medical professionals. The team also emphasized that AI tools should supplement, not replace, qualified health care providers.