Consumer News: $24 billion is the U.S. tariff tab for Japanese automakers

How to shop smarter when stores put essentials behind glass

• Skip the wait with pickup:Order locked items through apps from Walmart, Target, or CVS and choose curbside or in-store pickup so employees grab everything for you.

• Price-check before you press the button:Scan the barcode and compare prices on Amazon or warehouse clubs like Costco to see if skipping the case saves both time and money.

• Switch to store brands to avoid the glass:Many locked items are premium brands, while cheaper generics and store brands are often left accessible and cost less anyway.

More stores are locking up everyday items like deodorant, toothpaste, baby formula, razors, laundry detergent, and skincare.

Retailers say its about preventing theft. But shoppers say its a major hassle and many are walking out and buying elsewhere instead.

If youve ever stood there pressing a call button waiting and waiting you already know the frustration.

Major frustration in the aisles

Shoppers have taken to social media to vent about locked items at major retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and others.

Many shoppers say the delay in finding a staff member, and waiting for a key, is making them much more likely to use Amazon, especially Amazon pharmacy services.

Some shoppers also say they simply leave the store and buy the same item online or at a competitor where the product is easily accessible.

For retailers, that means what was intended to prevent loss may be creating lost sales instead.

Heres how to deal with locked displays without wasting your time or overpaying.

Check online inventory before you go

The next time you head to Target, Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens, look up the particular item in the stores app.

Why this helps:

• Some stores flag items as in locked case or store assistance required.
• If this is the case, you can choose curbside pickup instead and skip the case entirely.
• This will also help you determine if another nearby location has the product more accessible.

Pro tip: If its a high-theft item (think razors, fragrance, detergent, baby formula), its smart to consider store pick-up for your ENTIRE purchase and not have to deal with any locked shelves.

Use pickup or delivery to bypass the lock

Locked shelves are obviously an in-store problem not an online shopping issue.

So, when you order online and select pickup, employees pull the item for you. This saves you the time it takes to flag someone down to open a lock to retrieve the item.

This works especially well at:

• Walmart curbside
• Target Drive Up
• CVS pickup orders

You avoid:

• Waiting for an employee.
• Feeling rushed while they hover, waiting to lock the shelf back up when youre done.
• Impulse buys while you stand there waiting.

If its locked, ask for multiple items at once

Once an employee opens a case, dont just grab one thing and let them walk away.

Say something like:

Could you grab two of these and that one next to it as well?

Or,

I need something unlocked on a different aisle; can you walk with me?

If you know youre going to need other items that are locked up, ask if the employee can hang with you for a minute and get it all done at once.

You save yourself from tracking someone down again and most workers actually prefer grabbing everything in one trip.

Pro tip: One place where you never find everyday essentials behind a lock is at warehouse clubs. For this reason alone, now may be the time to consider a Sams Club or Costco membership.

Compare prices before pressing the button

Many shoppers are pushing back by simply making the choice to buy elsewhere rather than deal with all the locked-up merchandise.

Try this the next time an item is locked and anemployee is nowhere in sight:

• Scan the barcode with your phone.
• Check Amazons price.
• Check Costco's price if its a bulk item.

If the price is similar (or cheaper online), skipping the wait will save you both timeandmoney.

Pro tip: If I know Ill need something thats locked up, Ive gotten in the habit of politely asking for help as I walk in. This works especially well in smaller stores like CVS and Walgreens as theres almost always an employee in the front of the store who can walk back with me and unlock something.

Avoid peak hours for locked-item shopping

Evening and weekend shopping = fewer available employees with keys.

If you know you need locked items try this strategy:

• Go earlier in the day.
• Shop weekdays if possible.
• Combine it with a pickup order.

Less waiting also means less temptation to abandon your cart out of frustration, which could easily lead to overspending elsewhere.

Use this moment to rethink brand loyalty

Locked cases are often for premium brands with quick resell value, which is why thieves target them.

But cheaper store brands are less desirable for thieves and thus are frequently left accessible and not locked-up.

Consider the following store brand swaps if you find yourself always waiting for an employees assistance:

• Name-brand razors store brand blades
• Prestige skincare dermatologist-recommended basics
• Brand-name OTC meds generic equivalents
• Name-brand batteries store brand alkaline
• Designer pain relief patches generic lidocaine or menthol patches
• Brand-name allergy meds store brand antihistamines
• Name-brand reading glasses pharmacy or big-box store readers

Not only will you save some money, but theres a great chance youll be able to skip the locked case entirely.

Dont be afraid to walk away

Its a guarantee that retailers track their lost sales, so it might be time to start speaking with our dollars.

If enough customers skip locked items altogether, and sales start to slip, policies may start to change.

You can personally make it happen by purchasing items later online or by going to another store.

Stores like Target know that shoppers hate the inconvenience and are testing digital shelf-unlocking technology in the hopes of finding a better solution.

By continuing to put pressure on retailers, we can hopefully speed up the adoption of new technology and policiesthat don'trequire us to find an employee every time weneed a tube of toothpaste.

Food labels may look the same but mean something new starting now

• No artificial colors can now be used on food labels even if natural dyes are added.

• FDA will let companies use these claims voluntarily without penalty.

• New natural color options are approved to help phase out synthetic dyes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a shift in how it interprets no artificial colors.

Under the new approach, food makers may use statements like Made without artificial food colors or No artificial colorings on labels as long as the product doesnt contain petroleum-based synthetic dyes.

That means if a drink or snack is colored with FDA-approved natural sources like spirulina extract or beetroot red it can still wear that reassuring phrase.

We acknowledge that calling colors derived from natural sources artificial might be confusing for consumers and a hindrance for companies to explore alternative food coloring options, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., said in a news release

Were taking away that hindrance and making it easier for companies to use these colors in the foods our families eat every day.

Moving away from synthetic dyes

This isnt a mandatory rule that companies must follow its voluntary and backed by what the FDA calls enforcement discretion. In practice, that means the agency wont take legal action against companies that use these claims appropriately, even though theyre technically loosening the reins on old restrictions.

The change is part of a broader FDA and Health and Human Services push to encourage the food industry to move away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes and toward alternatives that come from more familiar sources.

The agency has also approved new natural color additives like beetroot red and expanded the use of others such as spirulina extract to give manufacturers more options.

What Consumers Should Know

• No artificial colors now has a new meaning. It doesnt automatically mean there are zero added colors it just means no petroleum-based synthetic dyes. Natural colorings (even ones added purposely) are okay under the new policy.

• This change is voluntary and not a guarantee of safety. It doesnt mean a product is healthier overall just that the specific synthetic dyes regulated under federal law arent present. Other ingredients like sugar, salt or preservatives may still be in the product.

• Keep reading labels. Dont rely solely on marketing claims. Check the ingredient list if youre avoiding certain additives or have specific dietary concerns.

The FDA is trying to make front-of-package claims more flexible and clearer in the long run and to encourage the food industry to explore naturally-sourced color options. But as with any label claim, a little skepticism and some label reading go a long way.

Your junk drawer could be hiding this weeks grocery budget

• Get a quick quote online, ship your device with a free label, and receive a digital Shop Card to use on groceries and more at Costco.

• Factory reset it, remove all personal accounts, and be honest about condition so your final payout doesnt get reduced after inspection.

• Electronics depreciate fast, so that unused phone or laptop is worth way more today than it will be next year.

That drawer full of outdated phones and dusty laptops could be worth real money at Costco. Money you can use on groceries, gas, or your next bulk haul.

Heres how to make the most of Costcos electronics trade-in program.

How the trade-in actually works

Costco partners with a company called Phobio, who handles the evaluation of your old tech and the actual payouts.

What you can trade in:

• Phones All the major brands including Apple, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Google, Huawei and OnePlus.
• Laptops Theyll buylaptops from Apple, Asus, HP, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI.
• Tablets Brands theyll currently buy include Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft.
• Smartwatches Apple, Samsung, and Garmin.
• Desktop computers Apple and Microsoft Surface Studio series.
• Media players like the Apple TV - Theyll only give you up to $5. (Youd be better off selling it on eBay if its in good working condition.)

The basic steps:

• Go to Costcos trade-in page and answer questions about your devices brand, model, age, and condition.
• Get an instant quote.
• Ship your device using the prepaid shipping label.
• After the inspection, youll receive a Digital Costco Shop Card within three to fivebusiness days for the amount of your trade-in.

If youre not familiar, the Costco Shop Card works just like cash at Costco warehouses, as well as on their website.

4 tips to get the highest payout

1. Be honest about the condition. Scratches, battery issues, or screen burn-in can lower your final value if theyre not disclosed. If Phobio finds damage you didnt list, theyll revise the offer. For this reason, it pays to be honest about the condition from the start. Youre not going to be able to pull a fast one on them, so dont even try.

2. Reset and remove accounts first.Be sure to factory reset your device and sign out of Apple ID, Google, or Samsung accounts. Also, turn off your Find My Phone feature before you do a reset. Keep in mind that devices with activation locks can be rejected and will be sent back to you.

3. Include chargers if asked. Some categories pay a bit more when you have the original accessories and include them in the trade. While its not huge money, it can bump up your total a little bit.

4. Trade in sooner, not later. Keep in mind that electronics lose value fast, so get out your old tech and maximize its current value. Last years phone might be worth solid grocery money today and almost nothing a year from now.

What kind of value are we talking about?

High-end, newer laptops can fetch hundreds of dollars, sometimes over $1,000 depending on how old it is and the specs.

Even many older phones can be worth $20 to $150, which can easily cover a week of household staples at Costco.

If you have multiple unused devices in your house, those smaller amounts can stack up pretty quickly.

Why this is better than tossing them

Old electronics contain valuable materials like gold and copper, plus battery components that shouldnt end up in landfills.

By trading them in, you keep hazardous waste out of the landfills and you put the reusable parts right back into new devices.

So, think of it this way youre decluttering, getting paid, and reducing waste all at once.

No Costco membership? You still have options

Other retailers offer similar programs, including Target and GameStop. You can also trade devices directly through brands like Apple and Samsung for store credit.

But if you already shop at Costco, the Shop Card payout makes this one especially practical since it goes straight toward your Costco shopping list.

Experts want permanent standard time to protect health, safety, and better sleep

• Sleep experts and a new survey show most Americans support ending seasonal clock changes.

• The call is for permanent standard time not daylight saving time because it better matches our biological clocks.

• Research and public health concerns point to improved sleep, safer mornings, and fewer health risks without biannual shifts.

Every March, most of the U.S. moves clocks ahead one hour for daylight saving time, a ritual most people know simply as spring forward.

But this year, before the clocks change on March 8, sleep experts are sounding an increasingly loud alarm they want the United States to abandon seasonal time shifts altogether and adopt permanent standard time.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), along with a coalition of sleep and health organizations, argues that the twice-yearly clock changing experiment has real effects on our sleep and health. And recent survey data suggest that a slim majority of adults (about 54%) would prefer to ditch the clock changes permanently a position that matches the experts recommendation.

When we spring forward for daylight saving time, we disrupt our bodys natural rhythm, damaging our sleep quality, mental health, and overall well-being, Dr. Karin Johnson, sleep medicine physician and co-chair of the coalitions steering committee, said in a news release.

Our internal clocks are extremely sensitive to natural light and environmental shifts. Even a one-hour change can have serious consequences for health and safety. We need to end the practice of seasonal time changes and stick with standard time.

How did experts and researchers figure this out?

The push toward permanent standard time isnt based on guesswork its grounded in evidence about how light and time shifts affect our internal rhythms. The coalition, which includes sleep doctors and scientists, points to data showing that sudden clock changes disrupt the bodys sleep-wake cycle.

This disruption isnt trivial. Losing an hour of sleep and shifting our daily schedule even by just sixty minutes can throw off the circadian rhythm that helps regulate when we feel awake and when we feel sleepy. As a result, experts say, people can experience mood disturbances, reduced alertness, and trouble getting restful sleep.

The AASMs call draws on survey results and existing research around public safety and health. It highlights that bodies respond to natural light patterns, and that standard time aligns with the sun better than daylight saving time does. That alignment, experts believe, may make it easier to wake up in the morning, sleep at night, and function well during the day.

What they found and why it matters

So, what did the experts conclude?

Their message is pretty simple: permanent standard time could be better for our health and safety than continuing seasonal clock changes.

The evidence and survey results suggest several key benefits of permanent standard time:

• More morning light: Standard time means sunrise comes earlier in the day, which can help people wake up more naturally and support healthy circadian rhythms.

• Safer streets: Dark winter mornings under permanent daylight savings time could mean more school-day darkness and potentially riskier commutes for kids and adults alike.

• Better sleep: Aligning daily schedules more closely with natural light patterns may make it easier for people to get the recommended hours of sleep a cornerstone of physical and mental health.

Experts say this isnt about nostalgia for a particular clock time its about aligning public policy with biology. With growing public support and mounting scientific concern, sleep organizations urge lawmakers to consider permanent standard time as a way to protect public health.

We have a rare opportunity where public opinion, scientific evidence, and common sense all point in the same direction, said Dr. Johnson. Permanent standard time would improve well-being, reduce accidents, and support healthy sleep for all Americans. Its time to stop the clock-changing experiment and adopt a policy that works with our biology, not against it.

This may be as good as it gets

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaged6.11% as of Feb. 5, 2026, holding near its lowest level in years and remaining essentially flat from the previous weeks 6.10%.

• Fifteen-year fixed mortgage rates averaged5.50%, also slightly up week-to-week, but significantly below the 6.05% average a year ago.

• Rates remain lower than 2025 levels, offering buyers steadier borrowing costs heading into the spring home-buying season.

Freddie Macs latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) edged up to 6.11% last week a slight uptick from 6.10% the prior week, but still near its lowest levels in years.

The 15-year FRM averaged 5.50%, also inching up from the week before, but remaining well below the 6% level seen in early 2025.

Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist, noted that the combination of more affordable rates and modestly better inventory could give prospective buyers a boost as spring approaches.

What it means for buyers

After years of historically low interest rates followed by sharp increases post-pandemic, mortgage costs this winter have flattened near 6% a pace that, while above the ultra-low pandemic era, marks a meaningful improvement from recent peaks. Average rates were closer to 6.89% a year ago, meaning todays buyers could see noticeably lower monthly payments on the same-priced home.

Economists and industry forecasts expect mortgage rates to stay in this range, near 6%, without dramatic swings in the short term offering some predictability to would-be buyers planning ahead.

Despite steadier rates, affordability pressures persist in many markets. Recent data indicate:

• In many major metro areas, renting remains cheaper than owning due to high home prices and mortgage borrowing costs, dampening purchase demand.

• Some regions continue to see tight inventories and rising prices, such as Hartford, where low months of supply are driving competition.

• However, other markets, like Houston, are experiencing improving affordability, with mortgage rates and prices both declining enough to expand buyer access.

• Across the U.S., more inventory and broader pricing stability are starting to balance the market after years of extreme tightness.

Spring buying season outlook

As the spring home-buying season gets underway, the combination of relatively stable mortgage rates and slowly improving supply could create opportunities for buyers who have been sidelined by affordability constraints. Experts caution that while rates may remain elevated compared to historical lows, the current environment offers more predictability and negotiation leverage than in the past few years.

For many buyers, this means locking in a rate near todays levels sooner rather than later and working closely with lenders to navigate regional market dynamics from competitive bidding in tight markets to discounts in areas with softer demand.