Consumer News: Consumer sentiment has fallen sharply since December

Why buying presents now feels more like pressure than pleasure

• Holiday gifting is becoming more stressful than joyful, as rising costs, social pressure, and fear of getting it wrong fuel widespread gift anxiety.

• Uncertainty is a major driver of that stress, with many Americans worried theyll overspend or still end up giving an unwanted gift.

• Setting realistic budgets and clear expectations can ease the pressure, helping shoppers focus on meaning over price and avoid post-holiday regret.

For many Americans, Christmas shopping doesnt start with excitement it starts with stress.

What should be a joyful tradition of giving has quietly turned into a high-pressure exercise filled with second-guessing, budget math, and the fear of disappointing the people we care about most.

Rising living costs have made holiday spending feel heavier than ever, while social media feeds packed with picture-perfect gifts and over-the-top celebrations raise the stakes even higher.

This growing sense of gift anxiety is changing how consumers approach Christmas and prompting many to look for ways to make gifting simpler, clearer, and less emotionally charged.

ConsumerAffairs interviewed Adam Zucker, VP of Marketing at MyRegistry.com, to learn how gift anxiety shows up during the holidays and practical ways shoppers can ease the stress and bring some joy back into Christmas giving.

Feeling the pressure

Zucker broke down what consumers can expect when it comes to gift anxiety this holiday season.

Gift anxiety will typically manifest during times when emotional expectations collide with financial reality, he explained. No one wants to appear thoughtless, cheap, or out of sync in the relationship with a friend or family member.

Uncertainty can worsen the feeling of gift anxiety, and with more than half of U.S. adults expecting to receive at least one unwanted gift over the festive period, this indicates that many are spending money while quietly worrying they will get it wrong. That fear of wasted money, combined with the inevitable social comparisons and economic pressures, is what's driving so much of todays gift anxiety.

How to fight the pressure

While pressure may be mounting, it doesnt have to take over this holiday season. Zucker recommends remembering the real reason behind giving gifts.

Its so vitally important to remember that gifting at any time of the year but especially during the holidays is not a financial exchange that needs to be balanced equally, he said. The pressure to match a gift often leads to overspending and financial regret.

Set a budget you are comfortable with and stick to it, no matter what. A meaningful gift given within your means is always a better idea than adding to your debt. When expectations are clear, through a wish list or registry, the anxiety around matching value will largely disappear.

Now you can turn meal ideas into groceries straight from a conversation to your doorstep

• Order groceries without leaving ChatGPT ask for recipes and build your shopping cart right in the chat.

• Wide selection of stores available from Kroger and Safeway to regional favorites like Wegmans, Schnucks, and more.

• Fast delivery right to your door orders can arrive in as little as about an hour thanks to DoorDashs logistics network.

Imagine the next time youre brainstorming dinner ideas with ChatGPT and boom youre a few clicks away from fresh ingredients arriving at your door.

Thats now a reality thanks to a new partnership between DoorDash and OpenAI that brings grocery shopping directly into the ChatGPT experience. Instead of flipping between apps or scribbling out a grocery list, you can handle everything from inspiration to checkout in one place.

AI is unlocking an entirely new search and discovery experience for consumers thats dynamic and personalized, Andy Fang, Co-founder at DoorDash, said in a news release.

We're thrilled to partner with OpenAI to create a seamless experience that allows users to quickly order ingredients for any recipe and check out directly on DoorDash. As we expand this experience to more shopping categories, our focus is on building AI tools that give people time back and make local shopping easier.

How it works

This new in-chat DoorDash app turns ChatGPT into a smart personal grocery assistant. You can ask for meal suggestions, like What should I make for taco Tuesday? Once you find something you love, ChatGPT and the DoorDash app turn those recipe ingredients into a ready-to-shop cart.

Its a big step beyond a simple recipe-finder now your chat can do something real for you. No more jumping between screens, no rewriting grocery lists, and no last-minute runs to the store when you forgot milk or cheese.

Heres the basics of getting started:

1. Enable the DoorDash app in ChatGPT. Go into your ChatGPT Settings, open Apps, pick DoorDash, and sign in to your account.

2. Ask for recipe ideas or meal plans. ChatGPT will tailor suggestions to your interests quick weeknight dinners, healthy lunches, holiday feasts, you name it.

3. Build your grocery list right in chat. Once you like a recipe, tell ChatGPT to shop it itll turn the ingredients into your DoorDash grocery cart.

4. Check out and relax. Review your cart in the DoorDash app and place the order for delivery.

Why It Matters for Everyday Shoppers

This update makes grocery shopping less of a chore and more of a conversation. Whether youre juggling a packed schedule, planning meals for your family, or trying to be more adventurous in the kitchen, this feature helps shave off time and mental effort.

DoorDash says this rollout will expand to all users in the coming weeks across iOS, Android, desktop, and mobile web, bringing this seamless shopping experience to many more homes.

Plus the 10 pantry staples that refuse to go bad on your watch

• Most dates are about quality, not safety. Sell by = store stock; best by = taste; use by = pay closer attention (esp. refrigerated). Infant formula is the exception

• Use the 3 checks: stored right (time/temp)? smell/look off? package damaged? Bulging/leaking/badly dented cans = toss

• Pantry staples that dont care (stored dry/sealed/pest-free): honey, salt, sugar, vinegar, dry pasta, white rice, dried beans, cornstarch, baking soda (weaker), canned goods (if can is OK)

If your fridge has a weekly expiration purge, its time to consider if you might be tossing money more than tossing any potential danger.

Most date labels on food are about peak quality, not necessarily food safety. And because theres no single, universal federal standard for date phrases across all foods, brands use a mix of sell by, best by, and use by that sounds scarier than it is. The USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service has even pushed for a simpler, clearer label: Best if Used By.

The one big exception I want to bring up: infant formula. That date matters.

Below is your cheat sheet to decode the labels the right way. Plus, youll learn the products where the date stamps basically dont apply when you store the items correctly.

The label decoder you actually need

Sell By date

The Sell By date is mainly used by the grocery store itself. The date helps employees manage inventory and rotate (or remove) older products when needed.

Dont consider it a trash it tomorrow date that you must follow. Instead, think of it more as a its time to consider the freshness and flavor if youve gone past the printed Sell By date.

Items where you tend to see the Sell By date:

• Milk (and other refrigerated dairy like half-and-half)
• Yogurt and sour cream
• Packaged deli meats (and hot dogs)
• Fresh bread and bakery items
• Bagged salads and pre-cut produce

Best By / Best if Used By date

Think of this date as the manufacturer telling the consumer that this is when it tastes best.

After that date, the quality can deteriorate in terms of texture, flavor, and freshness. But it may still be fine to eat if it was handled safely.

The FDA explicitly supports Best if Used By as the standard quality phrase that will hopefully be universally adoptedsoon.

Items where you often see the Best By date include:

• Cereal + granola
• Chips, crackers, cookies
• Peanut butter + nut butters
• Canned foods
• Pasta, rice, boxed mac & cheese

Use By date

Think of the Use By date as the last recommended date for best quality.

It still doesnt automatically mean unsafe, but its a stronger signal to pay attention to. In other words, consider how the product was stored and if there are any signs of spoilage.

Items where you tend to see the Use By date include:

• Fresh meat and poultry
• Pre-made deli / refrigerated grab-and-go foods
• Refrigerated ready-to-bake dough
• Eggs

Pro tip: Your fridge temperature matters more than the date stamp. FSIS recommends keeping your refrigerator at 40F or below. And for long-term freezing, keep your freezer at 0F or below.

The real question: Is it a safety or quality issue?

Think about it this way, the more perishable the item (fresh meat, deli stuff, ready-to-eat refrigerated foods), the more you should respect time and temperature. How old is the item and what temperature has it been stored at?

For many pantry staples and shelf-stable foods, the printed date basically serves as a we guarantee taste until this date proclamation.

Whenever you stumble across something in your kitchen or pantry that seems a little suspicious, run it through this quick 3-step check:

• Was the product stored correctly and at the correct temperature?
• Does it look or smell off or weird?
• Is the package damaged or dented (especially cans and jars)?

Pro tip: The USDA says to never use food from cans that are leaking, bulging, or badly dented. The CDC also flags bulging/swollen containers, spurting liquid/foam, or bad odors as contamination warnings. When in doubt, throw it out without tasting it.

10 products where best by dates mostly dont apply

These are some foods where time is usually a quality issue (staleness, weaker flavor), and not necessarily a safety issue. This, of course, assumes they stay dry, sealed, and free of pests like weevils.

Honey - Honey can definitely crystallize and look kind of weird, but thats not spoilage. The solution is to warm the jar in hot water and it often returns to normal.

Salt - Salt doesnt go bad. If you find clumps, that usually mean humidity got in but it is still fine to use.

Sugar - Same story as salt. If you find that it hardens, its a storage issue, not a safety issue.

Distilled white vinegar The high acidity level keeps it stable. If it looks cloudy, thats typically about the quality of the vinegar, not about the danger for you.

Dry pasta - If it has been kept dry and there are no bugs or moisture, its usually fine past the date. You might find it a little less fresh in texture over time but thats about it.

White rice - White rice is a long-haul pantry staple when stored sealed and dry. (Brown rice is different as it has oils in it that can go rancid faster.)

Dried beans and lentils - They can get older and take longer to cook, but they dont suddenly turn unsafe because a date has passed.

Cornstarch - As long as it stays dry and uncontaminated, its generally stable.

Baking soda - It doesnt spoil in a dangerous way, it just loses strength. If youre baking something that needs lift, do the quick test (vinegar + baking soda = it should fizz).

Canned foods (with one big condition) - Canned goods can last a long time, but the condition of the can matters a lot. Specifically, make sure the can has no dents or bulges, if it does,toss it.

Pro tip: Try to get in the habit of writing the opened on date on stuff you open and dont finish like sauces, broth cartons, jars, and snacks. Otherwise, its often hard to remember when you openedit and you end up tossing stuff thats perfectly fine.

The bottom line - Use the USDA/FDA-backed FoodKeeper guidance for storage timelines and handling tips. They have a well-organized chart that tells you exactly how long stuff lasts, both at refrigerator and freezer temperatures. Checking it regularly will prevent 90% of the should I toss this? debates in your house.

But energy and housing costs continue to pressure consumers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Inflation rose modestly in recent months, with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increasing 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from September to November 2025.

• Prices were up 2.7% over the past year, marking a slowdown from the 3.0% annual increase recorded through September.

• Data gaps remain because of the federal shutdown, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) did not collect survey data in October 2025 due to a lapse in appropriations.

U.S. inflation showed signs of cooling in late 2025, even as energy costs and some household expenses continued to rise, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Over the two-month period from September to November, overall consumer prices increased at a measured pace, reflecting modest gains across several major categories. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also rose 0.2% during the same period, suggesting underlying price pressures remained contained.

Shelter costs, a major driver of household expenses, edged up 0.2% over the two months, while food prices rose 0.1%. Energy prices were a notable outlier, climbing 1.1% during the period, driven by higher gasoline and utility costs. At the same time, some categories provided relief for consumers: prices for lodging away from home, recreation, and apparel declined.

Looking at the broader picture, inflation slowed on an annual basis. The all-items CPI rose 2.7% in the 12 months ending in November, down from a 3.0% increase through September. Core inflation increased 2.6% over the past year, slightly below the headline rate.

Restaurant checks rose faster than grocery bills

Food prices continued to rise faster when consumers ate out than when they shopped for groceries. Food away from home increased 3.7% over the year, compared with a 1.9% rise for food at home. Within grocery prices, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs posted one of the largest gains, up 4.7%, while dairy prices declined 1.6%.

Energy costs remained a key pressure point for households. Over the past year, the energy index rose 4.2%, with fuel oil prices jumping more than 11% and electricity costs climbing nearly 7%. Natural gas prices also rose sharply, increasing just over 9% year over year.

The report was affected by the federal government shutdown in October, when BLS was unable to collect survey data. While some non-survey data were later recovered, October CPI figures are unavailable, and November data reflect a partial resumption of collection that began on November 14.

Separate inflation measures tracked similar trends. The CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers rose 2.7% over the past year, while the Chained CPI increased 2.6%, though recent figures for the chained index remain subject to revision.

The survey shows that speed alone failed to deliver customer satisfaction

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Glance releases its 2026 CX Trends Report, revealing how last years rush toward AI reshaped and often damaged customer service experiences

• Survey of more than 600 U.S. consumers shows frustration rising despite faster, automated responses

• Report urges companies to refocus on resolution, trust, and human-supported AI as they plan 2026 CX strategies

Companies are increasing the use of artificial intelligence to assist with customer service and a new report suggests those efforts are not always satisfying for consumers.

Glance, a provider of enterprise cobrowse and guided customer experience technology, has released its 2026 CX Trends Report, offering a clear-eyed assessment of how the customer experience industrys aggressive push into AI-powered service has played out in 2025.

The report, based on a small survey, paints a picture of widening disconnects between the promises of automation and the realities customers encountered. While companies invested heavily in AI tools designed to accelerate service, many customers reported being trapped in loops, forced to repeat themselves across channels, and ultimately left with less confidence in the brands they interacted with.

One of the most interesting findings shows that speed alone failed to deliver satisfaction. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they received fast, AI-driven responses that still left them frustrated.

Instead, customers overwhelmingly prioritized outcomes: 68% said achieving a complete resolution mattered more than how quickly a response arrived.

Risks of overautomation

The report also highlights the loyalty risks tied to over-automation. Nearly nine in 10 consumers said removing access to human support reduced their loyalty to a brand. Only 7% reported that they rarely or never had to repeat information when switching between channels, underscoring persistent breakdowns in omnichannel continuity. More than a third of respondents said AI-based support actively made interactions harder, and a majority expressed a preference for human-first service pathways.

At the same time, the findings suggest customers are not rejecting AI outright. Forty-four percent said they always try self-service options first, and another 50% said they sometimes do signaling strong interest in AI-enabled tools when they are designed to truly resolve issues rather than deflect them.

The industry spent much of 2025 chasing speed and automation, said Tom Martin, CEO of Glance. But our research shows that customers felt increasingly disappointed by digital systems that were supposed to help them. The future isnt AI replacing people its AI strengthening the foundation so humans can deliver clarity, empathy, and trust at the moments that matter.

Problems of implementation

According to the report, many of the problems stemmed from how organizations implemented AI rather than from the technology itself. Bots were often built to reduce contact volume instead of solve problems, while personalization efforts crossed the line into feeling intrusive. Automation also exposed deeper operational weaknesses, including inconsistent data, broken workflows, and fragmented handoffs between channels.

This report doesnt sugarcoat the lessons from 2025, said Heather Nightingale, senior director of Product Marketing at Glance. Were honest about what failed because leaders cant build credible AI strategies without addressing the foundation first. 2026 will belong to companies that refocus on resolution, rehumanize digital experiences, and use AI as a co-pilot rather than a gatekeeper.

Looking ahead, the report outlines how top-performing CX teams are expected to evolve in 2026. Key priorities include building AI on clean, consistent data; deploying intent-aware automation that knows when to escalate to humans; delivering true context continuity across channels; and shifting personalization toward approaches that feel purposeful rather than invasive.

The report also emphasizes empathy as a driver of loyalty and urges companies to move away from vanity metrics in favor of measures tied to retention, repeat engagement, and reduced customer effort.