Consumer News: Consumer sentiment has fallen sharply since December

Existing home sales rebound from last year while affordability improves

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Home values rose 0.1% in February, the first monthly increase in seven months

• Existing home sales increased 1.8% year over year and jumped 13% from January

• Lower mortgage rates have boosted buying power by about $30,000 for median-income households

The U.S. housing market is beginning to show signs of renewed activity as spring approaches, with home values ticking up and existing home sales improving compared with a year ago, according to Zillows February Market Report.

The typical U.S. home value reached $361,371 in February, rising 0.1% from January and marking the first monthly increase in seven months. Home values are now 0.4% higher than a year earlier, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.

At the same time, sales activity strengthened. Zillow estimates that 239,910 homes were sold in February, a 1.8% increase from a year earlier and a 13% jump from January. Newly pending listings homes that went under contract during the month were up 3.5% year over year and 11.1% from the previous month.

The uptick in sales suggests Januarys softer performance may have been influenced by severe winter weather, while improving affordability is helping bring buyers back into the market.

Zillow's latest data suggests buyers and sellers are starting to regain confidence. Existing home sales rose from a year ago, providing an early glimmer of hope that the housing market has turned a corner after three years bouncing along the bottom, said Mischa Fisher, chief economist at Zillow.

Buyers have more homes within reach to choose from to go along with these friendlier conditions. Lower mortgage rates will also encourage more homeowners who have felt locked in to sell as they will be better able to afford their next home.

Lower rates are helping

Lower borrowing costs have been a key factor in improving affordability. Zillow estimates that declining mortgage rates over the past year have increased purchasing power by about $30,000 for households earning the median income. The typical monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home assuming a 20% down payment and excluding taxes and insurance is now $1,738, down 7.7% from a year earlier.

Housing supply has also expanded modestly. There were 1.12 million homes for sale nationwide in February, 5% more than a year ago and 0.4% higher than in January.

However, the number of newly listed homes slipped slightly compared with last year. Sellers added 283,478 homes to the market in February, a 3% decline from a year earlier, though listings increased 4.9% from January. Zillow noted that winter storms may have slowed listing activity, making the coming months an important test of whether supply will continue to grow.

Competition among buyers remains moderate. Homes spent a median of 28 days on the market before going under contract in February four days longer than a year earlier but significantly faster than January.

Fewer price cuts

Price reductions have also become slightly less common. About 20.3% of listings had a price cut in February, down from both a year earlier and the previous month. Meanwhile, 20.4% of homes sold above their list price in January, slightly lower than the share seen a year earlier.

The rental market is also showing signs of cooling. The typical rent nationwide was $1,895 in February, up 1.9% from a year earlier and 0.4% from January, indicating slower rent growth than in previous years. About 39.2% of rental listings offered concessions, such as free rent or other incentives.

If mortgage rates continue to decline particularly if they dip below 6% Zillow economists say it could further boost confidence among buyers and sellers, potentially setting the stage for a more active housing market after several years of subdued transaction volumes.

Its complicated

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Refinery bottlenecks and seasonal fuel changes are tightening gasoline supply even as U.S. oil production remains near record highs.

• Global oil market dynamicsincluding OPEC+ production policies and geopolitical tensionscontinue to influence prices Americans pay at the pump.

• Regional logistics and refinery outages are amplifying price spikes in certain parts of the country.

The war against Iran, now in its second week, has nearly stopped the flow of oil from the Middle East, sending oil prices and U.S. gas prices soaring.

However, the U.S. is now one of the worlds largest oil producers, and that oil continues to flow as normal. So, why have U.S. gas prices reacted the way they have? According to AAA, the national average price of regular is $3.48 a gallon, rising nearly 50 cents since the outbreak of hostilities.

According to industry analysts, the answer lies in the complicated chain between crude oil production and the gasoline that eventually reaches the pump. Yes, the U.S. has plenty of crude oil, but before it becomes gasoline, it must be processed in refineries that convert crude into fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Refineries must buy oil and oil is traded on an international market, meaning the price of crude produced in the United States is influenced by supply decisions from oil-exporting nations and geopolitical events around the world.

The Iran war has created an overnight oil shortage not in the U.S. but on the entire global market. Less oil around the world translates into higher prices, at least until supplies return to normal.

Unfortunate timing

The timing of the Iran war is another complicating factor. Each spring, refineries switch from winter gasoline blends to summer blends designed to reduce evaporation and smog. The transition can temporarily limit output, which often pushes prices higher just as driving demand begins to increase.

Regional supply issues can further complicate the picture. Certain areas, such as the West Coast, have fewer refineries and stricter fuel standards, making them especially vulnerable to price spikes when a facility shuts down unexpectedly.

Demand is also rebounding in many parts of the country as travel and commuting increase, which puts additional pressure on gasoline inventories. However, as gasoline prices continue to rise, demand may decrease.

Until normal oil shipments from the Persian Gulf resume, bringing down oil prices, analysts say drivers may continue to experience volatility at the pumpeven in a country that produces vast amounts of oil.

How savvy shoppers avoid wasting food and money

• Bulk doesnt always mean cheaper. Items like cereal and chicken are often cheaper at grocery stores when sales, digital coupons, and rebate apps are stacked.

• Big packages can lead to waste. Perishables like salad kits, produce, mushrooms, and bananas often spoil before you finish them.

• Some pantry items lose freshness fast. Large containers of spices and nuts can go stale or rancid long before you use them up.

Costco is famous for its bulk bargains, Kirkland favorites, and deals that can slash your grocery bill. However, not every item in the warehouse actually saves you money.

In fact, some groceries can cost shoppers more because they spoil before you use them, lose flavor, or can be found cheaper at regular grocery stores during sales.

Here are a bunch of grocery items that experts often recommend skipping at Costco, along with some smarter ways to shop for these items.

Breakfast cereal

While Costco cereal boxes may appear cheaper, grocery stores often beat those prices when you combine sales with digital coupons.

Major brands like General Mills, Kelloggs, and Post rotate through deep discounts about every six to eight weeks. When those sales hit, stores often stack multiple savings layers like digital coupons, store promotions, and sometimes even rebate apps.

Thats how savvy shoppers regularly grab cereal for $1$2 per box.

The smart move: Start tracking grocery store sales cycles and stock up when you notice that cereal hits its lowest price.

Specifically, watch for the classic grocery promo: Buy 4 or 5, save $5. Combine that with a digital coupon and a rebate app like Fetch or Ibotta and you can easily beat warehouse club prices. When you see those deals, thats the time to load up your pantry.

Bagged salad kits

Family-sized salad kits are definitely convenient at Costco and quite inexpensive. But the problem is they wilt really quickly if they sit in the fridge too long.

The smart move: When you get home, the first thing you should do is split the kit into smaller airtight containers and toss the original bag. This will limit the air exposure and help the greens stay crisp longer.

Also, be sure to place a paper towel inside the container with the greens. It will absorb any excess moisture and keep the lettuce from spoiling too quickly. This simple trick will extend freshness by several extra days, giving you time to hopefully finish the whole kit.

Raw chicken

Costco is known for their high-quality meats, and their chicken is generally very consistent. But that doesnt always mean its the cheapest option per pound.

Grocery stores frequently run aggressive promotions on chicken to drive traffic. Its one of the most common loss-leader items in weekly ads. During those sales, youll often see chicken prices drop well below Costco pricing.

The smart move: Before stocking up, compare the unit price with grocery store weekly ads. If a grocery store is running a sale on chicken, it can easily beat Costcos everyday price.

When chicken does hit a rock-bottom sale price, buy extra and portion it into freezer bags at home. Label each bag with the date and cut (breasts, thighs, etc.).

Dried herbs and spices

I speak from experience on this one, as I just tossed a large 5.5 oz sized container of stale Italian Seasoning because it was four years old.

So, if you rarely cook with a particular spice, a giant container makes zero sense and will go stale long before you come close to finishing it.

The smart move: Buy smaller spice jars from the grocery store, or refill them from cheaper store bulk bins so they stay fresher.

If you do buy spices at Costco (for example, garlic powder, black pepper, or cinnamon that you use constantly), transfer most of the container into an airtight jar and store it in a cool, dark cabinet.

Even better, keep the extra portion sealed in the freezer. This slows down the flavor loss dramatically and helps you actually use it before it goes stale.

Fresh produce

The large bags and containers of fruit and vegetables at Costco always appearfresh and delicious when you walk past them.

I think this is why they are one of the most common impulse buys in the warehouse.

Turns out that smaller households often struggle to finish them before they spoil. Thismeans that the last third of the bag can easily end up in the trash.

The smart move: Only buy bulk produce if you already have a plan for it. This usually means meal prepping, cooking with it the same week, or freezing the extras before they spoil.

Think of Costco-sized produce as a two-meal ingredient, not just a snack. For example, a big bag of bell peppers can become fajitas one night, and then omelets on Sunday morning.

A package of berries can be used for smoothies, yogurt bowls, and pancakes. Try to plan two or three uses ahead of time, and youll end up wasting way less.

Nuts

Bulk nuts are convenient but they contain natural oils that can turn rancid if they sit too long in the pantry.

Many shoppers dont realize that nuts can spoil faster than other dry foods.

The smart move: Divide large bags into smaller airtight portions and freeze most of them. Nuts freeze extremely well and can stay fresh for up to a year or longer without losing flavor or texture.

Keep a small jar in your pantry for everyday use and store the rest in the freezer. When the jar runs low, just refill it from the frozen stash.

Bananas

Costco sells bananas in large pre-bundled quantities, which means you cant grab just a few like you can at a grocery store.

This translates to them being perfect for a couple of days, then suddenly all of them ripen at the same time. By the end of the week, youre staring at a bunch of brown bananas.

The smart move: If bananas start getting too ripe, freeze them before they go bad. Peel them, break them in half, and store them in a freezer bag. Frozen bananas are perfect for smoothies, protein shakes, oatmeal, and baking.

Also, be sure to wrap the stem with foil or plastic wrap, as that will prevent the release of ethylene gas and slow down the ripening process.

Mushrooms

The mushrooms at Costco always look so good. They have great color and are the perfect size for a variety of uses.

However, the problem is the containers they come in are quite large. And since mushrooms are mostly water, they have one of the shortest shelf lives in the produce section.

So even though the price per pound might look attractive, a big container of mushrooms doesnt always make sense for smaller families.

The smart move: If you do end up buying them at Costco, cook most of the package right away except for what you will use in the first few days.

Specifically, saut the extra mushrooms with a little olive oil, salt, and garlic, then store them in the freezer for later. Cooked mushrooms freeze surprisingly well and can be used for things like omelets, pasta, soups, stir-fries, and of course on a pizza.

How savvy shoppers avoid wasting food and money

• Bulk doesnt always mean cheaper. Items like cereal and chicken are often cheaper at grocery stores when sales, digital coupons, and rebate apps are stacked.

• Big packages can lead to waste. Perishables like salad kits, produce, mushrooms, and bananas often spoil before you finish them.

• Some pantry items lose freshness fast. Large containers of spices and nuts can go stale or rancid long before you use them up.

Costco is famous for its bulk bargains, Kirkland favorites, and deals that can slash your grocery bill. However, not every item in the warehouse actually saves you money.

In fact, some groceries can cost shoppers more because they spoil before you use them, lose flavor, or can be found cheaper at regular grocery stores during sales.

Here are a bunch of grocery items that experts often recommend skipping at Costco, along with some smarter ways to shop for these items.

Breakfast cereal

While Costco cereal boxes may appear cheaper, grocery stores often beat those prices when you combine sales with digital coupons.

Major brands like General Mills, Kelloggs, and Post rotate through deep discounts about every six to eight weeks. When those sales hit, stores often stack multiple savings layers like digital coupons, store promotions, and sometimes even rebate apps.

Thats how savvy shoppers regularly grab cereal for $1$2 per box.

The smart move: Start tracking grocery store sales cycles and stock up when you notice that cereal hits its lowest price.

Specifically, watch for the classic grocery promo: Buy 4 or 5, save $5. Combine that with a digital coupon and a rebate app like Fetch or Ibotta and you can easily beat warehouse club prices. When you see those deals, thats the time to load up your pantry.

Bagged salad kits

Family-sized salad kits are definitely convenient at Costco and quite inexpensive. But the problem is they wilt really quickly if they sit in the fridge too long.

The smart move: When you get home, the first thing you should do is split the kit into smaller airtight containers and toss the original bag. This will limit the air exposure and help the greens stay crisp longer.

Also, be sure to place a paper towel inside the container with the greens. It will absorb any excess moisture and keep the lettuce from spoiling too quickly. This simple trick will extend freshness by several extra days, giving you time to hopefully finish the whole kit.

Raw chicken

Costco is known for their high-quality meats, and their chicken is generally very consistent. But that doesnt always mean its the cheapest option per pound.

Grocery stores frequently run aggressive promotions on chicken to drive traffic. Its one of the most common loss-leader items in weekly ads. During those sales, youll often see chicken prices drop well below Costco pricing.

The smart move: Before stocking up, compare the unit price with grocery store weekly ads. If a grocery store is running a sale on chicken, it can easily beat Costcos everyday price.

When chicken does hit a rock-bottom sale price, buy extra and portion it into freezer bags at home. Label each bag with the date and cut (breasts, thighs, etc.).

Dried herbs and spices

I speak from experience on this one, as I just tossed a large 5.5 oz sized container of stale Italian Seasoning because it was four years old.

So, if you rarely cook with a particular spice, a giant container makes zero sense and will go stale long before you come close to finishing it.

The smart move: Buy smaller spice jars from the grocery store, or refill them from cheaper store bulk bins so they stay fresher.

If you do buy spices at Costco (for example, garlic powder, black pepper, or cinnamon that you use constantly), transfer most of the container into an airtight jar and store it in a cool, dark cabinet.

Even better, keep the extra portion sealed in the freezer. This slows down the flavor loss dramatically and helps you actually use it before it goes stale.

Fresh produce

The large bags and containers of fruit and vegetables at Costco always appearfresh and delicious when you walk past them.

I think this is why they are one of the most common impulse buys in the warehouse.

Turns out that smaller households often struggle to finish them before they spoil. Thismeans that the last third of the bag can easily end up in the trash.

The smart move: Only buy bulk produce if you already have a plan for it. This usually means meal prepping, cooking with it the same week, or freezing the extras before they spoil.

Think of Costco-sized produce as a two-meal ingredient, not just a snack. For example, a big bag of bell peppers can become fajitas one night, and then omelets on Sunday morning.

A package of berries can be used for smoothies, yogurt bowls, and pancakes. Try to plan two or three uses ahead of time, and youll end up wasting way less.

Nuts

Bulk nuts are convenient but they contain natural oils that can turn rancid if they sit too long in the pantry.

Many shoppers dont realize that nuts can spoil faster than other dry foods.

The smart move: Divide large bags into smaller airtight portions and freeze most of them. Nuts freeze extremely well and can stay fresh for up to a year or longer without losing flavor or texture.

Keep a small jar in your pantry for everyday use and store the rest in the freezer. When the jar runs low, just refill it from the frozen stash.

Bananas

Costco sells bananas in large pre-bundled quantities, which means you cant grab just a few like you can at a grocery store.

This translates to them being perfect for a couple of days, then suddenly all of them ripen at the same time. By the end of the week, youre staring at a bunch of brown bananas.

The smart move: If bananas start getting too ripe, freeze them before they go bad. Peel them, break them in half, and store them in a freezer bag. Frozen bananas are perfect for smoothies, protein shakes, oatmeal, and baking.

Also, be sure to wrap the stem with foil or plastic wrap, as that will prevent the release of ethylene gas and slow down the ripening process.

Mushrooms

The mushrooms at Costco always look so good. They have great color and are the perfect size for a variety of uses.

However, the problem is the containers they come in are quite large. And since mushrooms are mostly water, they have one of the shortest shelf lives in the produce section.

So even though the price per pound might look attractive, a big container of mushrooms doesnt always make sense for smaller families.

The smart move: If you do end up buying them at Costco, cook most of the package right away except for what you will use in the first few days.

Specifically, saut the extra mushrooms with a little olive oil, salt, and garlic, then store them in the freezer for later. Cooked mushrooms freeze surprisingly well and can be used for things like omelets, pasta, soups, stir-fries, and of course on a pizza.

Veterinary experts tested the effectiveness of a deer vaccine that aims to control the population

• Researchers tested a birth-control vaccine designed to prevent deer from reproducing for multiple years.

• The vaccine is delivered by dart and works by blocking fertilization rather than altering hormones.

• In a long-term field study, many treated deer remained unable to reproduce for several years.

In many U.S. suburbs, deer sightings have become part of everyday life. While the animals may look peaceful grazing on lawns, large deer populations can create real challenges for communities. They can damage gardens and crops, increase the risk of vehicle collisions, and play a role in the spread of Lyme disease by hosting the ticks that carry the bacteria.

Traditionally, wildlife managers have relied on hunting to control deer numbers. But that approach can be difficult in suburban areas where safety concerns and declining numbers of hunters make it less practical.

Researchers at Tufts University and collaborators have been exploring another possibility: birth control for deer.

In a study published in HumanWildlife Interactions, the team examined whether a contraceptive vaccine could provide a longer-lasting, nonlethal way to limit reproduction in suburban deer populations.

How the researchers tested a deer birth-control vaccine

To study the idea in real-world conditions, the researchers worked in Hastings-on-Hudson, a suburb north of New York City where deer had been linked to frequent car crashes and extensive landscape damage.

The team used a contraceptive vaccine called porcine zona pellucida-22 (PZP-22). Instead of changing hormone levels, the vaccine prompts the animals immune system to produce antibodies that block sperm from fertilizing eggs.

Researchers administered the vaccine by firing a small dart from a CO-powered air rifle into the deers rump. After the initial injection, some animals later received booster shots.

The study followed vaccinated deer from 2014 through 2021. During that time, scientists returned to observe the animals and track whether they showed signs of recent pregnancies, such as swollen udders or the presence of fawns.

The goal was to determine whether the newer PZP-22 formulation could last longer than earlier versions, which typically prevented pregnancy for only about a year and required frequent re-darting.

What the study found

The researchers reported encouraging results. A single initial injection appeared to remain effective for at least two years in many deer.

Among animals that received a booster shot, about 80% were still not producing fawns three years later.

However, researchers say the approach may work best in suburbs with dense deer populations where animals are easy to locate and dart safely in parks, yards, or other residential areas.

We depend on having a lot of accessible deer to make this work, Allen Rutberg, Ph.D., said in a news release. In Hastings, well often see five deer in someones front yard. In rural areas, the deer are much harder to find.

In the meantime, the study suggests that long-lasting contraceptive vaccines could become another tool communities consider when looking for ways to manage deer populations in crowded suburban environments.