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Consumer Daily Reports

Details: Written by Consumer Affairs News; Category: Consumer Daily Reports; Published: 14 August 2025; Created: 14 August 2025; Last Updated: 14 August 2025

Heres what shoppers need to know when their favorite in-store beauty section closes next year

August 14, 2025

Ulta and Target will end their in-store beauty partnership when the current agreement runs out in August 2026.
Until then, you can still shop Ulta Beauty at Target stores and online, and continue earning linked rewards.
Both brands promise a smooth transition, with Ulta launching its own online marketplace and Target continuing to offer a strong beauty lineup.

If youve been a fan of the Ulta Beauty section inside Target stores, the days of shopping both stores in one are officially numbered.

Ulta and Target announced that they have mutually decided not to renew their shop-in-shop agreement, which means the Ulta-in-Target experience will officially end when the contract wraps up in August 2026.

However, theres no need to worry just yet! Until then, everything still operates as usual, both in stores and online. Plus, if you've linked your Ulta Beauty Rewards with your Target Circle account, those earned perks continue until August 2026.

For 35 years, Ulta Beauty has revolutionized how people experience beauty bringing together an unmatched assortment from mass to luxury and our partnership with Target was one of many unique ways we have brought the power of beauty to guests nationwide, Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief retail officer, Ulta Beauty, said in a news release

As we continue to execute our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plans, were confident our wide-ranging assortment, expert services and inspiring in-store experiences will reinforce our leadership in beauty and define the next chapter of our brand.

What Shoppers Should Know

Shopping and Rewards Still WorkUntil 2026

From now through August 2026, Ulta Beauty at Target remains fully operational. You can still stroll into your local Target (or browse the mobile app or website) and get all the Ulta-branded makeup, skincare, fragrance, and more plus earn Ulta Rewards if your accounts are linked.

What Ulta Has Planned

Ulta isnt going away its focusing on growing its own game. The retailer highlights its long-standing presence (about 1,500 stores across the U.S.) and its plan to launch the Ulta Beauty Marketplace later this year, a curated online hub to bring in new brands and audiences. Essentially, Ulta is steering shoppers toward its own platforms, where rewards, a vast product mix, and salon services stay front and center.

Whats Next for Target

Target is keeping its beauty game strong. Even after the Ulta section closes, Target promises to maintain an up-to-date beauty selection beauty essentials, brand-new finds, fun product trials, and sharp pricing. The takeaway: beauty at Target stays convenient and fresh, even without the Ulta branding.

A Smooth Transition Ahead

Both companies want consumers to know that this will be a seamless hand-off. They pledge to preserve product availability and a smooth shopping experience through the end of the partnership, plus ensure support for their teams and partners during the transition.

Were proud of our shared success with Ulta Beauty and the experience weve delivered together, Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Target, said in the news release.

The magic of shopping for beauty at Target is the combination of on-trend products that delight consumers with an inspiring and convenient shopping experience. We look forward to whats ahead and remain committed to offering the beauty experience consumers have come to expect from Target one centered on an exciting mix of beauty brands with continuous newness, all at an unbeatable value.

Posted: 2025-08-14 18:13:15

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Consumer News: Capital One to pay $425 million over savings account settlement

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:07:08 +0000

ustomers of Capital Ones 360 Savings account may be eligible for compensation.

By Truman Lewis

of ConsumerAffairs

August 14, 2025

$425 million class action deal: Customers of Capital Ones 360 Savings account may be eligible for compensation.
Alleged $2 billion in lost interest: Regulators said Capital One froze rates at 0.3% while competitors and its own newer account paid much more.
Claims deadline Oct. 2: Settlement awaits court approval, with a final hearing set for Nov. 6.

If you had a Capital One 360 Savings account between September 2019 and June 2025, you may soon be entitled to a payout. The bank has agreed to a $425 million settlement to resolve allegations that it misled customers about the returns on its flagship savings product.

The settlement follows a 2024 class action lawsuit filed by customers in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Earlier this year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also sued Capital One, charging that the bank cost consumers more than $2 billion in lost interest. Although the CFPB dropped its case in February, the class action moved forward leading to this large settlement.

What Capital One was accused of

Capital One heavily marketed its 360 Savings account as a high-interest, variable-rate product that would pay among the nations best yields. In practice, however, the bank allegedly froze rates at just 0.3%, even as national interest rates climbed rapidly during 2022.

Meanwhile, Capital One launched a separate 360 Performance Savings account, which eventually offered rates as high as 4.3%. Customers of the older 360 Savings account were never notified of the newer, higher-earning option, according to filings.

The CFPB called the banks earlier advertising false or otherwise misleading.

Who qualifies for payment

Anyone who held a Capital One 360 Savings account between Sept. 18, 2019, and June 16, 2025 qualifies for settlement payments.

How much will customers receive

Payments will be based on what account holders would have earned if their money had been in the 360 Performance Savings account during the same period.

In addition, customers who still maintain a 360 Savings account will see their interest rates raised. Under the terms of the settlement, the account will now earn a rate that is at least twice the national average savings rate, as calculated by the FDIC.

Key dates

Oct. 2, 2025: Deadline to submit a claim or file objections.
Nov. 6, 2025: Court hearing scheduled for final settlement approval.

Consumer News: America’s drinking habits hit a record low, Gallup poll finds

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:07:07 +0000

More Americans now view moderate drinking as harmful to health

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs

August 14, 2025

Only 54% of U.S. adults now say they drink alcohol the lowest level Gallup has ever recorded in its nearly 90-year history.
For the first time ever, a majority (53%) believes that moderate drinking (one or two drinks a day) is bad for ones health up significantly from earlier years.
Even among those who do drink, consumption is down: just 24% had a drink in the past 24 hours, and the average number of drinks per week is a record-low 2.8.

For the first time in Gallups nearly nine-decade tracking, only 54% of American adults say they drink alcohol.

Thats a dramatic drop from the 60%+ range that held steady from 1997 all the way up to 2023.

The decline has been sharp: 62% in 2023, then 58% in 2024, and now down to 54% in 2025. Those earlier dip levels were rare only once before in all that time making this the most sustained fall Gallup has ever seen.

What the Findings Mean for Consumers

Drinking Isnt as Popularor Frequent

Fewer people are drinking, and those who are are doing so less often. Only 24% of drinkers had a drink in the past day, and a whopping 40% had not touched alcohol in over a week. That puts the average number of drinks per week among all adults at just 2.8, the lowest since 1996.

Moderation Is Harmful Is the Majority View

Gallups poll reveals that 53% of Americans now believe moderate drinking is bad for health and this is the first time ever that more people feel this way. By contrast, just 6% think moderate drinking is good for health, while 37% say it makes no difference. This marks a dramatic shift from earlier years when many thought moderate drinking had health benefits.

Changes Across Demographics

The drop in drinking is happening broadly but its sharper in some groups. Womens self-reported drinking fell 11 points, to 51%; men dropped 5 points, to 57%. Among young adults (1834), only 50% now drink, down from 59% a couple of years ago. Republican drinkers also fell sharply (19 points, to 46%), while Democrats stayed relatively steady (61%).

Final Take for Consumers

Whether youre rethinking your own habits or just curious about bigger trends, the data show a clear cultural and personal shift. Not only are fewer people drinking, theyre doing it lessand importantly, theyre increasingly questioning whether even moderate alcohol use is worth it.

Consumer News: Social Security hits 90 and it's feeling its age

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:07:07 +0000

The program is running short of funds as the senior population grows and fewer workers contribute

By Truman Lewis

of ConsumerAffairs

August 14, 2025

Social Security turns 90 years old today (August 14) but many seniors current and future fear for its future, as longer lifespans and ailing pension programs threaten the economic wellbeing of millions.

PresidentFranklin Delano Rooseveltsigned the program into law in 1935 during the Great Depression. Today, it provides benefits to 70 million retired workers, disabled workers, and their families, with thenumber expected to increase to 82 million people by the time Social Security turns 100.

"Social Security helps tens of millions of Americans stay out of poverty and retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. For more than 40% of older Americans, Social Security is their primary source of income. And for many people, Social Security is the only inflation-protected income they have in retirement," said Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO of AARP. "As we look ahead to the next 90 years of Social Security, its critical that it remains strong for generations to come."

But while an AARPsurveyshows that67% of Americans view Social Security as more important to retirees today than five years ago, Americans increasingly say theyre concerned about its future. Confidence in the future of Social Security has declined by 7% in the last five years, from 43% in 2020 to 36% in 2025.

Payments falling behind

Besides those who fear the program won't survive for another generation, current recipients say that payments are falling behind the cost of living. "Too many seniors are struggling to make ends meet. Cost of Living Allowances(COLAs) havent kept up with real inflation, and monthly payments simply dont stretch far enough," said Edward Cates, chairman of the Senior Citizens League.

His group is calling on Congress to authorize aone-time make-up paymentto all Social Security recipients.

"This isnt without precedent. In 2009 and 2010, when COLAs were frozen, Congress approved a one-time $250 payment to help recipients cope. If it was justified then, its justified now. Especially after years of high inflation and rising costs," Cates said in an email.

The funding challenge

Social Security is funded mainly through payroll taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). But demographic shifts longer lifespans, lower birth rates, and the retirement of the massive baby boomer generation mean fewer workers are paying into the system for each retiree drawing benefits.

In 1960, there were more than five workers per beneficiary; today, there are around 2.7, and that ratio is expected to shrink further. Combined with slower wage growth and widening income inequality, the payroll tax base is under stress.

Policy analysts have laid out potential fixes, including:

Raising or eliminating the cap on taxable income (in 2025, earnings above $168,600 are exempt from Social Security tax).
Gradually increasing the payroll tax rate shared by employers and employees.
Adjusting the full retirement age or benefit formulas for higher earners.
Diversifying trust fund investment strategies to potentially increase returns.

Each option comes with trade-offs that have made reform politically difficult, despite overwhelming public support for the program.

A 2024 survey found over 90% of Americans across party lines support Social Security and want lawmakers to strengthen it, not cut benefits. Still, political divisions have stalled decisive action.

Democratic lawmakers have backed proposals to expand benefits by taxing higher incomes, while some Republican proposals focus on limiting the growth of future benefits and encouraging private retirement savings. Without a compromise, experts warn, retirees could face automatic benefit cuts within a decade.

Consumer News: Lawsuit challenges Starbucks' '100% ethical sourcing' of its coffee

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:07:07 +0000

Starbucks moved to dismiss the suit but the motion was denied.

By Truman Lewis

of ConsumerAffairs

August 14, 2025

Judge rejects dismissal motion: A Washington, D.C. Superior Court ruled the National Consumers Leagues (NCL) case against Starbucks can move forward.
Claims of misleading sourcing: NCL alleges Starbucks falsely markets its coffee and tea as 100% ethically sourced.
Focus on transparency: The consumer group says the lawsuit is about protecting the publics right to truth in product claims.

The National Consumers League (NCL) secured a key legal win in its battle against Starbucks after a District of Columbia Superior Court judge denied the coffee giants motion to dismiss a high-profile lawsuit. The case, filed in January 2024, challenges Starbucks longstanding claims that its coffee and tea are 100% ethically sourced.

This decision is a major step forward, said Sally Greenberg, NCLs CEO, in a statement. Consumers have a right to truthful information under Washington, D.C. law. NCL will pursue our case holding Starbucks accountable as we fight for the consumers right to truth, transparency, and basic human rights in the products they consume.

The case against Starbucks

NCL alleges that Starbucks marketing does not reflect the reality of its supply chain. According to the lawsuit, some farms linked to the companys suppliers have been connected to child labor and other serious labor abuses, directly contradicting Starbucks 100% ethical claims.

The consumer advocacy group says Starbucks has engaged in delay tactics for more than a year and a half, but the courts ruling clears the way for the case to finally proceed.

Why this matters

The lawsuit is being closely watched because it tests how far companies can go in using ethical sourcing claims without facing legal consequences. If successful, NCLs case could set a precedent for holding major corporations accountable for the accuracy of their sustainability and social responsibility statements.

The courts order denying Starbucks motion to dismiss is now public, and NCL has vowed to press ahead in discovery and trial preparations.

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Consumer Daily Reports

Consumer News: Ulta and Target to end in-store partnership in 2026

Heres what shoppers need to know when their favorite in-store beauty section closes next year

What Shoppers Should Know

Shopping and Rewards Still WorkUntil 2026

What Ulta Has Planned

Whats Next for Target

A Smooth Transition Ahead

Listen to this article. Speaker link opens in a new window.Text To Speech BETA Test Version.

More News From This Category

ustomers of Capital Ones 360 Savings account may be eligible for compensation.

What Capital One was accused of

Who qualifies for payment

How much will customers receive

Key dates

More Americans now view moderate drinking as harmful to health

What the Findings Mean for Consumers

Drinking Isnt as Popularor Frequent

Moderation Is Harmful Is the Majority View

Changes Across Demographics

Final Take for Consumers

The program is running short of funds as the senior population grows and fewer workers contribute

Payments falling behind

The funding challenge

Starbucks moved to dismiss the suit but the motion was denied.

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