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Some outlet deals are incredible others are mostly marketing

• Outlet malls can still save you a ton of money, but a lot of the stuff is made just for outlets and sometimes feels cheaper than regular retail versions.

• The best outlet shoppers skip the front displays, hit the clearance racks first, and focus on stuff like shoes, basics, luggage, and kitchen gear.

• Just because a sign says 70% off does not automatically mean its a great deal. Sometimes the same item is cheaper online or at Costco.

Outlet malls still have this reputation where people assume everything is automatically a bargain.

But outlet shopping has changed a lot over the years.

A huge percentage of outlet inventory today is actually made specifically for outlet stores, meaning it was never sold in the regular retail store to begin with. Some products are lower quality versions designed to hit cheaper price points, while others are true overstock, clearance items, or past-season inventory.

The trick is learning how to spot the difference. Because if you know how outlet malls actually work, you can still save a ridiculous amount of money on some products.

Learn the difference between 'made for outlet'and real retail leftovers

This is probably the biggest outlet secret casual shoppers still do not realize.

Many outlet stores now carry merchandise manufactured specifically for outlet locations. That means the product may look similar to what you see at the regular mall, but the materials, stitching, fabric weight, or overall construction can be cheaper.

Some brands are very transparent about this. Others make it harder to tell.

A few clues:

• Tags with extra symbols or dots often indicate outlet-specific items. For example, J.Crew and Ann Taylor both have two small dots under their logo signifying they'reoutlet items.
• Factory-store labels sometimes include words like Factory, Outlet, or Made for Outlet.
• Outlet-only items may have simpler construction, thinner fabrics, or fewer details.
• If every single item in the store seems fully stocked in every size, that is usually a clue it was produced specifically for the outlet.

That does not automatically make it bad. In fact, outlet-made products can still be perfectly fine if the price is good enough. The key is simply understanding what you are buying.

Pro tip: Look for racks labeled Compare At versus Original Price. Compare At pricing is often marketing language, while Original Price more commonly refers to merchandise that was actually sold at traditional retail locations.

Shop the back wall first

Veteran outlet shoppers almost always head straight to the clearance section before looking anywhere else. This is because most outlet stores will often layer their discounts.

Even though you may already be shopping discounted inventory, the clearance section is where you find the extra markdowns, additional percentage-off stickers, and take an extra 60% off promotions.

The back wall or rear corners of many outlet stores are where the real treasure hunting happens. This is especially true at athletic brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and Puma.

Pro tip: Shopping early in the morning or midweek usually gives you the cleanest clearance racks before they get picked over.

Always ask about additional discounts

Outlet stores often stack discounts more often than traditional retail stores.

For example, many outlet centers have customer service desks that hand out coupon books with extra store-specific savings. Tourists often know about these better than locals, as a surprising number of shoppers never ask.

Some stores will also apply extra discounts simply for signing up for texts or emails while standing at the register. The Nike Factory store is fairly famous for this.

It can feel annoying in the moment, but saving another 15% off a $200 purchase takes the sting out a little.

Pro tip: Before shopping at the outlets, I like to search the outlet mall's website itself. Youll be amazed how many centers have hidden coupon pages on their site that most shoppers never check.

Know which categories are usually worth buying at outlets

Not everything at outlet malls is a good deal. But some categories consistently offer excellent savings.

Athletic wear and shoes

In terms of savings, this is probably the strongest outlet category overall.

Specifically, check out the outlet stores for brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Merrell, Converse, and Vans. All of these brands frequently send their older colors, discontinued styles, and overstock inventory into their outlet locations.

This means you can often save 30% to 60% compared to mall or online pricing.

If you dont care whether your running shoes are last seasons color or style, outlet stores can be an incredible place to save money.

Kitchen gear

Just last week, my daughter was bragging to me about a Le Creuset pie dish she got st the outlet store for 65% off the original price.

Stores like Le Creuset, Kitchen Collection, Calphalon, Cuisinart, and cookware outlets can offer major savings on discontinued colors, damaged packaging, or seasonal inventory.

Sometimes the box might be beat up a little bit, but the product inside is perfectly fine.

Luggage

Outlet luggage stores are one of the more underrated categories when it comes to potential savings.

Samsonite, TUMI, and similar brands often discount older styles heavily, especially during travel slowdowns during the winter months.

Basics

Stuff like t-shirts, socks, underwear, workout gear, and kids clothing are often where outlet shopping makes the most financial sense. Especially for your fast-growing kids. Try to take advantage of back-to-school specific sales for savings in the 30-50% off range.

Pro tip: Politely ask employees when they tend to get new inventory. Many outlet stores get fresh clearance inventory on specific weekdays, and employees will sometimes casually tell you when the best markdowns hit the floor if you simply ask nicely.

Be careful with those 'fake urgency'sales

One of the oldest outlet mall tricks is making every sale feel like it's going away tomorrow, only to be replaced by full-retailprices.

You'll often see signs everywhere screaming:

• TODAY ONLY!
• EXTRA 70% OFF!
• LAST CHANCE!
• FINAL HOURS!

But many outlet stores run what feels like near-constant promotions. That giant weekend sale often magically continues next weekend too.

Smart shoppers slow down and check the actual final price, not the percentage-off sign.

Because sometimes an outlet item marked 70% off is still more expensive than buying similar quality elsewhere.

Pro tip: Use your phone to quickly compare prices online while standing in the store. Many shoppers are shocked to discover the outlet deal costs more than Amazon, Costco, or the brands own website.

Watch for quality differences in luxury outlets

Some luxury outlet stores carry authentic past-season inventory from retail stores, while others tend to carry lower-tier products designed specifically for outlets.

Thats why two handbags that look almost identical, may feel completely different in quality. Things like leather texture, hardware, stitching, and lining materials can vary a lot.

For example, shoppers at stores like Coach Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, and Kate Spade Outlet may notice that some bags feel slightly different from what is sold in traditional mall locations.

The smartest approach is to focus less on the logo and more on the actual quality. If something feels cheaply made, the deal may not really be worth it.

Pro tip: Dont ignore outlet stores near wealthy vacation areas. Outlet malls near places like Palm Springs, Aspen, or Orlando often get higher-end overflow inventory simply because nearby shoppers tend to return or exchange more expensive merchandise.

Chrysler, Vespa, and International Motors are part of this week's recall roundup

As the weather heats up, consumers can protect against tick bites

• CDC data shows emergency room visits for tick bites are running higher than usual across much of the United States this year.

• Health officials say people should take extra precautions outdoors, especially in grassy, wooded, or brush-filled areas.

• Simple habits like using insect repellent, checking for ticks after being outside, and showering soon after coming indoors can help lower the risk of bites.

Emergency room visits connected to tick bites are climbing earlier and faster than expected this year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency says weekly ER visits for tick bites are currently higher than whats normally seen during this time of year, especially in parts of the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions.

The CDC tracks these visits through its Tick Bite Data Tracker, which helps health officials monitor seasonal trends and potential disease risks.

Experts say tick bites often increase during warmer months when people spend more time outdoors hiking, gardening, walking pets, or doing yardwork. Ticks can spread illnesses including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis, making prevention especially important during peak season.

"Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick, Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist and Lyme disease expert with CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, said in a statement.

The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors: You can wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, do tick checks, and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible. These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks. And if you develop a rash or fever in the days to weeks after a bite, or after being in an area with ticks, seek medical care promptly."

Preventing tick bites

Health officials are encouraging people not to panic, but to stay aware. Even a quick walk through tall grass or leaf-covered areas can expose someone to ticks. The CDC says taking a few preventive steps before and after outdoor activities can make a big difference.

Here are some tips from the CDC:

• Avoid areas where ticks are commonly found. This includes wooded, brushy, or grassy spaces with leaf litter. If youre hiking, staying in the center of trails can help reduce contact with ticks waiting on plants or tall grass.

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents. Look for ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or 2-undecanone.

• Dress for success. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and clothing treated with permethrin, as this may offer additional protection when spending extended time outdoors.

• Check yourself. Check your body, clothing, gear, and pets for ticks as soon as possible after coming inside.

• Shower quickly. Showering within two hours of being outdoors may help wash away unattached ticks and make it easier to spot them.

• Put clothes in the dryer.Using high heat can kill ticks that may still be attached to fabric.

With tick activity already unusually high this season, health experts say awareness and prevention are the best tools people have to reduce their chances of getting bitten.

New guidance says school breaks help kids learn and thrive

• The American Academy of Pediatrics says recess is critical for childrens health, learning, and emotional well-being.

• Updated guidance recommends protecting recess time for students of all ages, including teens.

• Experts say breaks during the school day help children focus, manage stress, and retain information better.

For years, recess has often been treated as extra time in the school day something that can be shortened, skipped, or taken away when academic pressures rise. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that approach may be hurting students more than helping them.

In a newly updated policy statement the first in over a decade the group argues that recess is a necessary part of healthy child development and academic success, not simply a break from learning. The guidance, published in the journal Pediatrics, is the organizations first major update on recess in 13 years and reflects newer research on learning, stress, memory, and social development.

Recess should look different as children get older, but it remains just as essential for a middle- or high-school student as they move from the playground to more social experiences, Robert Murray, MD, FAAP, a lead author of the policy statement from the AAP Council on School Health, said in a news release.

Research tells us that breaks from classroom instruction help students of all ages to reset, focus better, and manage stress when they return to learning.

The new guidance

According to the policy, students benefit from regular breaks during the school day because the brain needs time to process and retain new information.

The AAP says recess gives children and teens an opportunity to reset mentally, move their bodies, and interact socially in ways that classroom instruction alone cannot provide.

The updated guidance emphasizes that recess matters for students of every age, not just younger children. While older students may spend recess differently than elementary schoolers, the organization says middle and high school students still benefit from stepping away from structured academic work.

Researchers cited in the policy found that breaks can improve concentration, reduce stress, and support emotional well-being when students return to class.

The AAP also recommends that recess be treated as protected personal time and not taken away as punishment because of academic performance. The organization points to evidence showing that physical activity and unstructured social interaction can support memory retention, confidence-building, and relationship skills.

The guidance notes that recess can include many different types of activities, from active outdoor play to quieter social interaction indoors.

What this means for consumers

For families, the updated recommendations may offer reassurance that play and downtime are not distractions from learning. Instead, pediatric experts say they are part of the learning process itself.

Parents may also see this guidance as encouragement to ask schools how recess is handled, whether breaks are protected, and how students are supported socially and physically throughout the day.

The policy ultimately frames recess as a basic support for childrens overall development one that helps students learn more effectively while also supporting their mental and physical health.

Savvy shoppers know when trusted brands are worth buying

• A new consumer survey found Americans continue to trust familiar brands like Walmart, Aldi, Tide, and Kraft the most in 2026.

• Experts say shoppers can use trusted-brand rankings as a quality guide, while still comparing unit prices, testing store brands, and waiting for sales.

• Many trusted household and food brands see their biggest discounts during warehouse-club promotions, Target Circle offers, and Subscribe & Save deals online.

A new consumer survey is revealing the brands Americans trust the most in 2026, and while familiar names continue to dominate, experts say shoppers can use the rankings strategically to avoid wasting money and make some smarter buying decisions.

The annual BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, conducted with Newsweek, surveyed more than 35,000 U.S. shoppers across hundreds of categories including groceries, cleaning supplies, restaurants, airlines, and health products.

Here are three of the biggest standout categories from the report along with some money-savings tips.

Grocery stores shoppers trust most

In the grocery and affordability categories, shoppers heavily favored low-price retailers where they feel they get the most bang for their buck.

The top trusted grocery winners included:

• Walmart Strongest overall for affordability, promotions, and pickup services.
• Aldi Dominated discount grocery categories nationwide.
• Trader Joe's Ranked highly for smaller-format grocery shopping.
• Safeway Most trusted conventional supermarket in the western U.S.
• Kroger Strongest traditional supermarket in the Midwest.

Actionable tip: Trust and price do not always mean the same thing. Walmart and Aldi scored high largely because shoppers consistently feel they are getting the best value. But its smart to always compare unit prices because even trusted stores can quietly raise prices on convenience items and packaged foods.

Household brands shoppers rely on most

Cleaning and household products remain one of the strongest areas for your long-established brands.

Some of the biggest winners included:

• Tide Won multiple laundry categories
• Lysol Dominated disinfecting and bathroom cleaning
• Charmin Top bathroom tissue brand
• Bounty Most trusted paper towels
• Ziploc Leader in food storage bags

Pro tip: Trusted cleaning brands frequently go on deep discounts during warehouse-club promotions, Target Circle deals, and Amazon Subscribe & Save events. That is often the best time to stock up instead of paying full grocery-store prices.

Food brands Americans trust most

Many shoppers still lean heavily toward legacy food brands when buying their pantry staples.

Top trusted food brands included:

• Heinz Ketchup
• Quaker Oatmeal
• Kraft Macaroni & cheese and multiple cheese categories
• Barilla Pasta
• Jif Peanut butter

But keep in mind that these trusted food brands are also where shoppers often overpay simply out-of-habit.

For example, many store-brand pantry items are made in the same factories as the more expensive name-brand yet they often get overlooked as inferior. They typically taste nearly identical, yet they sell for significantly less money.

Actionable tip: Consider testing generic or store-brand versions one category at a time instead of switching everything at once. Pantry staples like pasta, canned vegetables, spices, and baking products are often the easiest place to save money without anyone in your household noticing a difference.

The bottom line

The survey indicates that shoppers still rely heavily on familiar brands during uncertain economic times. But the smartest shoppers tend to use trusted brands as a quality guide and not an excuse to stop comparing prices or testing out store-brands.

In many cases, the best strategy is buying trusted products only when they are heavily discounted, or when you can stack coupons, or when you can buy them in bulk and save.