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Flights are being canceled to reduce capacity

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and screening agents are intensifying as the federal government remains shut down.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a planned reduction of up to 10 % of flights in 40 major U.S. airports ahead of the holiday travel rush.

• Industry groups warn that without congressional action, the upcoming Thanksgiving travel season could see higher fares, more cancellations and delays, and greater passenger frustration.

The impact of the federal government shutdown is rapidly spilling into the nations airports just weeks before Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the year.

Even though flights are still operating, theyre now under strain. Thousands of air traffic controllers and screening agents with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are working without pay, and absences have surged. The FAA reports that multiple major hubs are already experiencing heightened delays and even ground-stops linked to staffing lapses.

In a major escalation, the FAA has announced a reduction in air traffic capacity up to 10 % at 40 high-volume airports unless the shutdown is resolved. Airlines and airports are scrambling to adjust schedules, and experts warn of ripple effects for holiday travelers.

Why Thanksgiving travel is especially at risk

Thanksgiving week is consistently one of the most intense windows for U.S. air travel. The industry now warns that this year, travelers may face longer wait times at security, increased chances of cancellations and delays, fewer available flight options, and likely higher ticket prices.

Industry lobby group the U.S. Travel Association joined by nearly 500 travel-sector companies has formally appealed to Congress for a swift reopening, saying travelers will pay a heavy and completely unnecessary price.

Delays and cancellations are more likely than usual: With capacity cuts looming and staffing under strain, even booked flights may be at risk of disruption. Experts suggest building in extra buffer time if you must travel.

What to do

Ticket prices could rise, and flexibility matters: Some analysts predict this travel season could be brutal, with fewer flights and upward pressure on fares.

Check your rights and stay alert: If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, contact your airline promptly for a refund or rebooking. Some disruptions caused by the shutdown may not qualify you for compensation from airports.

Consider alternatives: If flying isnt essential, some travelers may shift to trains, buses, or driving to avoid potential chaos.

For millions planning to fly over Thanksgiving, this is not business as usual. The shutdown has created a precarious moment in air travel: safety measures remain intact, but speed, convenience and reliability are under threat. The full impact will depend on how quickly Congress acts, but in the meantime, travelers should plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed rate climbed to 6.22%

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.22%, up five basis points from last week, while the 15-year rate increased to 5.50%.
• Mortgage rates are tracking the 10-year Treasury yield, which reflects inflation expectations, growth prospects and global market forces.
• Despite lower rates in recent weeks, home sales remain sluggish as buyers face rising prices and economic uncertainty, with homes taking longer to sell.

Mortgage rates are moving higher again after touching a 12-month low. Freddie Mac reports its Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.22% this week, five basis points higher than the previous week.

But Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist, is looking on the bright side.

This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22%, Khater said. On a median-priced home, this could allow a homebuyer to save thousands annually compared to earlier this year, showing that affordability is slowly improving.

Current rates

• The 30-year FRM averaged 6.22% as of November 6, 2025, up from last week when it averaged 6.17%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.79%.

• The 15-year FRM averaged 5.50%, up from last week when it averaged 5.41%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.00%.

The Federal Reserve has cut the federal funds interest rate but that has little effect on mortgage rates, which are linked to the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year yield is hovering around 4.0%-4.2% in recent trading, according to Wells Fargo Advisors.

The yield is influenced by a mix of inflation expectations, economic growth prospects, monetary policy from the Federal Reserve and global factors.

Falling mortgage rates throughout October drew buyers back to the market, but not that many. Real estate broker Redfin reports pending home sales ticked up 0.7% year over year during the four weeks ending November 2. However, its the smallest increase in four months.

Lingering on the market

Homes are also taking longer to sell. The typical home that sold in October went under contract in 48 days, the longest span for that month since 2019.

Home sales are slow despite declining mortgage rates. The weekly average mortgage rate fell to 6.17% last week, its lowest level in a year, pushing the median monthly housing payment down to $2,508, down 2.1% from a year ago.

Redfin analysts say there are a few reasons homebuyers arent biting on lower rates. Sale prices are still rising, posting their biggest increase in six months, and many house hunters are hesitant to make a major purchase amid widespread economic uncertainty.

Most house hunters arent flat-out stopping their search; instead, theyre being picky and looking for the perfect home, said Rebecca Love, a Redfin Premier agent in Washington, D.C.

Buyers are ultra-cautious with their funds because theyre worried about interest rates, the economy, and potentially losing their job. If theyre going to spend money, they want to check every boxand at the same time, they want a good deal. That means searches are taking longer than usual.

As for sellers, listings are holding steady. New listings are up 4% year over year, similar to the increases Redfin has seen over the last several weeks.

Get the Amazon price, no Prime membership required

• A bunch of major retailers will match Amazon if its the exact same item and the listing says sold and shipped by Amazon

• You just show them the live Amazon page so they can verify price, model, and that its in stock they wont match marketplace/3rd-party sellers

• Best strategy: buy where you get better returns or rewards, then watch Amazon for 230 days (depending on the store) and claim the match if the price drops

Did you know you dont have to pay for Prime to pay Amazon prices? A bunch of big-name retailers will actually match Amazons lower price on the spot. As long as its the exact same item, and it says sold and shipped by Amazon,youre golden. That means you get the low Amazon price, often with easier returns and pickup, without the $139 annual membership.

So, whenever youre shopping at any of the following stores, be sure to pull out the Amazon app on your phone and quickly see what theyre selling it for. You just might save some money with very little effort.

Here are the 12 biggest stores that currently price match Amazon along with the top brands that the retailershave in common.

Best Buy

Probably the most shopper-friendly price match on this list.

If Amazon has it cheaper and its sold/shipped by Amazon, Best Buy will match at the checkout register or via live chat online (or by calling them at 1-888-BEST-BUY).

But keep in mind that they will not price match on Black Friday weekend and no third-party sellers.

Top brands in common:Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG, Microsoft (Surface, Xbox), HP, Dell, Lenovo, Bose, JBL, Dyson, Nintendo.

Pro tip: Best Buys Holiday Price Match guarantee gives you until January 15, 2026 to price match anything bought between Oct. 31 Dec. 31.

B&H Photo

B&H makes you work a little harder for a price match. Theyll consider matching Amazon if the product is in stock, identical, and you show them the lower price.

To make it happen, youll have to contact them via chat, phone, or email and if they approve it, theyll send you a special link to buy at that price, good through the end of the business day.

Top brands in common: Canon, Nikon, Sony, DJI, GoPro, Apple, Sigma, Tamron, Fujifilm, Samsung.

Pro tip: I recommend calling them at 800-894-9703 at 9:01 a.m. EST when the lines are empty and youll get really quick service and a fast price match.

Cabelas

Cabelas (and Bass Pro, since its the same parent) will match an identical, in-stock item sold directly by Amazon, but only at the time of purchase.

If Amazon can ship it to you at that price, Cabelas can match it. In other words, Cabelas doesnt want to match a price you cant actually get. So they check: If Kyle put in his address on Amazon right now, could he buy this exact item at that price? If yes, theyll match. If no (wrong ZIP, no stock, add-on shipping), theyll probably say no.

Top brands in common: YETI, Garmin, Columbia, Under Armour, The North Face, Leupold, Vortex Optics, Bushnell, Abu Garcia, Penn, Huk.

Pro tip: Also, if youre a Cabelas Club member, not only will they match Amazon, but theyll beat their price by 5%.

Dicks Sporting Goods

Dicks has a Best Price Guarantee and Amazon is on the list of qualifying retailers. If Amazon has the exact same item (same brand, model, color, size) for less, and its in stock and sold by Amazon, Dicks will match it.

You can do it in-store, or online via live chat. They give you 14 days after you buy to come back if the price drops onAmazon.

Top brands in common: TaylorMade, Nike, Yeti, Garmin, Titleist, Callaway, Under Armour, Adidas, North Face, Columbia, Wilson, Spalding.

Pro tip: When shopping in-store, scan the barcode in the Amazon app and it will automatically pull up the Amazon price. Dicks has told me that they will not take screenshots, so make sure you show them the live link on Amazon.

Home Depot

Theyll match select online competitors like Amazon on identical, in-stock items, but only when Amazon is the actual seller. Also, they wont match Black Friday or doorbuster deals.

You just show them the Amazon page (link or screenshot), they'llverify the model/SKU, and if it checks out, they'll match the item's price. Any cashier can help you out.

To get it online, start a chat or call them at 1-800-430-3376. Just tell them you want to price match Amazon and theyll ask for the Amazon link.

Top brands in common: Milwaukee, Ryobi, Makita, 3M, Toro, Scotts, Werner, Honeywell, Husky, DeWalt, Echo, Ridgid.

Pro tip: Add the Home Depot item to your online cart first, then start a chat and drop the Amazon link. When they approve the match, you just refresh and check out.

Lowes

Same idea as Home Depot: At the time of purchase (or within 30 days), show them the Amazon price, prove its the identical item, and that its sold directly by Amazon.

When in-store, head to any open register and show evidence of the lower Amazon price on your phone. When shopping online, call Lowes at 1-877-465-6937 or start a live chat and theyll hook you up.

Top brands in common: DeWalt, Kobalt, Bosch, Dremel, Craftsman, Ring, Weber, GE, Philips, Scotts, Schlage, Chamberlain.

Pro tip: Open a Lowes chat, drop in the Amazon link, get them to adjust the price, then choose store pickup. It locks in the Amazon price before you even walk in, and you dont have to convince a busy cashier to give you a price match.

Newegg.com

Newegg will match Amazon, but only on items that have Neweggs own Price Match Guarantee badge on the product page.

If you buy something with this badge, you have 14 days to find the exact item cheaper on Amazon. At which point youll submit a Newegg claim form and theyll verify the lower price and give you the difference as a Newegg credit.

They also count the competitors shipping in the comparison, but I've been told that they wont count the free-Prime shipping perk.

Top brands in common: ASUS, Samsung, MSI, Seagate, EVGA, Western Digital, Corsair, Intel CPUs, GIGABYTE.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom will happily match an Amazon price when its the exact same item and not from a 3^rd party seller.

You just give Nordstrom the Amazon link (chat or in store), they verify it, and theyll sell it to you at the Amazon price so you still get Nordstroms return policy which is fantastic.

Top brands in common: UGG, Hunter, Steve Madden, Sam Edelman, Cole Haan, Adidas, The North Face, Columbia, Levis, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Kate Spade.

Pro tip: Grab the exact Amazon color/size link and start a chat with Nordstrom before you buy. Its way smoother to get the price match first, then check out, than to ask them to fix it after the fact.

Office Depot/Max

They flat-out say theyll match Amazon on a new, identical, in-stock item at purchase or within 14 days after you buy.

It has to be sold and shipped by Amazon (no marketplace sellers), and you can do it in-store or via live chat or by calling them at 1-800-463-3768.

Top brands in common: HP, Epson, Canon, Fellowes, TI calculators, Logitech, Microsoft, Fellowes, SanDisk, Kensington.

Pro tip: Buy it at Office Depot to earn your rewards, then watch the Amazon price for two weeks. If the Amazonprice drops, just show them the live listing and youll keep the reward points, but pay the Amazon price.

PetSmart

PetSmart will match Amazon when its the exact same pet item and the listing says sold and shipped by Amazon. They also wont match third-party marketplace sellers. When you find a price match opportunity,just show any cashier thelive Amazon page and have them verify it.

Top brands in common: Greenies, Furminator, Frontline, Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo, Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin, IAMS, Nylabone, PetSafe, Seresto (flea/tick collar).

Pro tip: I was told by a PetSmart rep that they will price match online orders only at the time of purchase. For in-store purchase, he told me that its up to the discretion of the store as to whether it has to be at the time of the sale, or if you can come back within a certain time period to get the lower Amazon price.

Staples

Staples will price match Amazon as well. Like the other retailers on this list, the item must be identical and sold and shipped by Amazon directly.

But you can only get the price match in-store. You just have to show valid proof (the Amazon link or a live price on your phone) and theyll match it at the register.

You also get 14 days after you buy from Staples to come back and say, Hey, Amazon dropped the price, and theyll refund you the difference after verifying.

Top brands in common: HP, Bose, Brother, Epson, TP-Link, Fellowes, Microsoft, Netgear, Logitech, Western Digital, SanDisk.

Pro tip: Shop Staples first, buy it, then set a 2-week price watch on Amazon. If Amazon undercuts the price just walk back in with the link.

Tractor Supply

Same story with Tractor Supply, theyll match a lower Amazon price as long as its verifiable and not from a 3^rd party seller. And they give you a liberal 30 days from the date of purchase to make it happen.

When shopping in-store, just show the lower price to an employee via the Amazon app. For online purchases, they ask that you call them at 1-877-718-6750 to get the match.

Top brands in common: Carhartt, Ariat, Wrangler, Purina, Blue Buffalo, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Gorilla Carts, Champion Power Equipment, Muck Boot Company, Georgia Boot.

Medicare to begin covering obesity drugs next year; lower prices for some uninsured patients

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agree to expand access and cut prices for Zepbound and Wegovy
Medicare to begin covering obesity drugs next year; lower prices for some uninsured patients
Move comes as part of Trumps broader push to address prescription drug costs

New deal targets high cost of obesity drugs

President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk aimed at expanding access and lowering the cost of their blockbuster obesity drugs, Zepbound and Wegovy. The deal marks the latest in a series of administration efforts to curb prescription drug prices ahead of next years election.

Under the agreement, Medicare will begin covering the drugs for obesity treatment starting in 2026. In addition, the companies plan to roll out lower prices for some uninsured patients, with starting doses of newly developed pill versions expected to cost $149 a month if approved by regulators.

The prices for GLP-1 drugs would also be lower for Americans who use cash to buy them through a new government website that is expected to direct people to drugmaker direct-to-consumer programs.

The specific prices Americans will pay, and when those price changes will kick in, will vary based on where people get their prescriptions Medicare, Medicaid, or through a direct-to-consumer program.

For Medicare and Medicaid, if states opt in drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound will be $245 a month. For Medicare, the copay will be $50, Politico said.

This will save lives, improve the health of millions and millions of Americans, Trump said during an Oval Office announcement, referring to the GLP-1 medications as fat drugs, according to a Washington Post report.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been critical of the weight-loss medications, said the deal will help push down costs related to health conditions such as diabetes and cardiac disease.

If we want to solve the chronic disease crisis, we have to tackle obesity, Kennedy said.

Obesity drugs popularity soars amid cost barriers

Zepbound and Wegovy belong to a class of treatments known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic natural hormones that regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. Clinical trials show the drugs can help patients lose between 15% and 22% of their body weightoften more than 50 pounds.

Despite their success, access has been limited. The treatments can cost around $500 a month for higher doses, and insurance coverage has been inconsistent. Until now, Medicare had covered the drugs only for conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease, not for obesity itself.

Sales of Eli Lillys Zepbound have tripled this year to over $9 billion, reflecting booming demand. Yet many patients have struggled to afford ongoing treatment, which doctors say must continue indefinitely to maintain weight loss.

Broader effort to rein in drug prices

Thursdays deal follows a series of recent administration moves targeting high drug costs. Earlier this year, Pfizer and AstraZeneca agreed to reduce prices for certain Medicaid-covered prescriptions after a Trump executive order gave drugmakers a deadline to voluntarily cut prices or face new federal payment limits.

Still, experts caution that the impact on consumers may vary depending on insurance coverage and market competition. While the announcement could bring relief to some patients, it remains to be seen whether it will significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for most Americans.The impact on people with private insurance, which is a majority of Americans, is unclear. A senior administration official said both companies have committed to lower those costs as well.