Consumer News: Grocery prices show mixed movement in December

A typical buyer needs about seven years and no unexpected expenses

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Saving for a down payment remains one of the biggest barriers to homeownership in the U.S., even as housing market conditions show signs of improvement.

• In 2025, the typical U.S. household needs about seven years to save for a standard down payment, down sharply from a peak of roughly 12 years in 2022, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com.

• Despite the improvement, the timeline is still about twice as long as it was before the pandemic, reflecting higher down payment amounts and persistently weaker household savings rates.

In addition to mortgage rates and high home prices, saving for a down payment has become a significant barrier to home ownership. A new Realtor.com analysis shows that while slowing home price growth and modest gains in affordability have shortened the down payment timeline since its 2022 peak, todays buyers are still facing far steeper hurdles than before the pandemic.

The typical household now needs about seven years to save for a down payment, a meaningful improvement from the record highs reached during the height of the pandemic-era housing frenzy. At that point, intense competition and rapidly rising prices pushed the timeline into double digits, briefly stretching to well over a decade.

Even so, the current environment is far from normal. Before the pandemic, many buyers could reasonably expect to save for a down payment in just three to four years. Todays longer timeline reflects a combination of elevated home prices and weaker savings behavior.

Higher prices and intensified competition

Higher home prices and intensified competition have pushed typical down payments higher, at the same time that inflation and rising household expenses have reduced savings rates, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.

Although conditions have improved since 2022, todays timeline shows that saving for a home takes meaningfully longer than it did before the pandemic, especially in high-cost markets.

One of the biggest constraints is how much households are able to set aside. In 2025, the U.S. personal savings rate averaged about 5.1% of income, well below the pre-pandemic norm of 6.5% and far below the unusually high levels seen earlier in the decade. With less money being saved each year, it takes longer to accumulate the cash needed to buy a home.

More money is required

At the same time, the size of the typical down payment has climbed dramatically. In the third quarter of 2019, buyers typically put down about $13,900. By the third quarter of 2025, that figure had more than doubled to roughly $30,400, significantly extending the savings horizon for many households.

The impact is most severe in the nations most expensive housing markets. In high-cost coastal metros, saving for a down payment can take decades. In the San FranciscoOaklandFremont metro area, for example, the typical down payment exceeds $245,000, translating into more than 36 years of saving at current income and savings rates. Similar timelines are seen in San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where the down payment alone can rival or exceed a full year of household income.

In high-cost markets, the typical down payment alone exceeds a full year of household income, said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. That reality makes homeownership feel unattainable for many buyers, particularly younger households trying to enter the market for the first time.

The price makes a big difference

By contrast, a very different picture emerges in many Southern metros and more affordable regions. Cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, and Oklahoma City offer down payment timelines of fewer than five years, while some marketslike San Antonio or Virginia Beachrequire as little as one to two years of saving.

Military hubs stand out in particular, thanks to widespread use of VA loans, which often allow buyers to purchase with little or no down payment. In these areas, savings can be redirected toward closing costs rather than large upfront cash requirements, dramatically shortening the path to ownership.

Despite the challenges, the desire to own a home remains strong. About three-quarters of Americans still view homeownership as part of the American dream. For first-time buyers, easing rent growth in some markets may provide an opportunity to rebuild savings, while repeat buyers can use accumulated equity and savings to manage higher mortgage payments.

Nearly every category is showing impressive upgrades in technology

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

All week, technology companies have unveiled new products and visions of products for the future that have impressed attendees at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. AI and robots have gotten the most attention, but tech companies seem to have upped their game over recent years.

Some of the most talked-about innovations and product reveals from CES 2026 this week include AI, robotics, displays, wearables, laptops, and unexpected gadgets. AI integration across devices was a dominant theme its no longer just a buzzword but embedded in appliances, wearables, and robotics.

• Humanoid & home robots: LGs CLOiD aims to assist with household chores (folding laundry, interacting with smart appliances) and was a showfloor highlight.

• Boston Dynamics robots with Gemini AI: Atlas and Spot now understand more natural language and practical tasks thanks to advanced AI integration.

• AI voice assistants: Lenovo announced Qira, a personal AI assistant that learns routines across phones, laptops, and wearables.

Next-gen displays and TVs

• Massive 130 Micro RGB TV: Samsung revealed what it calls the worlds largest Micro RGB display with advanced AI picture and sound tech.

• LGs latest OLED lineup: New OLED TVs include brighter panels, ultra-thin Wallpaper designs, and the first 4K 120 Hz cloud gaming TVs powered by AI processors.

• Other major TV brands like Amazon and TCL also showcased new art and high-brightness TVs.

Laptops and PCs

• Dell XPS revival: New XPS 16 and XPS 14 laptops powered by Intels latest Panther Lake Core Ultra CPUs were introduced.

• Rollable and concept PCs: Lenovos rollable gaming laptop and auto-twist convertible designs drew attention.

• The push toward AI-enhanced PCs (Copilot+, integrated models) continues across the show.

Wearables and head-mounted tech

• AI smart glasses: Multiple AI eyewear concepts were unveiled XGIMI MemoMind glasses that look like normal eyewear and Solos AirGo V2 with multimodal AI functions.

Smart home and domestic tech

• Robot vacuums with legs: Roborocks stair-climbing vacuum was a standout on the floor.

• Smart locks & refrigerators: UWB-enabled smart locks and AI-equipped fridges with barcode scanning are emerging in the connected home space.

• Govee debuted new smart lighting products ahead of the opening.

Audio and gaming gadgets

• AI-powered headphones & accessories: Razers Project Motoko AI headphones and Corsairs Stream Deck keyboard showed how gaming gear is evolving.

Surprising and novel tech

• Unusual or fun devices: from smart LEGO Smart Brick interactive play components to quirky items like AI pets and sensory gadgets making the rounds in online coverage.

• Beauty & wellness innovations: LOral introduced a light-based hair straightener and LED face mask tech aimed at reducing damage and enhancing skin care.

Many reports from Las Vegas underscore that AI in the physical world and robotics are potentially the biggest CES themes this year, with chip makers like Nvidia/AMD and device makers pushing practical AI use cases.

The show runs through Friday, January 9.

The U-Haul Growth Index is based on more than 2.5 million annual one-way rentals

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The DallasFort WorthArlington metro area has again been named the nations top U-Haul growth metro, repeating its No. 1 ranking from last year.

• Ocala, Florida, also held onto its title as the No. 1 U-Haul growth city, matching its top finishes in 2024 and 2022.

• Texas continues to dominate metro growth, while Florida remains the clear leader among individual cities attracting new residents.

When Americans pack up and move, they continue to choose Sunbelt cities. For the second consecutive year, the DallasFort WorthArlington metropolitan area has emerged as the fastest-growing metro in the U-Haul Growth Index, reflecting the largest net gain of one-way U-Haul customers during 2025.

The ranking underscores the regions ongoing appeal to movers, even as migration patterns fluctuate nationwide.

Texas influence extends well beyond Dallas. Houston and Austin rounded out the top three growth metros, giving the Lone Star State a clean sweep of the podium. In total, six Texas metros placed among the top 25, reinforcing the states reputation as a magnet for relocation.

Other Sunbelt metros drawing strong interest from do-it-yourself movers include Charlotte, Phoenix, Nashville, Charleston, Raleigh and Atlanta. The BrownsvilleMcAllen corridor along Texas southern border also cracked the top 10, signaling continued growth in smaller but strategically important regions.

Where Americans are leaving

Several large metros reversed recent outmigration trends. San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia all posted net losses in 2024 but rebounded in 2025, finishing the year with more U-Haul equipment arriving than leaving.

At the city level, Florida once again dominated the rankings. Eight of the top 10 growth cities and 12 of the top 25 overall are located in the Sunshine State. Ocala led the list, followed by North Port, Kissimmee and Clermont. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was the only non-Florida city in the top five.

Texas placed four cities on the list, while Idaho claimed two. The rankings also introduced several newcomers, including St. Augustine, Florida; Seguin, Texas; Leesburg, Florida; Garner, North Carolina; and Lacey, Washington, highlighting emerging destinations that are beginning to attract attention from movers.

How the Index works

The U-Haul Growth Index is based on more than 2.5 million annual one-way truck, trailer and U-Box moving container rentals across the United States and Canada.

By tracking where customers pick up equipment and where they drop it off, the index offers a snapshot of migration trends, even if it does not directly measure population or economic growth.

Taken together, the latest rankings suggest a continuation of familiar themes: Texas metros remain powerful draws, Florida cities continue to lure new residents, and even long-struggling urban centers can rebound as migration patterns evolve.

The president argues that institutional buyers are driving up the cost of housing

• Trump announced plans to block large institutional investors from purchasing single-family houses

• The proposal would mark the administrations first major move aimed at easing the housing shortage

• Legal hurdles and congressional resistance could complicate any nationwide ban

President Trump says he plans to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, framing the move as a way to ease the nations severe housing shortage and make it easier for families to buy homes.

I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations, Trump said in a social-media post.

It remains unclear whether Trump can implement such a ban without congressional approval. Even if enacted, large investors would still be able to retain their existing holdings, which total hundreds of thousands of homes nationwide. Still, housing analysts quoted by the Wall Street Journal say a ban could have significant ripple effects in several major markets.

Wall Streets growing footprint in housing

Institutional investment in housing expanded after the subprime mortgage crisis began in 2007, though large investors have never owned more than a small share of the overall housing market. Estimates generally put institutional ownership at about 2% to 3% nationally.

In certain cities, however, investor ownership is far more concentrated. During the pandemic-era housing boom, investors accounted for more than 20% of all home sales in hot markets such as Houston, Miami, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Sunbelt cities in particular have attracted institutional buyers. A 2024 Government Accountability Office analysis found that large institutions owned 25% of rental homes in Atlanta and 18% in Charlotte.

Investor activity and rising prices

Investors of all sizes, including small landlords, have spent billions buying homes over the past decade. At the 2022 peak, investors purchased more than one in four single-family homes sold. Most of those purchases were made by smaller investors planning to rent out properties. Buying activity slowed sharply after mortgage rates surged.

Single-family rental companies argue that their business model allows renters to live in higher-end neighborhoods and strong school districts they might not otherwise afford.

But rising home prices and affordability pressures have fueled voter anger and bipartisan scrutiny of investor activity. Lawmakers in Nebraska, California, New York, Minnesota and North Carolina have proposed measures to restrict large investor purchases, though most efforts have stalled as lobbyists bestowed their favors on state legislators.

Home prices are up more than 50% nationally since 2019, and the median existing-home price rose to $409,200 in November. Overall home buying has slowed over the past three years as high prices and elevated mortgage rates have sidelined many buyers.

Competition with first-time buyers

Investor purchases have made it harder for some first-time buyers to compete, particularly when firms make all-cash offers. While institutions do not always bid higher, they can close quickly and typically waive repair negotiations.

Wall Street-backed firms have acquired hundreds of thousands of homes to rent, leading some analysts to argue that investor activity has reduced the supply of homes for sale and pushed up prices in certain neighborhoods.

The U.S. housing shortage is estimated at several million units, depending on methodology. Construction slowed sharply after the 200809 financial crisis, leaving builders cautious and opening the door for large investors to buy foreclosed homes in bulk.

Trump would likely face significant legal and political challenges in implementing a ban. A bipartisan Senate bill last year aimed at boosting housing supply passed unanimously but was blocked in the House by Republicans.

Democrats say they support limiting institutional homeownership but criticized Trumps approach.

Trump should start with getting his own party in the House to support a bipartisan bill to bring down housing costs that passed the Senate unanimously, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) said. And Congress should work on legislation to stop corporate investors from buying up homes.

Market reaction and next steps

Markets reacted sharply to the announcement. Shares of Invitation Homes fell about 6% Wednesday, while American Homes 4 Rent dropped more than 4%. Homebuilder stocks also declined, including D.R. Horton, which fell more than 3%.

Some rental firms are already preparing for a slowdown by shifting toward build-to-rent communities of newly constructed homes rather than acquiring existing ones.

JPMorgan expands its credit-card footprint

• JPMorgan Chase will become the new issuer of Apples credit card, absorbing about $20 billion in balances

• The deal ends Goldman Sachs troubled push into consumer lending

• Mastercard will remain the card network, preserving a major payments partnership with Apple

JPMorgan Chase has reached a deal to take over Apples credit-card program from Goldman Sachs, further cementing its position as the dominant force in U.S. credit cards and bringing an end to Goldmans costly experiment in consumer banking.

The nations largest bank will become the issuer of the Apple Card, one of the biggest co-branded credit-card programs in the country, with roughly $20 billion in outstanding balances. The companies announced the agreement Wednesday, confirming an earlier report byThe Wall Street Journal. The sides had been negotiating for more than a year, according to a Wall Street Journalreport..

A closer tie between banking and tech

The agreement draws together two of the most influential companies in finance and technology at a time when payments are increasingly embedded in phones, watches and other devices. JPMorgan gains access to a large and loyal base of Apple customers it can target with additional financial products, while Apple secures a partner with a vast consumer banking operation to help finance device sales.

Mastercard will remain the cards payment network, fending off competition from Visa and preserving the substantial transaction volume tied to the Apple partnership.

JPMorgans plans for Apple customers

As one of the largest credit-card issuers in the country, JPMorgan has decades of experience underwriting and managing card portfolios. Executives have grown confident they can absorb the Apple program and expand it over time, people familiar with the matter said.

JPMorgan will issue Apple cards to both new and existing cardholders. The bank is also planning to launch a new Apple-branded savings account. Customers who currently hold Apple savings accounts at Goldman will be able to choose whether to remain there or move to JPMorgan, the Journal said.

The transition from Goldman to JPMorgan is expected to take about two years.

The end of Goldmans consumer push

Goldman and Apple launched the Apple Card in 2019 amid significant fanfare, signaling Goldmans ambition to become a Main Street lender and diversify away from its Wall Street roots. By late 2022, mounting losses and regulatory scrutiny prompted the bank to reverse course and begin unwinding much of its consumer-lending business.

With the JPMorgan deal, Goldman closes a chapter on one of the most ambitiousand expensivestrategic shifts in its history, while JPMorgan deepens its dominance in the fast-evolving world of consumer payments.