Consumer News: Shrinkflation isn’t slowing down — It’s just getting harder to spot

Earning six figures sounds like you've made it, but today's home prices and mortgage rates tell a different story

• $100K may not be enough: Redfin estimates buyers now need to earn about $109,800 a year to afford the typical U.S. home.

• Upfront costs add up: A 15% down payment on a $434,100 home is about $65,000, and that doesn't include closing costs.

• Location changes everything: A six-figure salary can provide solid buying power in some areas but fall far short in expensive markets.

Panda Express has an admirable way of measuring whether some of its employees are succeeding.

The company's co-founder and co-CEO Andrew Cherng told NBC News that he keeps track of how many Panda Express managers earn at least $100,000 a year, and whether they're able to buy a home.

It's definitely a worthy goal, especially as he uses it as a gauge for his own success. There's just one problem: In 2026, even a $100,000 salary may not be enough to afford the typical American home.

Here's what the numbers actually look like.

$100,000 isn't quite the homebuying salary it used to be

Redfin recently calculated that an American needs to earn about $109,800 a year to afford the typical U.S. home for sale. That's roughly $10,000 more than Panda's six-figure benchmark.

Redfin defines "affordable" as spending no more than 30% of income on the monthly housing payment and assumes a 15% down payment.

Meanwhile, the median existing home sold for $434,100 in July, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Mortgage rates, of course, aren't helping. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.66% as of Aug. 27, according to Freddie Mac. A year earlier, it was 6.56%.

That means earning $100,000 certainly doesn't make homeownership impossible. But it no longer automatically puts a typical home comfortably within reach.

Then there's the cash you need before getting the keys

The monthly mortgage payment is only half the story.

Consider a $434,100 home. A 15% down payment would be about $65,000. Put down 10%, and you're still looking at more than $43,000.

And then come closing costs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says they typically run another 2% to 5% of the purchase price, separate from your down payment.

On a $434,100 home, that's roughly $8,700 to $21,700.

Suddenly, a buyer earning $100,000 could need tens of thousands of dollars in cash before making their first mortgage payment.

Pro tip: Don't make your savings goal simply "the down payment." Estimate the down payment, closing costs, and moving expenses. Then leave yourself an emergency fund for the inevitable expense that shows up after you get the keys.

Your $100K salary isn't the only number lenders see

Two people earning exactly $100,000 can have dramatically different homebuying power.

Why? Because of debt.

Mortgage lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, which compares your monthly debt obligations with your gross monthly income.

Fannie Mae guidelines generally cap DTI at 36% for manually underwritten loans, although borrowers who meet certain requirements can go as high as 45%. Loans run through Fannie Mae's automated underwriting system can allow up to 50%.

So a $600 car payment, $400 in student loans, and $300 in minimum credit-card payments can eat into the mortgage payment you can qualify for.

Pro tip: Ask a lender to run the numbers before you're ready to buy. Find out whether putting another $10,000 toward your down payment or eliminating a monthly debt would improve your buying power more.

Where you live changes everything

There's another huge flaw in treating $100,000 as a universal homeownership benchmark: your ZIP code.

In some parts of the country, six figures can still provide plenty of buying power. In the San Francisco Bay Area, $100,000 obviously doesnt come close to affording the typical home, which requires a salary close to $445,000.

But consider Phoenix, which is a much more typical example. Redfin's latest analysis found that a household needs to earn about $118,500 a year to afford the typical Phoenix-area home.

That's nearly $20,000 more than Panda's $100,000 benchmark.

And Phoenix isn't alone. In Dallas, Redfin puts the required income at about $118,900, while Austin buyers need roughly $132,600, and Denver buyers need about $157,100.

Meanwhile, $100,000 can still be enough in markets like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

The lesson isn't that someone earning $100,000 shouldn't try to buy a home. It's that "I make six figures" and "I can afford a house" are often no longer the same statement.

How does $100K compare with other fast-food managers?

Panda Express isn't the only fast-food chain where managing a restaurant can turn into a six-figure career.

In-N-Out Burger has long had a reputation for paying its store managers well. Current Indeed estimates put the average In-N-Out store manager salary in California at about $116,800 a year. That's considerably more than managers typically make at some other major chains.

Chipotle says its general managers have the potential to earn about $93,100 in base pay and bonuses, while employees who advance to its "Restaurateur" position can reach about $116,100 in base pay, bonuses, and equity benefits.

At Taco Bell, meanwhile, Indeed currently estimates average general manager pay at about $58,200 a year, although compensation can vary considerably because many restaurants are operated by franchisees.

The comparison puts Panda's $100,000 milestone into perspective.

A six-figure salary is still exceptional for a fast-food restaurant manager. But even workers who climb into that relatively elite income bracket can discover that today's housing market has moved the goalposts.

And for many of the managers who make closer to $60,000, buying a typical U.S. home can be considerably harder.

The bottom line: When deciding whether you can afford a home, don't use salary alone as the determining factor. Instead, its smart to start with the home prices where you actually live, then plug in today's mortgage rate, add taxes and insurance, and work backwards to determine the income and savings you'll really need to make it happen.

New research finds hormonal differences among coffee drinkers too

• People who drank more coffee had lower levels of body fat and visceral fat despite having similar BMIs.

• Higher coffee intake was associated with differences in metabolism and sex hormones, particularly among men.

• The study found associations, not proof, that drinking coffee directly causes these changes.

For many people, coffee is simply part of the morning routine. But new research from the University of Oulu in Finland suggests that how much coffee people regularly drink may be linked to several markers of metabolic health and to differences in sex hormones.

The study found that people who reported drinking more coffee tended to have less total body fat and visceral fat, along with more skeletal muscle mass, even though their body mass index (BMI) was similar to that of people who drank less coffee. Higher coffee consumption was also associated with lower levels of certain branched-chain amino acids, which have previously been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes when chronically elevated.

"Coffee is consumed by millions of people every day, yet we still know surprisingly little about how it relates to our metabolism and hormones, researcher Luca Verroest said in a news release. What stood out in our findings was a distinct hormonal signature that didn't disappear even after we took into account BMI and lifestyle factors, with several of these associations differing between men and women.

How researchers studied coffee drinkers

Researchers analyzed data from 2,264 people who were part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. All of the participants were 46 years old when the data was collected in 2012, and 47% were men.

Participants reported how many cups of coffee they typically drank each day. Researchers grouped them into non-coffee consumers, people drinking one to two cups daily, moderate coffee consumers drinking three to four cups, and high coffee consumers drinking five or more cups per day.

The researchers then compared coffee consumption with measurements including body composition, blood glucose and insulin, cholesterol, metabolites, and sex hormones. They also adjusted their analyses for factors including BMI, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.

What the findings could mean for coffee drinkers

The researchers found some notable differences between people who drank more and less coffee.

In men, higher coffee intake was associated with a more favorable glucose-insulin profile, as well as higher levels of total and bioavailable testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). At the same time, free testosterone and the free androgen index were somewhat lower.

Women showed fewer hormonal associations, although higher coffee consumption was linked with higher SHBG and lower measures of free androgens. The researchers also found that higher coffee consumption was associated with lower levels of branched-chain amino acids in both men and women.

Theres an important catch, though: This was a cross-sectional observational study, meaning researchers looked at existing patterns rather than assigning people to drink a certain amount of coffee. So the findings cannot establish that coffee itself caused the differences.

The researchers say future studies will need to determine whether coffee drives these changes and which compounds might be responsible.

Many Americans still believe longer antibiotic courses are safer, even as medical guidance continues to evolve

• Nearly nine in 10 Americans surveyed said they believe its important to always finish a prescribed antibiotic course.

• About 60% preferred taking antibiotics for seven days or longer rather than a shorter three- to five-day course.

• Researchers say patients should talk with their clinicians about the appropriate length of treatment rather than relying on the old always finish your antibiotics rule.

If youve ever been prescribed antibiotics, youve probably heard the same advice: Take the entire prescription, even if you start feeling better. Its a message that has been repeated for years by doctors and public health campaigns.

But medical thinking about antibiotic treatment has evolved. Research has found that shorter courses can be just as effective and sometimes safer than longer ones for many common bacterial infections. That means the old idea that everyone should always complete a long course of antibiotics doesnt apply to every situation.

A new study from researchers at the University of Utah and the University of Alabama at Birmingham looked at how well Americans understand those changing recommendations. The findings suggest that the older message remains deeply ingrained.

Historically, there was very strong guidance by major health organizations and clinicians that you must always finish the course, researcher Alistair Thorpe, PhD, said in a news release.

Now, were seeing a growing body of evidence saying that that is not always the case. And oftentimes, shorter durations of antibiotics are as effective and safe as longer alternatives.

How the study worked

Researchers surveyed 1,475 U.S. adults online between March and April 2024. Participants were at least 18 years old and were recruited through Dynata, which compensated them for taking part.

The survey asked participants which antibiotic treatment they would feel more comfortable taking for a bacterial respiratory infection, such as pneumonia: a shorter course of three to five days or a longer course of at least seven days.

Participants also answered questions about whether they had been told to always finish their antibiotics, whether they had been told they could stop taking them when they felt better, and how they viewed the safety and effectiveness of different treatment lengths.

Most people still favor longer courses

The majority of respondents 60.4% said they would prefer a course lasting at least seven days, compared with 39.5% who preferred three to five days. More than 60% also viewed longer courses as safer and more effective.

Meanwhile, 88.4% agreed that its important to always finish a prescribed antibiotic, even after they begin feeling better. About three-quarters of respondents who had received that advice said it came from a medical professional.

The researchers say these beliefs may be partly explained by how often Americans have heard the traditional message. But they emphasize that antibiotic recommendations can change as researchers learn more.

For consumers, the takeaway isnt to stop an antibiotic early on their own. Instead, the researchers recommend having a conversation with your clinician about the appropriate treatment length for your particular infection and when you should stop taking the medication.

Evidence is growing and guidance is evolving on antibiotic use, which is a normal process and a good sign that we are working to improve how we provide care, Dr. Thorpe said.

Our knowledge about how best to use antibiotics has changed, but it has changed because were learning more, and its important that we make sure we are communicating this well to the public.

A new study finds the popular diabetes medications may not make stopping insulin more likely

• A Yale-led study looked at whether GLP-1 drugs could help people with type 2 diabetes stop using insulin.

• Researchers analyzed three years of health records from nearly 9,000 matched groups of veterans with type 2 diabetes.

• People taking GLP-1 drugs stopped insulin at about the same rate as those taking two other types of diabetes medications.

GLP-1 drugs have become a major topic in diabetes care, and previous research has found that these medications can reduce how much insulin some people need. But a bigger question remains: Can they actually help people with type 2 diabetes stop taking insulin altogether?

A new study led by researchers at Yale School of Medicine examined that question. The researchers compared people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists with people taking two other types of oral diabetes medications to see whether GLP-1 treatment was associated with higher rates of insulin discontinuation.

Insulin can be an effective treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, but it also comes with daily injections, frequent monitoring, and the possibility of low blood sugar reactions. That makes the possibility of safely reducing or stopping insulin an important question for some patients.

How did researchers study it?

The researchers used electronic health record data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. They created 8,869 matched sets of veterans with type 2 diabetes who were already using basal insulin and had started treatment with one of three types of medications: a GLP-1 receptor agonist, an SGLT-2 inhibitor, or a DPP-4 inhibitor.

The groups were matched based on similar health characteristics, allowing researchers to compare insulin discontinuation rates across the different treatments. The researchers then followed the patients' records for three years.

For the study, stopping insulin was defined as having a gap of at least 12 months between insulin prescription fills. Most people receiving GLP-1 treatment in the study were taking semaglutide, dulaglutide, or liraglutide.

What did they find?

Over the three-year follow-up period, 16.7% of people who started a GLP-1 drug discontinued insulin. That compared with 17.9% of those taking an SGLT-2 inhibitor and 17.1% of those taking a DPP-4 inhibitor. Researchers did not find a comparative advantage for GLP-1 drugs when it came to stopping insulin.

That doesn't mean GLP-1 drugs can't reduce insulin needs. Instead, the study suggests that simply adding a GLP-1 medication does not necessarily make a person more likely to stop insulin than taking the other medications studied.

It's very complex, researcher Kasia Lipska, M.D., MHS, said in a news release. Patients often add or switch medications over time, so it becomes very difficult to disentangle.

The researchers also pointed out some limitations. This was not a randomized clinical trial, and patients' treatments could change over time. In addition, people in the study did not advance to the full doses of GLP-1 drugs currently available, which may have affected the results.

For consumers, the findings also highlight a less-discussed issue: There isn't a standard approach for knowing when and how to safely withdraw insulin. According to the researchers, more guidance may be needed to help clinicians determine when reducing or stopping insulin is appropriate.

Most training for diabetes care is about starting and adjusting dose, not stopping or withdrawing, Dr. Lipska said.

The lesson may be that prescribing a GLP-1 receptor agonist is only the first step. If we want to help people safely come off insulin, we also need to know when and how to withdraw it. Right now, clinicians have very little guidance for doing that.

Local XChange lets buyers and sellers use secure USPS lockers instead of arranging an awkward meetup with a stranger

• USPS Local XChange lets local buyers and sellers exchange items without meeting face-to-face.

• The seller pays a flat $5.51 fee and leaves the item inside a participating USPS Smart Locker.

• It doesn't protect you from payment , so sellers are encourages to complete the sale and make sure they've been paid before putting anything in the locker.

Selling something on Facebook Marketplace typically ends with one slightly awkward question: "Where do you want to meet?"

Maybe it's a grocery store parking lot. Maybe it's outside a coffee shop. Or maybe you give a complete stranger your home address and hope they're normal.

The U.S. Postal Service now has another option.

Its new Local XChange service allows local buyers and sellers to complete the physical handoff using a USPS Smart Locker meaning the two people never have to meet.

The cost: $5.51, paid by the seller.

For anyone who's ever sat in a parking lot wondering whether the Marketplace buyer is actually going to show up, it could be five bucks well spent.

Exactly how it works

The seller first completes the transaction with the buyer, including payment, and gets the buyer's name and email address.

Then the seller signs into a free USPS.com account, uses Click-N-Ship to find a participating Smart Locker and pays the $5.51 fee.

Package the item, take it to the selected locker, and drop it inside. Once the locker closes, USPS emails the buyer a QR code.

The buyer goes to the locker when it's convenient, scans the code, and retrieves the item.

No coordinating schedules. No stranger coming to your house. And no sitting in your car wondering if the person who said "I'll be there in five minutes" actually means 25.

Many USPS Smart Lockers are also accessible 24/7, although some are available only during Post Office lobby hours.

The big catch: USPS isn't handling your payment

Local XChange handles the handoff, not the actual transaction. USPS specifically instructs sellers to complete the transaction, including payment, before using the service.

So don't put a $300 phone in a locker because someone emailed you a screenshot supposedly showing that they paid.

Always be sure to verify that the money is actually in your account first.

The service also won't protect you from fake-payment emails, overpayment , or someone asking you to send money back.

Pro tip: Never rely on a payment confirmation sent by the buyer. Open Venmo, PayPal, or whatever payment service you're using yourself and verify the transaction there.

Is $5.51 worth paying?

That depends entirely on what you're selling.

For a $10 lamp, probably not.

But if you're selling a $200 phone, collectible, pair of sneakers, or other higher-value item, paying $5.51 to avoid meeting a stranger might suddenly sound pretty reasonable.

It could also be useful when your schedule doesn't line up with the buyer's. The seller can drop off the item when convenient, and the buyer doesn't have to arrive at the same time.

Know the locker rules

There are some limitations worth knowing.

The Smart Locker must be within 50 miles of the seller's return address, and the item has to be able to fit inside. USPS says the largest locker compartment is generally 22.5 by 19.5 by 14.5 inches, although some locations have smaller maximum sizes.

Items also need to be properly packaged in a box or polybag.

And Local XChange is currently a pilot available only at participating Post Offices with Smart Lockers, so don't assume your local Post Office offers it yet.

Don't leave your purchase sitting there

Buyers have five days after receiving their notification to retrieve the package using the QR code. If the buyer misses that window, the USPS will remove it from the locker and hold it at the counter.

The buyer then gets another 10 days to pick it up with photo identification. After 15 days total, USPS will send the package back to the seller.