H-E-B ranks No. 1 in Dunnhumbys ninth annual Retailer Preference Index, taking the top spot among U.S. grocery chains.
Value, quality, and emotional connection drove H-E-Bs lead as shoppers continue to prioritize affordability without sacrificing experience.
Regional grocers outperformed national rivals, underscoring the growing importance of local relevance and trust.
H-E-B has been named Americas top grocery chain in Dunnhumbys ninth annual Retailer Preference Index (RPI), a closely watched ranking that measures how well retailers are meeting evolving consumer expectations.
The Texas-based grocer claimed the No. 1 position by outperforming competitors across key drivers such as price, quality, promotions, and customer experience.
Dunnhumbys RPI is based on extensive shopper research and evaluates retailers on both financial fundamentalsincluding price and promotionsand emotional connections, such as trust and brand affinity. This years results highlight a grocery landscape still shaped by inflation-conscious consumers who are carefully balancing budgets while demanding more from the brands they frequent.
Not just low prices
H-E-B continues to show that value isnt just about low prices, the study found, pointing to the chains strong private-label offerings, localized assortments, and reputation for community engagement. Those strengths helped H-E-B stand out in an environment where shoppers are increasingly selective about where they spend their food dollars.
The 2025 Index also revealed a broader shift in shopper preferences. Regional and mid-sized grocers generally performed better than large national chains, suggesting that proximity, personalization, and relevance are becoming more important than sheer scale. Retailers that demonstrated clear price leadership, meaningful promotions, and consistent in-store execution were more likely to earn shopper loyalty.
Conversely, retailers perceived as slow to respond to price sensitivity or lacking differentiation struggled to maintain preference, even if they remain convenient options. According to Dunnhumby, winning retailers are those that clearly communicate value while reinforcing trust at every touchpointfrom shelf pricing to digital engagement.
As grocery competition intensifies, the latest Retailer Preference Index sends a clear message: consumers are rewarding retailers that combine smart pricing with quality, authenticity, and a strong emotional bond. For now, H-E-B is setting the standardand giving competitors a clear benchmark to chase.
Couponing at Sams Club is all about strategy (not clipping),using Instant Savings, knowing the timing, and tracking prices to know when deals are actually worth it.
Smart shoppers stack savings by combining Instant Savings with rebates from apps like Ibotta and even vendor checks to push prices lower.
The biggest savings come from discipline: only buying true bulk deals, using the app to plan ahead, and avoiding impulse purchases that cancel out discounts.
Couponing at Sams Club doesnt look anything like traditional grocery store couponing.
You cant use stacks of paper manufacturer coupons and there are no extreme coupon hauls. And thats exactly why most shoppers assume theres nothing to game, but thats not entirely true.
The savings at Sams are baked into the pricing, promotions, and timing. And if you dont understand how it works, youll overspend without realizing it.
1. Master Instant Savings at Sams (this is your foundation)
Instant Savings are the closest thing Sams Club has to actual coupons and theyre definitely where most of your savings will come from.
These are pre-loaded discounts for specific items that:
Automatically apply at checkout
Rotate products every few weeks
Often range from $3 to $20+ off bulk items
Theyre heavily promoted in-store, and the products with a discount have a yellow shelf tag with the words Instant Savings in bold letters. Theyre hard to miss.
You can also find them on their website, their app, and in their monthly savings book. Before you head to Sams, I highly recommend downloading their appand checking out the current items with Instant Savings.
With that said, many shoppers dont realize that not every Instant Savings deal is a stock-up deal.
How experienced shoppers approach this:
They track price cycles:Many staple items like detergent, paper towels, and snacksgo on sale on a predictable cycle (typically every six to 10 weeks.)
They dont buy just because its on sale:If something is discounted but still higher than previous sale prices, theyll wait unless they absolutely need the product right now.
They buy in volume only when it makes sense:The biggest savings come from buying at the lowest price point per-unit, not just any discount that looks like it could be a deal.
Pro tip: I like to keep a running note in my phone of good prices for the items I buy the most often. Then over time, Ill know instantly whether something is worth stocking up on or not.
2. Stack savings with Ibotta rebates (this is where real value happens)
This is the most overlooked part of Sams Club shopping.
Even though traditional coupons arent accepted, you can still use a cashback rebate app like Ibotta to save money at Sams.
Aside from their Instant Savings, Sams Club rarely discounts items, but when you use Ibotta rebates, you can easily push prices significantly lower than traditional grocery stores.
How to earn cash back in-store with Ibotta:
Find Sams Club in the Ibotta app:Search for Sams Club in the Ibotta app and select the in-store option.
Add your offers:Browse available deals and tap (+) to add them to your list before shopping.
Shop like normal:Buy the items in-store and check out as you usually would.
Upload your receipt:Submit your paper Sam's receipt through the app after your purchase.
Get your cash back:Cash back is typically credited to your Ibotta account within 72 hours.
Important: Scan & Go purchases at Sams are not eligible for cash back with Ibotta. You must submit a paper receipt to get your rebate.
Pro tip: Build a quick habit of always scanning Ibotta before you head to Sams (or while youre in the aisle). It takes less than a minute and can save you a surprising amount over the course of a year.
3. Sams accepts 'vendor checks'
Vendor checks are similar to manufacturer coupons in that the maker of the product creates them, but they actually look like check, not a coupon.
And unlike manufacturer coupons, Sams Club absolutely accepts them.
Brands where youll see these include:
Enfamil
Similac
Gerber
Purina
Youll often receive them in the mail, or when you get home from the hospital with a new baby, or when you adopt a new puppy or dog from a shelter.
Examples include:
Save $5 off any Enfamil product
Save $30 off any infant formula over $30 from Similac
Save $10 off any dog food from Purina
Also, keep in mind that vendor checks cannot be used with Scan & Go, as they need to be ran through the check reader at a checkout register.
4. Know when bulk pricing actually works (this is where most people fail)
Im not afraid to say itbuying in bulk doesnt automatically save you money.
Sams Club feels cheaper because of the volume aspect, but the math doesnt always support it.
When bulk works:
You know youll use the product consistently.
The unit price is clearly lower.
Its a non-perishable item.
When it doesnt:
You dont finish it before it expires.
Its not discounted via Instant Savings or Ibotta.
Its simply a nice-to-have purchase and not a necessity.
Smart shoppers always checkthe following:
Price per ounce/unit
Competing store sales
Household consumption rate
Pro tip: If its not on sale and not a staple, its probably smart to skip it. Most overspending at Sams Club happens when you let your guard down and start deviating from your shopping list.
5. Use the Sams app like a couponing tool
The Sams Club app is one of the most powerful and underused tools for saving money.
Inside the app, you can:
Browse Instant Savings before you shop
Scan items in-store to verify pricing
Access online-only deals
Create lists so you can track your most-shopped products
How smart shoppers use the app
They pre-plan their trip and their meals. They check deals before entering the store so they know exactly whats worth buying.
They price-check everything: Sometimes the shelf tag doesnt reflect the latest discount. Youd be surprised how often this happens.
They use Scan & Go: This avoids checkout lanes, as you can finish your transaction right from any aisle in the store.This also helps you avoid last-minute impulse buys, as they tend to put those towards the front of the store near checkout.
Pro tip: Treat the app like your digital coupon binder. If its not in your favorites list, dont buy it.
Cannabis-related pet exposures are on the rise, with cases doubling in recent years as more households keep THC products at home.
Edibles pose added dangers from toxic ingredients like chocolate and xylitol to packaging that can cause serious blockages.
Quick action and honesty with your vet are critical, and safe storage is the best way to prevent emergencies in the first place.
With cannabis use becoming more mainstream, its showing up in more places than just adult routines. For pet owners, that shift is bringing an unexpected risk: a growing number of dogs and cats accidentally ingesting THC.
Veterinarians say these cases arent rare anymore. In fact, new data from Veritas Veterinary Partners shows cannabis-related pet toxicity cases have doubled in recent years, as more households keep edibles, oils, and other products within reach. And while many incidents are unintentional, the impact on pets can be serious and frightening.
To better understand whats behind the trend and how pet owners can keep their animals safe we spoke with Dr. Allison Rohde Newgent, DVM, DACVS, Medical Director of Greater Staten Island Veterinary Services, about the risks, warning signs, and what to do if exposure happens.
Know the signs
If you have cannabis in your home, its important to know the signs and symptoms that your pet may have been unintentionally exposed.
Dr. Rhode Newgent shared the biggest signs to look for:
Unsteadiness
Lethargy
Drooling
Vomiting
Changes in behavior, like unusual sensitivity to sound.
In reality, most owners dont come in saying my pet ate cannabis, Dr. Rhode Newgent said. They come in because their dog is wobbly, disoriented, and clearly not acting like themselves, and we have to decipher what that could mean.
The biggest risks for your pets
How you consume cannabis can also impact your pet. For example, edibles pose a unique risk for household pets.
The biggest risk with edibles isnt always the THC, Dr. Rhode Newgent explained. As a board-certified veterinary surgeon, Im often more concerned about the packaging than the cannabis itself.
Wrappers and containers dont pass easily, and well see cases that come in as suspected toxicity that turn into a gastrointestinal obstruction requiring surgery. On top of that, many edibles contain ingredients like chocolate or xylitol (which has been rebranded as birch sugar or birch sap), which are also toxic to pets
Be transparent with your vet
The Veritas Veterinary study found that nearly 40% of pet owners are too embarrassed to tell their vets the truth about whats going on with their pets. However, Dr. Rhode Newgent says this can only increase the risks to your pets health.
All treatment is more effective when pet owners lead with transparency, no matter the health issue, she said. If we dont have an accurate history, it can delay diagnosis and make it harder to choose the most effective treatment quickly.
Theres no judgment in these situations; our only priority is the pet. The more information we have upfront, the faster and more precisely we can act.
Safe storage is key
If you do have cannabis in any form in your home, Dr. Rhode Newgent recommends safe storage to ensure pet safety.
If your dog can reach it, they can eat it, she said. Treat cannabis like you would medication: locked up, out of reach and never left out. Edibles are especially risky because they smell like food, so keep them in secure containers and dispose of packaging right away.
Additionally, if you have any concerns about your pet, go to the vet as soon as possible.
If you think your pet got into cannabis, dont wait, Dr. Rhode Newgent said. Call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline and head in. Keep your pet calm and prevent further access, but skip home remedies. Getting guidance early makes a big difference. Most pets do well with prompt care, but evaluation by a veterinarian is still important.
Fear is driving silence: A growing number of Americans are avoiding phone calls altogether, with 82% ignoring even important calls due to concerns about .
AI is raising the stakes: Deepfake voice and increasingly convincing texts are making it harder to tell whats real and shaking trust in everyday communication.
Avoidance comes at a cost: Skipping unknown calls can mean missing doctors, family, or work opportunities, highlighting the need for smarter ways to spot and handle .
If youve started ignoring calls from unknown numbers or even letting familiar ones go to voicemail youre definitely not alone. For a growing number of Americans, the simple act of answering the phone has become a gamble.
New survey data from Truecaller shows that AI-powered are making people more hesitant than ever to pick up, with many reporting real financial losses and a lingering sense that theyre not fully protected. As these become more convincing and harder to spot, everyday communication is starting to feel less routine and a lot more risky.
ConsumerAffairs spoke with Clayton LiaBraaten, Senior Executive Industry Expert at Truecaller who explained that this shift isnt just about annoyance anymore its about trust.
Why arent consumers answering their phones?
According to LiaBraaten, the primary driver for many consumers not answering the phone is a pervasive fear of that has reached a breaking point.
Our latest data shows that 82% of Americans now ignore important calls specifically because they are afraid of being defrauded, he said. This isn't just about avoiding a nuisance anymore; it has evolved into a communication paralysis. 75% of respondents reported being targeted by a scam call or text in just the last 12 months. In those 12 months, one in four respondents fell victim to a scam that cost them money, with 7% losing more than $250.
The rise of AI-powered deepfakes is a major catalyst. Since 30% of people have already received a deepfake voice call impersonating a loved one or official the public is no longer sure who is really on the other end. The pattern shows a decline in confidence, as 84% of consumers are more concerned about these threats than they were only a year ago, leading to a massive spike in call avoidance.
How do you handle the influx of scam calls?
While most of us have gotten used to ignoring unknown numbers, LiaBraaten says that method is becoming a double-edged sword.
We are seeing people screen out real life, along with the , he said. The cost of silence is evident, in that 82% of respondents admit they have ignored important calls or texts out of fear. These can be communications from doctors, family members, teachers, etc.
This also extends to working professionals; for the 33% of Americans who heavily rely on phone communication for their work, this avoidance has real professional consequences, such as a loss of new business leads. Simply hitting decline isn't a sustainable solution; its a symptom of a trust crisis that stops the flow of essential information. You shouldn't have to miss an important doctor's appointment or a new business lead because of fear.
What should you do?
LiaBraaten offered some of his best tips for helping consumers tackle the growing scam call issue:
Slow down. The most powerful move you can make is to slow down. Scammers rely on urgency and panic to override your good judgment.
Do your due diligence. If a caller claims to be from an official agency (like the IRS or a bank), hang up. Manually enter the official website in your browser, or call a verified number to check the claim.
Ask questions. Never be shy to ask a question; request the callers name and license number. If they use high-pressure tactics or threats of arrest, it is a scam.
Keep personal information personal. It is also crucial to never share sensitive personal or financial information and never click links in unsolicited texts. AI has created a landscape where a suspicious call may sound like your local official or a text may seem legitimate; further scrutiny will reveal it's a scam, socially engineered to exploit your time constraints, whether you're a working professional or a parent balancing family responsibilities.
Report . Always report fraudulent attempts to the FTC or your state's Attorney General. You can help authorities track patterns and protect more members of the community.
Party City is making a comeback by launching inside Staples locations, bringing party essentials to more than 700 stores nationwide.
The partnership turns Staples into a one-stop shop, combining balloons, dcor, and supplies with custom printing for invitations, banners, and signage.
The real benefit for shoppers is convenience helping reduce last-minute trips, control spending, and plan events more efficiently in one place.
When Party City officially closed all stores in early 2025, we thought it might be the end for the party supply store.
Well, theyre officially back, and theyve teamed up with Staples to bring party supplies directly into more than 700 Staples stores nationwide, with plans to expand further by the end of 2026.
The goal is to turn Staples into a one-stop shop where you can plan and execute an entire event in one place.
Whats actually changing in Staples
While youre not going to find the same vast selection at Staples that you could find in a standalone Party City store, youll find all the core essentials you need.
Shoppers can now find:
Balloons (including helium-filled options ready to go)
Party dcor, tableware, and favors
Gift bags and accessories
And since youre already in Staples, their existing print services are still front and center, which means you can also create:
Custom invitations
Banners and posters
Yard signs and party signage
The hope is that customers will use the partnership to create both the fun and functional sides of a party, or event, in a single stop.
Why this matters for consumers
Convenience is the obvious win, but theres more to the story than just that.
Events like graduations, birthdays, and baby showers tend to create last-minute spending. You forget something, make another trip, and end up buying more than you planned.
By combining Party City products with Staples services, this setup can reduce that scatter spending.
Youre more likely to:
Plan everything at once
Stick to a clearer budget
Avoid extra impulse purchases from multiple stores
Where you can actually save money
Keep in mind that this partnership isnt automatically cheaper, but it definitely gives you more control over how you spend.
Heres where the savings can show up:
Fewer last-minute trips. Its not rocket science that every extra store visit you make increases the chances of impulse spending. By creating a one-stop shopping experience, youre much less likely to buy stuff you dont necessarily need.
Custom vs. pre-made items. By using Staples print services for invitations and signage, youll often save money, as they tend to be cheaper than buying premium pre-made versions elsewhere.
Built-in promotions. Theyve created some launch deals like discounted balloons, low-cost party supplies, and major discounts on custom prints which can help lower your overall costs.
The more you organize and plan ahead of time, the more you can potentially save.
Smart ways to use it
To get the most out of this new setup, a little strategy goes a long way:
Plan your entire event before you go:Make a list of everything you need. Think decor, signs, and invitations; that way you can knock it all out in one trip.
Use print services for personalization:Custom banners or signs can elevate your event without the higher price tag of specialty party stores.
Pre-order when possible:Balloon pickup scheduling is rolling out, which can save time and help you avoid day-of stress.
Set a budget before you walk in:Because everything is in one place, its easy to overspend if youre not paying attention.
The bigger picture
This move signals a shift for both Staples and Party City.
Staples is expanding beyond just office supplies into everyday life moments, while Party City is finding new ways to reach customers in physical stores.
For shoppers, that means fewer errands and potentially fewer headaches.
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has filed a lawsuit accusing Meta of failing to protect users from widespread scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
The suit alleges Meta misled users about its anti-fraud efforts while profiting from fraudulent ads that proliferated on its platforms.
Meta denies the claims, saying the allegations misrepresent its work and that it will fight the lawsuit.
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming the social media giant failed to adequately protect users from scam advertisements, and misled the public about its efforts to combat fraud.
Filed in Washington, D.C., the complaint claims Meta allowed fraudulent ads to proliferate across Facebook and Instagram while publicly asserting it was cracking down on . The lawsuit focuses specifically on scam advertising such as fake government benefit offers and misleading financial promotions rather than direct person-to-person fraud.
According to the CFA, Metas practices violate consumer protection laws by understating the risks users face and overstating the companys enforcement efforts. The group alleges Meta knowingly adopted policies that increased revenue at the expense of user safety and misled consumers about the prevalence of on its platforms.
The lawsuit also points to evidence that scam ads remain easy to find through Metas own advertising tools and libraries, suggesting enforcement gaps. Critics have argued that such ads frequently promote offers that appear too good to be true, including fake stimulus payments or government giveaways.
CFA is seeking financial damages as well as changes to Metas advertising and moderation practices.
Meta pushes back
Meta has denied the allegations and signaled it will contest the case.
These allegations misrepresent the reality of our work and we will fight them, a Meta spokesperson said in response to the lawsuit.
The company says it has taken significant steps to combat , including removing millions of fraudulent ads and accounts. Meta maintains that it aggressively enforces its policies and continues to invest in systems designed to detect and prevent before they reach users.
The lawsuit adds to growing pressure on Meta from regulators and advocacy groups over scam advertising. A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general has previously urged the company to strengthen oversight of ads and improve safeguards for users, citing persistent fraud despite existing controls.
Consumer advocates argue that online have become a major economic threat, with losses reaching into the tens of billions of dollars annually, and that platforms like Meta play a central role in how such schemes spread.
The CFAs legal action underscores increasing frustration among consumer groups, who say enforcement and policy responses have not kept pace with the scale of online fraud.
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