Consumer News: Gas prices have resumed their decline, providing motorists with some relief

Why the day you buy gas matters more than you think

• Fill up on Sunday. GasBuddy says Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most states, while Wednesday through Friday are usually the most expensive.

• Avoid price spikes. If prices jump, waiting a few days could save 15 to 45 cents per gallon in states with weekly price cycles.

• Stack your savings. Compare prices with gas apps, use fuel rewards, and check warehouse club stations for even bigger discounts.

If you fill up whenever your gas gauge gets low, you could be paying more than necessary.

According to a new analysis from GasBuddy, Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most U.S. states, while Wednesday through Friday tend to be the most expensive. Simply shifting your fill-up by a day or two could save you $0.04 to $0.09 per gallon without changing anything else about your routine.

That may not sound like much, but over the course of a year, those savings can really add up especially for commuters or families with multiple vehicles.

Why gas prices change during the week

GasBuddy analyzed a year's worth of fuel prices and found that many stations follow a predictable weekly pricing pattern. In many markets, prices gradually climb during the workweek, before easing as the weekend approaches.

Some states including Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and parts of the West Coast experience what's known as price cycling. Prices jump sharply on one day, then slowly fall over the following several days. If you can avoid filling up right after one of these spikes, you may save $0.15 to $0.45 per gallon by waiting until prices settle back down.

Six easy ways to save at the pump

• Fill up on Sunday: If your schedule allows, make Sunday your regular gas day. Many people commute Monday through Friday, so stations in many markets gradually increase prices during the workweek. By Sunday, prices have often drifted lower after competing for weekend business. If you cant get to the station on Sunday, Monday is often another good option while Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday tends to be the most expensive days to fill-up.

• Use a gas price app: Before leaving home, check an app like GasBuddy, Upside, or AAA Mobile to compare nearby gas stations. As youve probably noticed, prices can vary significantly, even between stations located across the street from each other.

• Don't wait until your tank is nearly empty: Keeping at least a quarter tank of gas gives you the flexibility to wait for a lower-priced day instead of filling up during an expensive midweek spike.

• Stack your discounts: Use grocery store fuel rewards, warehouse club gas stations, gas rewards credit cards, or cashback apps to lower your final price even further.

• Watch for price spikes: If gas prices suddenly jump and you have enough fuel to wait a few days, you may be able to catch the next downward swing, particularly if you live in a state with price cycling.

• Compare warehouse club prices: If you already shop at Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's, check their gas prices before filling up. They're often $0.10 to $0.30 per gallon cheaper than nearby stations, though it's still worth comparing prices to make sure the savings justify any extra driving or waiting.

The actual increase will be announced in October

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Senior Citizens League now projects a 3.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, up from this year's 2.8%, reflecting higher inflation.

• The advocacy group says even a larger COLA would still leave many retirees struggling, with average Social Security benefits well below estimated monthly living costs.

• A new TSCL survey finds 44% of older Americans now rely entirely on Social Security for retirement income, the highest share reported by the organization.

A stronger-than-expected increase in Social Security benefits may be on the horizon next year, but a seniors advocacy group warns it still won't be enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said its latest estimate puts the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at 3.8%, one full percentage point above the 2.8% COLA beneficiaries received this year. The projection follows the latest inflation data, which showed continued price pressures as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), the inflation gauge used to calculate Social Security's annual adjustment.

The COLA, which will be announced in October, is based on the CPI-W data for July, August, and September.

If the forecast proves accurate, the average monthly retirement benefit would rise by about $77, increasing from approximately $2,026 to $2,103 beginning in January 2027.

But TSCL argues that the increase would still fall well short of what many retirees need to cover basic expenses.

Essential costs keep rising

According to the organization, the estimated monthly cost of living for a single older adult is roughly $2,700, including average housing costs and other essential expenses such as food, transportation, and healthcare. That leaves the average Social Security benefit hundreds of dollars below what many seniors need to meet everyday expenses.

The group's newly released 2026 Senior Survey paints a picture of growing financial dependence on the program. It estimates that 24.8 million older Americansabout 44% of retireesnow rely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income, up from 39% a year earlier.

The survey also found that 57% of seniors live on less than $2,000 per month, while 13% survive on less than $1,000 monthly, levels TSCL says leave millions vulnerable to poverty and financial hardship.

Delaying medical care

"We're seeing inflation on the rise when more than half of seniors already can't afford basic living standards," TSCL Executive Director Shannon Benton said in a statement, adding that many older Americans are forced to delay medical care because of costs.

Benton said a larger COLA may sound encouraging compared with this year's adjustment but argued it does not erase the gap between retirees' incomes and their actual living expenses. She called on Congress and the White House to consider increasing Social Security benefits beyond annual inflation adjustments.

While TSCL updates its projection monthly, economists caution that the estimate could still change depending on inflation trends over the coming months. A cooling in prices could lower the final adjustment, while persistent inflation could push it higher before the official announcement in October.

The measure requires a single price for all consumers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• New Jersey lawmakers have approved the Fair Price Protection Act, making the state the second in the nation to ban surveillance pricing at grocery stores.

• The bill would prohibit retailers and grocery delivery platforms from using consumers' personal data to charge different shoppers different prices for the same food items.

• Supporters call the measure a consumer protection against AI-driven price discrimination, while critics warn it could complicate loyalty programs and personalized discounts.

New Jersey is on the verge of becoming the second state in the nation to outlaw "surveillance pricing," a controversial practice in which retailers use consumers' personal data to determine individualized prices for groceries.

The New Jersey Legislature last week approved the bipartisan Fair Price Protection Act, sending the measure to Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who is expected to sign it into law. If enacted, the law will take effect one year after signing.

The legislation would prohibit grocery stores and third-party grocery delivery platforms from using artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other technologies that rely on consumers' personal information to set different prices for identical food products. The ban also applies to pricing based on data gathered through electronic surveillance, including shopping histories, online activity, biometric information, genetic information, and certain protected characteristics.

Abuse of modern technology

"Surveillance pricing is an abuse of modern technology where artificial intelligence sets different prices for different customers," said state Sen. Joe Cryan, one of the bill's sponsors. "Retailers hurt consumers at a time when families already struggle to pay their bills."

The legislation also imposes a one-year moratorium on the installation of new electronic shelf labels, or digital price tags, in grocery stores while the state studies whether the technology could facilitate rapid, individualized price changes. Stores that already use the labels would be allowed to continue using them.

Surveillance pricing has drawn growing scrutiny from lawmakers, privacy advocates, and consumer groups who argue that advances in AI and data analytics could allow retailers to charge shoppers based on what algorithms predict they are willing or able to pay rather than offering a single price to everyone.

Prices based on personal data

Unlike traditional dynamic pricing, which adjusts prices based on supply and demand, surveillance pricing relies on personal information such as browsing behavior, purchase history, location, or demographic data to tailor prices to individual consumers.

New Jersey follows Maryland, which earlier this year became the first state to prohibit surveillance pricing for grocery purchases. Several other states, including New York, are considering similar legislation, reflecting growing concern over AI-driven pricing practices.

Consumer advocates praised the New Jersey measure as an important safeguard against discriminatory pricing. Business groups, however, argue the legislation could have unintended consequences.

They contend that restrictions on using customer data may make it more difficult to offer targeted coupons, loyalty rewards, and other personalized discounts that many shoppers value. Lawmakers say the bill includes exemptions intended to preserve legitimate loyalty programs and broadly available discounts while prohibiting discriminatory pricing practices.

The actual increase will be announced in October

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Senior Citizens League now projects a 3.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, up from this year's 2.8%, reflecting higher inflation.

• The advocacy group says even a larger COLA would still leave many retirees struggling, with average Social Security benefits well below estimated monthly living costs.

• A new TSCL survey finds 44% of older Americans now rely entirely on Social Security for retirement income, the highest share reported by the organization.

A stronger-than-expected increase in Social Security benefits may be on the horizon next year, but a seniors advocacy group warns it still won't be enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said its latest estimate puts the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at 3.8%, one full percentage point above the 2.8% COLA beneficiaries received this year. The projection follows the latest inflation data, which showed continued price pressures as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), the inflation gauge used to calculate Social Security's annual adjustment.

The COLA, which will be announced in October, is based on the CPI-W data for July, August and September.

If the forecast proves accurate, the average monthly retirement benefit would rise by about $77, increasing from approximately $2,026 to $2,103 beginning in January 2027.

But TSCL argues that the increase would still fall well short of what many retirees need to cover basic expenses.

Essential costs keep rising

According to the organization, the estimated monthly cost of living for a single older adult is roughly $2,700, including average housing costs and other essential expenses such as food, transportation and healthcare. That leaves the average Social Security benefit hundreds of dollars below what many seniors need to meet everyday expenses.

The group's newly released 2026 Senior Survey paints a picture of growing financial dependence on the program. It estimates that 24.8 million older Americansabout 44% of retireesnow rely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income, up from 39% a year earlier.

The survey also found that 57% of seniors live on less than $2,000 per month, while 13% survive on less than $1,000 monthly, levels TSCL says leave millions vulnerable to poverty and financial hardship.

Delaying medical care

"We're seeing inflation on the rise when more than half of seniors already can't afford basic living standards," TSCL Executive Director Shannon Benton said in a statement, adding that many older Americans are forced to delay medical care because of costs.

Benton said a larger COLA may sound encouraging compared with this year's adjustment but argued it does not erase the gap between retirees' incomes and their actual living expenses. She called on Congress and the White House to consider increasing Social Security benefits beyond annual inflation adjustments.

While TSCL updates its projection monthly, economists caution that the estimate could still change depending on inflation trends over the coming months. A cooling in prices could lower the final adjustment, while persistent inflation could push it higher before the official announcement in October.

A Fed study finds theyre also cutting other expenses to pay the rent

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• More renters are paying their rent on time, but many are falling behind on other bills and cutting spending to make ends meet.

• Plans to buy a home have dropped sharply, with the share of renters expecting to take out a mortgage within six months falling from about 15% to 6.4% in one year.

• The biggest decline in homebuying intentions occurred among younger adults, parents, higher-income renters, and stock owners.

Struggling to pay the rent each month is a common challenge, and lately it seems to be getting harder. New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found that more Americans who rent their homes are managing to pay their rent on time, but many are doing so by sacrificing other parts of their finances.

The report, based on the bank's Labor, Income, Finances, and Expectations (LIFE) Survey, found that while housing payment performance has improved over the past year, renters are increasingly skipping other bills, reducing spending, and feeling less financially secure. At the same time, aspirations to become homeowners have fallen dramatically.

About one in five renters surveyed in January 2026 said they had been unable to pay their rent on time or in full during the previous three months. That's an improvement from roughly one-quarter of renters reporting payment difficulties in late 2024 and early 2025.

More than 50% are rent burdened

Concerns about eviction also declined, and fewer renters blamed missed payments on temporary cash shortages. However, about 12% continued to report financial problems they expected to persist.

The study estimates that 53.5% of renters remain "rent burdened," meaning they spend more than 30% of their gross income on housing.

Researchers found evidence that many renters are staying current on rent by making difficult financial tradeoffs elsewhere.

Reducing spending

Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported cutting back on spending over the previous year, including both discretionary and essential purchases. More than one-third said they had paid less than the full amount due or skipped payments entirely on debts or monthly bills such as credit cards, utilities, or medical expenses. Those figures were higher than a year earlier, suggesting broader financial stress, despite improvements in rent payments.

The financial strain appears to be affecting confidence as well. More renters reported feeling less financially secure than they did a year earlier, even as fewer struggled with rent payments.

Homeownership may not be on the horizon

Perhaps the most striking finding involved homeownership plans.

Only 6.4% of renters surveyed in January 2026 said they expected to take out a mortgage within the next six months, down sharply from around 15% in January 2025. The decline was especially pronounced among renters ages 18 to 35, households with children, renters who own stocks, and those with higher incomes.

The report suggests that while renters may have become more successful at prioritizing housing payments, persistent affordability challenges and broader financial pressures are making the transition to homeownership increasingly difficult.