Consumer News: Survey finds growing satisfaction with buy now, pay later services

The delivery service warns it's running out of money

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The U.S. Postal Service says it is facing a worsening financial shortfall despite recent reforms

• Rising operational costs and declining mail volume are straining the agencys budget

• Officials warn that difficult decisions including service changes may be unavoidable

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is sounding the alarm over a new wave of financial challenges, warning that the agencys long-term stability is increasingly at risk despite recent modernization efforts.

In a statement released this week, postal officials said the organization is grappling with a severe and persistent financial imbalance driven by a combination of rising costs and continued declines in traditional mail volume. While package delivery has grown in recent years, it has not been enough to offset losses in first-class mail historically the Postal Services most profitable segment.

"I am not sure that the American public is aware that the Postal Service is at a critical juncture, said Postmaster General David Steiner, in a statement. I know that I wasn't aware of the extent of it before I took on this role, but at our current run rate and if we continue to pay our required obligations in the same manner as we have done in recent years, then we will be out of cash in less than 12 months.

The Postal Service has implemented several reforms in recent years under its Delivering for America plan, including network consolidation, pricing adjustments, and investments in new delivery vehicles. However, officials acknowledged that these measures have yet to fully stabilize the agencys finances.

Multi-billion dollar losses

According to preliminary figures, the USPS is projecting multi-billion-dollar losses over the coming fiscal years if current trends continue. Key drivers include escalating fuel costs, maintenance expenses for an aging infrastructure, and statutory obligations that limit pricing flexibility.

Industry analysts say the Postal Service faces a difficult balancing act. The agency cant simply raise prices indefinitely without risking further volume declines as they lose business to other delivery services.

The warning has already drawn attention from lawmakers, some of whom are calling for additional oversight and potential legislative action. Others argue that deeper structural changes including revisiting the agencys universal service mandate may be necessary.

For consumers, the financial strain could translate into gradual but noticeable changes, such as slower delivery standards, higher postage rates, or reduced services in certain areas.

As the agency navigates its uncertain financial path, stakeholders across government and industry will be watching closely to see whether reform efforts can keep one of the nations oldest institutions on solid ground.

Gas prices have jumped by nearly 90 cents a gallon since the start of the war

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. gas prices have surged to nearly $3.89 per gallon, rising more than 80 cents in just over two weeks as the Iran war disrupts global oil supplies.

• Attacks on energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuzresponsible for about 20% of global oil shipmentshave pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel.

• Analysts warn the conflict could drive prices even higher, adding inflation pressure and straining household budgets nationwide.

Motorists are feeling the financial impact of the escalating war involving Iran, as gasoline prices climb rapidly in response to disruptions in global oil supply.

AAA reports the national average price for regular gasoline has jumped to about $3.89 per gallon, marking one of the sharpest increases in recent years. Prices had remained below $3 for months prior to the outbreak of hostilities in late February, underscoring how quickly geopolitical tensions can translate into higher costs at the pump.

At the heart of the surge is a shock to global energy infrastructure. Iranian attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Persian Gulf, combined with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have choked off a key artery for the worlds oil supply. The narrow waterway typically handles roughly one-fifth of global petroleum shipments, making any disruption there especially consequential.

As supply fears mounted, crude oil prices spiked above $100 per barrel, a level not seen since earlier global crises. Brent crude has climbed dramatically from pre-conflict levels below $75, while U.S. benchmark crude is approaching $100.

Highest fuel prices in years

Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the company blog.

Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist. At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.

The effects are uneven across the United States. Western states, which often face higher fuel taxes and stricter environmental regulations, are seeing the steepest prices, with some exceeding $5 per gallon. Meanwhile, even traditionally lower-cost regions have seen sharp increases, leaving no state untouched by the surge.

Government officials have taken steps to blunt the impact, including releasing oil from strategic reserves and temporarily easing shipping regulations to improve fuel distribution. However, analysts say such measures may offer only limited relief if the conflict drags on.

Economists warn that persistently high fuel costs could ripple through the broader economy. Higher gasoline and diesel prices raise transportation costs, which in turn can push up prices for goods and services. Some analysts caution that prolonged energy volatility could dampen consumer spending and complicate efforts to control inflation.

In February, the Producer Price Index rose at the fastest level in months

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Wholesale inflation accelerated in February, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 0.7%, the fastest monthly gain in months.

• Goods prices surged 1.1%, driven by sharp increases in food and energy, including a nearly 49% spike in vegetable prices.

• Core producer prices (excluding food, energy, and trade services) climbed 0.5% for the 10th straight month, signaling persistent underlying inflation.

Economists keep an eye on wholesale prices, because they eventually affect the prices consumers pay. The trend is not good.

Wholesale prices picked up momentum in February, reflecting broad-based increases across goods and services, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand rose 0.7% for the month on a seasonally-adjusted basis, following gains of 0.5% in January and 0.4% in December. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices increased 3.4%, matching the largest annual gain recorded since February 2025.

The February increase was driven by both goods and services, though goods prices showed the strongest acceleration. Prices for final demand goods climbed 1.1% the largest jump since August 2023 while services advanced 0.5%.

The biggest drivers

Food and energy played a major role in the goods increase. Food prices surged 2.4%, accounting for roughly 40% of the overall rise in goods. Energy prices also rose sharply, up 2.3%.

A standout contributor was a dramatic 48.9% spike in prices for fresh and dry vegetables, which alone accounted for more than one-fifth of the overall increase in goods. Other notable increases included diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, chicken eggs, and tobacco products. In contrast, prices for jewelry fell 4.0%, while home heating oil and soft drinks also declined.

On the services side, the 0.5% increase marked the third consecutive monthly gain. Much of the rise came from services excluding trade, transportation, and warehousing, which climbed 0.6%.

Trade services and transportation and warehousing services also posted gains of 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively.

Within services, a sharp 5.7% increase in traveler accommodation prices was a key driver, accounting for about one-fifth of the overall services advance. Prices also rose for food and alcohol wholesaling, financial services such as securities brokerage and investment advice, and inpatient care. However, some sectors saw declines, including a 4.5% drop in retail margins for apparel and accessories, as well as decreases in airline passenger services and gaming receipts.

Meanwhile, core producer prices which exclude food, energy, and trade services rose 0.5% in February. This marked the tenth consecutive monthly increase, pushing the 12-month gain to 3.5%.

The steady climb in core prices suggests that underlying inflation pressures remain persistent, even as some categories show volatility.

How smart shoppers "coupon" at Costco without coupons

• Learn Costcos sale cycles, and then combine with the monthly savings book. Otherwise, if you miss it, youre paying full price for no reason.

• Read the price tags or youre guessing what kind of a deal youre getting. $0.97 means clearance, $0.00 can be a killer deal, and the asterisk means its about to disappear.

• Stack what Costco does allow, which includes instant rebates, 2% rewards, credit card cash back, and then grab a price adjustment if it drops in price within 30 days.

When you think about shopping at Costco, the word coupon doesnt immediately come to mind.

After all, you wont ever find Costco coupons in the Sunday paper, or promo codes, or an app with digital coupons ready to be clipped.

Because at Costco, the game isnt about clipping coupons, but rather about timing your purchases, decoding the price tags, and stacking hidden savings layers most people never notice.

Heres a full breakdown of how it all works at Costco.

The 'coupon book'isnt optional reading its your roadmap

Most shoppers treat the monthly Costco Savings Book like junk mail. Flip. Toss. Forget.

But if you actually study it, youll start to see some interesting patterns, and those patterns are where the real savings live at Costco.

These coupons are:

• Preloaded into the system.
• Automatically applied at checkout.
• Often the lowest price that item will hit for months.

Costco negotiates these savings book discounts directly with brands. That means when something shows up in the book, its not a random markdown. Its actually a planned price drop tied to inventory cycles.

Why that matters: If your household regularly buys things like paper goods, vitamins, coffee, or protein shakes, the difference between buying on-cycle vs. off-cycle can easily be 2030% per item.

Multiply that across a year, and now youre talking about some real savings.

Costco runs on a cycle and once you see it, you cant unsee it

Any seasoned Costco shopper knows they dont do constant discounts, but instead, they rotate them throughout the year.

And once you start tracking that rotation, youll stop overpaying immediately.

Heres what you need to know to make it happen:

• Household staples rotate every eight to 12 weeks.
• Seasonal items get aggressive markdowns at the end of the current season.
• Big-ticket items (think appliances, computers, TVs) often align with holiday sale cycles.

So, when you start paying attention, instead of asking, Do I need this today? You start asking yourself, Where is this in the cycle?

Heres an example:

• Laundry detergent not on sale wait
• Two weeks later shows up in the book at $6 off
• Same exact item, completely different price

In a nutshell, thats how couponing at Costco works.

Pro tip: Keep a running note in your phone of the items you buy regularly and the last time you saw them on sale. Within a few months, youll start predicting deals before they happen.

Price tags tell a story and most dont know the language

Costco employees wont walk up to you and tell you something is about to disappear or get cheaper.

But the price tag will, and over the years, Ive had several Costco employees tell me how to read their shelf tags to figure out what kind of a deal youre getting.

Heres how to read the tag like an insider:

• Price ends in $0.97 Markdown clearance price (typically corporate-driven)
• Price ends in $0.99 This is the regular price
• Ends in $0.00 or $0.88 (varies by store) Manager markdown (store-specific, often an excellent price)
• Asterisk (*) in the corner Item is being discontinued. Some call it the Costco death staronce its gone, its gone forever.

That asterisk in the corner of the shelf tag is the big one to pay attention to.

It means:

• No restock
• No future sale cycle
• What you see is all thats left

Combine an asterisk with a $0.97 price and youve found what many shoppers call a Costco unicorn deal. The next time you see this combination, I dare you to try and find a cheaper price anywhere else. I doubt you can.

Where real couponing happens: stacking outside the store

Youve never seen a shopper with a stack of manufacturer coupons checking out at Costco. Thats because they do not accept them.

Because of this, most people assume stacking discounts at Costco is impossible.

Its not impossible, you just have to do it a little differently.

Heres the workaround:

• Use a rebate applike Ibotta, Fetch, or Shopmium.
• Scan your receipt after purchase.
• Earn points, cashback, or gift cards.

Now layer that savings with these:

• Costco instant savings (the monthly savings book)
• An Executive Membership (2% back)
• A rewards credit card (15% back)

Congrats, youve just creatively recreated coupon stacking at Costco, and the savings is significantespecially when you can take advantage of a deal in the monthly savings book.

A real-world example:

• $20 item $5 instant Costco discount
• $2 rebate app
• 2% Executive reward
• 2% credit card

Youve just saved about 30% when you combine all of these. Thats how a no coupon store can still leave you with significant savings.

Costcos 30-day price adjustment policy is retroactive couponing

This is one of the most underused Costco hacks out there today.

If something you bought goes on sale within 30 days, you can request a price adjustment.

The best part is you dont have to bring back the item, or your receipt, as Costco keeps track of all your purchases via your membership. Just walk up to the membership counter, tell them about the lower price, and theyll refund you the difference.

This policy allows you to do the following:

• Buy when inventory is available
• Watch upcoming sales cycles
• Get refunded the difference if the price drops

Why this matters right now: With supply chain issues and rising prices (especially in tech), waiting can sometimes mean missing out entirely or paying more down the road.

Their price adjustment policy basically lets you shop smart now and still hedge your bet if the price drops later.

Where Costco 'couponing'goes wrong

Even the smartest Costco shoppers can slip up from time to time.

After all, the biggest danger at Costco isnt high prices, its when they trick you into false value.

For example, watch out for these common mistakes:

• Bulk produce that spoils before you use it.
• Deals on items you wouldnt normally buy.
• Name brands that are cheaper at grocery stores with coupons.

Remember, Costcos pricing psychology is a real thing and quite powerful. They realize that the bigger the package, the more it feels like a better deal in the minds of consumers.

For this reason, always pay attention to the unit price. Thats the price that still wins and always will.

Rule to live by: A discount only saves you money if you were going to buy it anyway and actually use the entire thing before it goes bad.