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How this tech could impact future prices

• Walmart can now update prices instantly at many stores, meaning deals (and regular prices) may change faster than shoppers are used to.

• While Walmart says its not using surge pricing, the tech allows more flexible, data-driven pricing, which has some shoppers concerned about future changes.

• Shop smarter by scanning items in the app, grabbing good deals when you see them, and comparing prices more often since they may not stay the same all day.

Walmart has officially rolled out digital price tags across its U.S. stores, with a full rollout expected by the end of 2026. These will replace the traditional paper shelf labels with electronic ones that have the ability to update prices instantly.

At the same time, newly surfaced patents show the company is experimenting with systems that use machine learning to recommend pricing based on demand, inventory, and other factors.

Walmart says it does not use surge pricing and has no plans to automatically raise prices based on when you shop. Instead, the company says the technology is designed to improve efficiency, speed up markdowns, and help employees manage pricing more effectively.

Still, this is a meaningful shift. For decades, in-store prices were relatively static. Now, they can change in real time.

Heres what that means for your wallet along with some tips to stay ahead of the change.

Whats actually changing

The biggest difference is new flexibility for Walmart. Meaning they have way more control over when and how prices change than before.

With digital shelf tags:

• Prices can be updated storewide in seconds.
• Promotions can start and end more precisely.
• Markdown timing can be more targeted.

That doesnt automatically mean prices will go up more often. In fact, Walmart says the goal is to improve pricing accuracy and reduce delays in lowering prices, especially on items like produce or seasonal goods.

But it does mean pricing could become more fluid, rather than something that stays the same all day or week.

Why some shoppers are concerned

The concern isnt what Walmart is doing today, its more with what the technology could allow in the future.

Other industries are already using dynamic pricing:

• Airlines adjust ticket prices constantly.
• Hotels change rates based on demand.
• Ride-share services increase fares during peak times.

Walmart says its not moving in that direction. But the combination of real-time price tags and AI-driven pricing tools has raised questions about how pricing strategies could evolve over time.

For now, though, the bigger impact is simply that prices can change faster than before.

How to shop smarter right now

If youre used to treating store prices as fixed, its worth adjusting your approach slightly.

1. Scan items as you shop:Use the Walmart app to scan products and confirm the current price. This gives you a second reference point and helps catch any discrepancies.

2. Take a quick photo of big-ticket prices:If youre buying something expensive, snapping a picture of the shelf price can help if theres a mismatch at checkout.

3. Dont wait on good deals:If you see a strong price on something you already planned to buy, grab it. Waiting could mean missing it if pricing updates happen faster.

4. Check prices online before heading in:Sometimes Walmart.com pricing can differ slightly from in-store pricing. Use it as a benchmark before you shop.

5. Compare across retailers more often:If pricing becomes more dynamic, the gap between Walmart and competitors could shift more frequently. A quick price comparison can pay off, especially on larger purchases.

Where this could actually help you save

This isnt all downside, as digital pricing can also work in your favor:

• Faster markdowns on perishable items like meat, bakery goods, and produce.
• More frequent clearance adjustments on seasonal products.
• Better timing on sales events, since prices can change instantly.

In other words, deals may show up faster but they may not stick around as long.

Smart tips to stay ahead:

• If possible, shop earlier in the day, as many retailers push updates overnight or early in the morning.
• Track your repeat purchases (like groceries or household items) so you can easily spot pricing patterns.
• Stack savings whenever possible by using cash back apps, Walmart+ benefits, or credit card rewards to offset small price fluctuations.

New data reveals how our reliance on tech is fueling stress and what you can do to feel more in control

• Nearly half of Americans feel panic when their phone battery drops below 10%, highlighting just how tied our mental well-being is to constant connectivity.

• Experts say the fear of power outages is largely rational, as more people rely on electricity for work, communication, and daily routines.

• Simple steps like backup chargers, generators, and building small offline habits can help reduce anxiety and give consumers more control.

For most people, a power outage used to mean lighting a few candles and waiting it out. Now, it can feel a lot more unsettling.

As our daily lives become increasingly tied to phones, Wi-Fi, and constant connectivity, even a short loss of power can trigger real anxiety. A new study from Prepaid Electricity highlights just how deeply that dependence runs and how quickly it can impact our mental state.

According to the data, nearly half of Americans have felt genuine panic when their phone battery dips below 10%, and more than half say losing Wi-Fi is the most stressful part of an outage.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Prepaid Electricity co-founder Nick Barber who explained whether this fear is rational, the mental toll losing power takes on many of us, tangible steps for consumers to take control of their situation, and more.

The anxiety of being disconnected

Barber explained that the mental effects of losing power arent just about the inconvenience, but instead, the anxiety associated with not being connected.

Being disconnected means not having the ability to connect with work, stripping communication and disrupting daily activities, he said. This is what creates the panic. With almost half of Americans experiencing panic with phones that go below 10%, we can see that mental well-being is related to the ability to stay connected.

Is this fear rational?

According to Barber, it is, as much of our daily lives are centered around technology and being digitally connected.

While there is pressure on the power grid from both weather and aging infrastructure, the real change, though, is the degree to which people are reliant on electricity to function, Barber said. 42% of Americans consider themselves completely or highly dependent on constant digital connectivity. This means people experience panic even with the electricity off for a short time.

Preparedness makes a difference

If youre worried about losing power, being prepared can make all the difference.

There are quick fixes that can be taken, such as the purchase of a portable charger or backup batteries, and then there are more serious fixes, such as generators, that provide more sustainable coverage, Barber said. These are important considerations, especially with half of Americans claiming to be unprepared for a three-day outage.

And if youre looking to be a little less connected to your devices, Barber recommends starting small and working your way up.

Building small habits to achieve digital independence can help to alleviate the frustration and stress of an outage, he said. This can include such aspects as having an offline copy of information, not being constantly attached to a device, and having a routine that does not require constant connection.

It marks a reversal from the companys recent downsizing trend.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• CVS plans to open more new retail locations than it closes in 2026, signaling a strategic pivot after years of downsizing.

• The company is focusing on smaller-format stores and health-focused locations tied to its care delivery strategy.

• Executives say the shift reflects changing consumer demand and a renewed emphasis on in-person services.

It turns out brick-and-mortar retail may not be headed for extinction. CVS Health is preparing to expand its retail footprint in 2026, marking a notable shift after several years of store closures aimed at streamlining operations and adapting to changing consumer habits.

The company announced that it expects to open more stores than it closes thisyear, reversing a downsizing trend that saw hundreds of locations shuttered across the U.S. since 2021. The move reflects growing confidence in its evolving retail model, which blends traditional pharmacy services with a broader health care offering.

"Pharmacists are among the most accessible and most trusted health care providers," Len Shankman, a senior executive at CVS Health, told Healthcare Finance. "We know how important it is for patients to be able to speak one-on-one with their pharmacist, have their questions answered, and seek medication advice when needed."

A new kind of store

Rather than returning to its legacy large-format stores, CVS is prioritizing smaller, more targeted locations. Many of the planned openings will be designed to support health care services, including primary care, chronic disease management, and wellness monitoring.

These locations will often be integrated with CVS-owned health care assets, such as Oak Street Health clinics and MinuteClinic services. The goal is to create community-based health hubs that complement the companys insurance and pharmacy benefit management businesses.

Industry analysts say the approach reflects broader trends in retail health care.

CVSearlier store closure program was part of a multi-year plan to reduce costs and eliminate underperforming locations. Between 2021 and 2024, the company announced the closure of roughly 900 stores, citing shifting shopping patterns and increased digital adoption.

But while foot traffic for traditional retail items has declined, demand for in-person health care services has remained strong. That dynamic is driving the companys renewed investment in brick-and-mortar locations.

Executives emphasized that the new stores will be strategically placed, often in underserved or high-growth areas, rather than densely saturated retail corridors.

Balancing digital and physical growth

The expansion does not signal a retreat from CVSdigital ambitions. The company continues to invest heavily in online prescription management, home delivery, and virtual care services.

Instead, the strategy is aimed at creating a hybrid model where digital tools and physical locations work together. For example, patients may begin care through a telehealth visit and then be referred to a nearby CVS location for follow-up services.

CVSs move comes amid intensifying competition in the retail health care space. Rivals including Walgreens, Walmart, and Amazon are all experimenting with different models to capture a share of the growing market for accessible, low-cost care.

By shifting back into expansion mode but with a redesigned store concept CVS may be attempting to differentiate itself through integration and scale.

Food service and construction saw the biggest slowdown

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. job openings held steady at 6.9 million in February, signaling a relatively stable but cooling labor market.

• Hiring fell sharply to 4.8 million, marking the lowest hiring rate since April 2020.

• Worker quits and layoffs were largely unchanged, suggesting cautious behavior from both employees and employers.

If you think its getting harder to find a job, its not your imagination. Employers have pumped the brakes on hiring.

In its latest report on job openings, the Labor Department found that hiring slowed considerably in February, even as job openings and overall separations remained relatively stable.

Employers reported 6.9 million job openings at the end of February, essentially unchanged from the prior month. The job openings rate held at 4.2%, indicating that while demand for workers persists, it is no longer expanding at the pace seen in recent years.

The more significant shift came in hiring activity. Employers brought on 4.8 million workers during the month, a drop of nearly 500,000 from January. The hiring rate fell to 3.1%, its lowest level since April 2020, during the early months of the pandemic. Compared with a year earlier, hiring is down by 387,000.

Where it was harder to find work

The decline was especially pronounced in accommodation and food services, which shed 178,000 hires, and in construction, where hiring fell by 88,000. These sectors have been among the more volatile in recent labor market cycles and are often sensitive to broader economic conditions.

Meanwhile, total separations which include quits, layoffs, and other departures held steady at 5.0 million, with a rate of 3.1%. This suggests that while hiring is slowing, employers are not broadly cutting jobs.

Quits, a key measure of worker confidence, remained unchanged at 3.0 million. The quit rate stayed at 1.9%, reflecting a workforce that is neither aggressively seeking new opportunities nor retreating sharply. Declines in quits were seen in accommodation and food services, wholesale trade, and the federal government, while nondurable goods manufacturing posted a modest increase.

Overall layoffs remained stable

Layoffs and discharges also showed little movement, holding at 1.7 million with a rate of 1.1%. However, there were some sector-specific shifts. Retail trade saw an increase of 72,000 layoffs, while nondurable goods manufacturing and the federal government recorded declines.

Other separations including retirements and transfers fell by 75,000 to 277,000.

Looking at business size, smaller establishments with fewer than 10 employees saw a decline in job opening rates, while most other labor market indicators remained stable across both small and large employers.

Overall, Februarys data paint a picture of a labor market that is stabilizing after a period of rapid expansion, with slower hiring emerging as the most notable trend.