Consumer News: Why prices jump when you shop online — and how to pay less

The Consumer Price Index jumped 0.9% during the month

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Inflation accelerated sharply in March, with consumer prices rising 0.9% for the month triple Februarys pace.

• Annual inflation climbed to 3.3%, up from 2.4% in February, reversing recent cooling trends.

• Energy especially gasoline drove much of the increase, while core inflation remained comparatively moderate.

It really wasnt much of a surprise. As gasoline prices surged in March, so did inflation.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, rose 0.9% in March on a seasonally-adjusted basis, a sharp increase from the 0.3% gain recorded in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On an annual basis, inflation climbed 3.3% over the 12 months ending in March, marking a notable jump from Februarys 2.4% year-over-year rate, and interrupting a broader disinflation trend that had been in place since 2022.

The surge was driven largely by energy costs, particularly gasoline. The BLS said rising fuel prices were a major factor behind the overall increase, highlighting the continued sensitivity of inflation to volatile energy markets.

Most of the rise was food and energy

Core inflation which excludes food and energy was more subdued, increasing 0.2% in March and 2.6% over the past year. This suggests that underlying price pressures, while still above the Federal Reserves 2% target, are not rising as quickly as headline inflation.

Among food categories, fruits and vegetables led the increase in food prices, rising 0.4% from February and 4% year-over-year, as higher transportation costs showed up in prices. Four food categories, including meat and dairy, saw prices fall during March.

Higher housing costs

Housing-related costs remained a key contributor. The shelter index rose 0.3% for the month, with rent and owners equivalent rent continuing to climb, underscoring persistent pressure in the housing sector.

Other categories showed mixed results. Airline fares jumped 2.7%, and apparel prices rose 1.0%, while medical care costs declined and prescription drug prices fell.

The March data highlights the uneven nature of inflation in the current economy. While some categories are stabilizing or even declining, spikes in energy and transportation costs can quickly push overall inflation higher.

An analysis shows the average tax bill rose more than 3% in 2025

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Average U.S. property taxes rose again in 2025, with the typical bill climbing to $4,427, up 3% year over year, according to ATTOM.

• Total property taxes hit nearly $397 billion, a 3.7% annual increase, reflecting growing financial pressure on homeowners nationwide.

• Effective tax rates are rising even as home values dip, signaling a worsening tax burden driven by local costs and policy shifts, ATTOM said.

Costs for American homeowners continue to pile up. Not only are electric bills sharply higher, but homeowners also face a growing property tax burden.

A new report from real estate analytics firm ATTOM found that the average property tax bill on a single-family home rose to $4,427, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. At the same time, total property taxes levied nationwide climbed to $396.8 billion, up 3.7% annually.

What makes the trend stand out is that rising tax bills are no longer tied solely to surging home values. ATTOM reported that the average estimated value of a single-family home actually declined 1.7% year over year, yet the effective tax rate still increased to 0.9%, up from 0.86% in 2024.

"Property taxes in 2025 demonstrate that tax bills reflect more than just home values," said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. "Even with a slight dip in prices, higher tax bills combined with declining home values led to an increase in effective tax rates, underscoring the role of local government costs and shifting tax policies. Regional disparities persist, with the Northeast and Midwest continuing to see the highest burdens."

A multi-year upward trend

The latest increase continues a pattern of rising property taxes over several years. In 2024, the average tax bill rose 2.7% to $4,172, following a 4.1% jump in 2023.

ATTOM data shows that property taxes have increased in a majority of U.S. markets, with more than 72% of major metro areas experiencing above-average tax hikes in recent years.

The sustained increases are being driven by a combination of factors beyond home appreciation, including rising costs for schools, infrastructure, and local government services, as well as changes in how tax burdens are distributed.

Regional disparities

The tax burden is not evenly distributed. Homeowners in the Northeast and Midwest continue to face the highest effective tax rates, with states like Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut topping the list.

Meanwhile, even in lower-tax states, rising home values can still translate into higher overall bills, underscoring the nationwide nature of the trend.

The rapid rise in property taxes is becoming a broader affordability issue, especially as it combines with higher mortgage rates, insurance costs, and general inflation. In some regions, the burden is intensifying due to shifts away from commercial property taxes, leaving homeowners to shoulder a larger share.

Heres why some owners may struggle to find their pets favorite brands

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Cat food shoppers across the U.S. are reporting empty shelves and missing brands, particularly at big-box retailers like Walmart.

• Industry data suggests the issue stems from supply-chain constraints and uneven demand not deliberate production cuts or retail pullbacks.

• Manufacturers and retailers say disruptions are ongoing, with some products and brands more affected than others.

Pet owners across the country have been asking the same question in recent months: Why is cat food harder to find?

From half-empty shelves at Walmart to missing varieties of once-reliable brands, the situation has fueled speculation that manufacturers may be cutting production or that retailers are quietly reducing the number of brands they carry. But available evidence suggests a more complicated and less intentional reality.

Supply constraints, not production cuts

There is little indication that cat food manufacturers have broadly scaled back production by choice. Instead, the pet food industry appears to be grappling with ongoing constraints that limit how much and what types of food can be produced.

Key ingredients, including meat and grains, have faced periodic shortages or price volatility, while packaging materials such as aluminum cans have also been inconsistent. Labor shortages and transportation bottlenecks have further complicated the picture.

Rather than shutting down production lines, manufacturers have often been forced to prioritize certain products over others. That can result in fewer flavors, sizes, or specialty formulas reaching store shelves even if overall output remains steady.

Demand remains elevated

At the same time, demand for cat food has stayed strong. Pet adoption surged during the pandemic, leading to an increased number of cats in U.S. households, and that higher baseline has persisted. In addition, premium and specialized cat foods such as grain-free or prescription diets have seen growing popularity, putting extra pressure on specific product lines.

The result is a mismatch: steady or rising demand colliding with constrained and uneven supply.

Why shelves can look emptier

For shoppers, the impact often shows up as fewer choices. Retailers like Walmart have not announced any broad strategy to reduce the number of brands they carry. However, intermittent out-of-stocks can create the appearance of a shrinking assortment.

When certain products are unavailable, stores may fill shelf space with whatever inventory they can get. That can temporarily crowd out other brands or make it seem like theyve disappeared altogether.

Distribution challenges can also mean that a product available online is missing in stores or vice versa adding to the confusion.

Uneven shortages persist

Not all products are affected equally. Wet cat food, which depends heavily on canned packaging, has been particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Specific flavors or formulas may also vanish for weeks or months at a time before reappearing.

For consumers, that inconsistency can be more frustrating than a straightforward shortage. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix in sight.

While supply chains have improved since pandemic disruptions, the cat food market has yet to fully stabilize. Continued logistical challenges and shifting demand patterns may keep inventories uncertain for the foreseeable future.

The carrier is also boosting some fares to stay profitable

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Delta is trimming less profitable routes and adjusting flight schedules as fuel prices surge.

• The airline is raising fares and tightening cost controls to protect margins.

• Industry-wide pressure from geopolitical tensions is reshaping airline operations.

With jet fuel prices through the roof, Delta Airlines has decided that some flights are not worth leaving the ground. The carrier is taking a series of targeted steps, trimming select flights, raising ticket prices, and tightening operational efficiency as the airline industry grapples with volatility in global energy markets.

That means passengers may have fewer options to travel to certain markets.

Delta has begun reducing flights on routes that generate weaker returns, particularly during off-peak travel periods such as midweek and late-night schedules. Executives say the goal is not a broad reduction in service, but rather the company is looking at capacity to ensure profitability amid higher operating expenses.

Fuel is typically one of the highest costs for airlines, and recent geopolitical tensions have pushed oil prices higher, driving up the price of jet fuel. Delta executives have indicated that the increase is significant enough to materially impact earnings if left unaddressed.

To offset these pressures, Delta is also leaning on pricing power. The airline has already implemented fare increases in certain markets and is expected to continue adjusting prices where demand remains strong. Additional fees and ancillary revenue streams are also playing a larger role in cushioning the impact of higher fuel expenses.

Other ways to save money

At the same time, Delta is focusing on internal cost controls, including optimizing flight operations, improving fuel efficiency, and managing labor and maintenance expenses. These measures are designed to help the airline maintain margins without resorting to widespread service cuts.

Deltas strategy mirrors moves across the entire airline industry, where carriers including United and American Airlines are making similar adjustments. Analysts say the industry is entering a period where capacity discipline limiting supply to match demand will be critical to maintaining profitability.

Despite the challenges, Delta said it continues to see solid travel demand, particularly for premium and international routes. That demand is giving the airline some flexibility to pass along higher costs to consumers, though executives acknowledge there are limits to how much travelers will tolerate.