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Here's how smart shoppers can take advantage

• Costco quietly cut prices on several Kirkland favorites, including crispy wings, chocolate almonds, golf balls, and king-size sheets.

• The retailer says its goal is to be "first to lower prices and last to raise them," continuing a long-standing value strategy.

• Smart shoppers should watch for extra discounts, look for .97 clearance prices, and stock up when prices drop.

While many retailers continue to raise prices, Costco is actually cutting some of them.

According to comments made during Costco's latest earnings call, the warehouse giant has quietly reduced prices on several popular Kirkland Signature products, with savings ranging from about $1 to $10 per item.

For budget-conscious shoppers, it's a reminder that even during times of inflation, prices don't always move in one direction.

Which products got cheaper?

Costco executives highlighted several Kirkland Signature products that recently received price cuts:

• Kirkland Signature Crispy Wings: $16.99 to $14.99
• Kirkland Signature Milk Chocolate Almonds: $19.99 to $18.99
• Kirkland Signature Golf Balls: $32.99 to $29.99
• Kirkland Signature King Size Sheets: $89.99 to $79.99

Those may not seem like massive discounts individually, but frequent Costco shoppers know that meaningful savings often come from dozens of small wins throughout the year.

What's particularly notable is that some of these products had previously generated complaints online from shoppers who felt prices had climbed too aggressively over the past few years.

Why Costco is lowering prices

During the earnings call, Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the company's philosophy is simple: "Our goal is to be the first to lower prices and last to raise them."

That's a strategy that helps explain why Costco continues to maintain one of the strongest customer loyalty rates in retail.

Rather than maximizing profit on every item, Costco often focuses on keeping members happy and driving repeat visits.

The company has used this strategy before. In 2024, Costco lowered prices on several Kirkland products, including macadamia nuts, olive oil, foil, laundry packs, and baguettes.

The latest round of cuts suggests the retailer is continuing to look for opportunities to pass savings along when costs improve.

What smart shoppers should do now

While price cuts are great, there are other ways to stretch your Costco savings even further. Here are five tips that shoppers should focus on now.

• Watch for double discounts. Just because an item recently dropped in price doesn't mean it's done getting cheaper. Many Kirkland products still rotate through monthly warehouse promotions and instant savings events. If a product is already cheaper than last year and then receives an additional warehouse discount, that's often the best time to stock up.
• Learn Costco's markdown clues.Prices ending in .97 indicate clearance items that have a price markdown attached to them. That means if you spot a Kirkland product that's already been reduced and carries a .97 price tag, it may be one of the best deals in the warehouse.
• Build your shopping list around Kirkland. Costco executives noted that Kirkland Signature continues to outperform national brands. That's not surprising, as Kirkland products are often priced 15% to 30% below comparable name-brand alternatives while maintaining similar quality standards. Whenever possible, compare Kirkland versions first before reaching for the national brand.
• Buy when prices fall, not when you need it. Items like sheets, golf balls, snacks, and freezer foods can often be purchased well before you actually need them. This means that smart Costco shoppers treat price drops as buying opportunities rather than waiting until an item becomes an urgent purchase.
• Track prices on your favorite items. Many shoppers notice price increases immediately but fail to notice when prices come down. Try keeping a running list of your most-purchased Costco items in your phone along with their typical prices. This will help you spot genuine deals and know when it's time to stock up.

People are saving but are uncertain about the future

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fewer than six in 10 Americans believe they are building a large enough nest egg for retirement, according to a new Transamerica Institute report.

• Despite modest gains in retirement savings since the pandemic, confidence in achieving a comfortable retirement has remained unchanged.

• Concerns about Social Security, healthcare costs, and outliving savings continue to weigh heavily on workers and retirees alike.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which created economic turmoil, Americans have litle progress toward achieving retirement security. Thats the conclusion of a new report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and Transamerica Institute.

The findings suggest that while more people are saving for retirement, many remain uncertain about their financial future.

The report, Life and Money: Retirement Security in the USA, analyzed retirement trends from 2020 through 2025 and found what researchers described as "lackluster" improvements in key measures of retirement readiness. The study is based on surveys of more than 60,000 Americans conducted over the five years.

One of the report's central findings is that only 59% of Americans believe they are currently building or have already built a retirement nest egg large enough to meet their future needs. While that represents a slight improvement from 55% in 2020, researchers say it is far from a sign that retirement security has substantially improved.

Retirement confidence has barely budged. Two-thirds of Americans, 66%, say they are confident they will be able to retire comfortably, the same percentage recorded at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Only about one in five respondents describe themselves as "very confident."

However, some encouraging signs

The study found some encouraging signs. Among workers who have not yet retired, the percentage saving for retirement increased from 65% to 69% over the five-year period. Median household retirement savings also rose, increasing from $44,000 in 2020 to $56,000 in 2025. Even so, researchers caution that those gains may not be enough to offset higher living costs and longer life expectancies.

Many Americans remain deeply worried about retirement. The survey found that 62% believe they could work throughout their careers and still fail to save enough for retirement. Respondents cited rising living expenses, economic uncertainty, and concerns about the future of Social Security as major obstacles to long-term financial security.

Health-related concerns loom especially large. Americans' top retirement fear is declining health that requires long-term care, followed closely by concerns that Social Security benefits could be reduced in the future. Many also worry about outliving their savings, losing their independence, or facing healthcare expenses they cannot afford.

Growing challenges

The report arrives as policymakers face growing pressure to address the long-term financing challenges confronting Social Security and Medicare. Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, said maintaining those programs will be critical to improving retirement outcomes for future generations.

Researchers concluded that retirement security remains a work in progress. While Americans have demonstrated resilience by continuing to save despite economic disruptions, the pace of improvement has been slow, leaving millions uncertain about whether they will have enough money to sustain themselves in retirement.

An investigation finds 25% of packaged food exceeds safe levels

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A joint investigation by Consumer Reports and the food-scanning app Yuka found that one in four popular packaged foods contained additive levels that exceeded safety thresholds established by experts.

• Researchers tested 40 widely consumed products and found elevated levels of controversial additives and contaminants in snacks, drinks, and other processed foods.

• Health experts say consumers can reduce exposure by choosing less-processed foods, reading ingredient labels, and using product-scanning tools to identify additives of concern.

When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., became Secretary of Health and Human Services, federal regulators began to take a closer look at the health of the U.S. food supply. Among the first steps the agency took was to target certain food dyes.

However, a new investigation by Consumer Reports and Yuka is suggesting that there is a lot more work to do. The results aredrawing attention to the sheer number of additives found in the U.S. food supply and raising concerns about whether current regulations adequately protect consumers.

The investigation examined 40 popular packaged food products sold in the United States and measured levels of eight controversial food additives. Researchers found that approximately 25% of the products contained additive levels that exceeded what experts consider safe daily intake levels over a lifetime. When contaminants were included, more than one-third of the products exceeded recommended thresholds.

A wide range of food products

Among the products cited in the investigation were popular snacks, candies, flavored drinks, and processed foods marketed to both adults and children. Investigators reported finding elevated levels of additives such as synthetic food dyes, preservatives, and other ingredients that have been linked in scientific studies to potential health concerns, including behavioral effects in children, DNA damage, and increased cancer risk.

The findings align with longstanding concerns among food safety advocates about differences between U.S. regulations and those in other countries. Many additives permitted in American foods face stricter limits overseas, while some ingredients allowed in the United States have been banned or heavily restricted in Europe.

Yuka's broader analysis of more than onemillion food products found that foods sold in the United States contain significantly more additives, on average, than comparable products sold in several other developed countries. The company attributes the disparity to a regulatory system that often allows manufacturers considerable discretion in the use of additives.

Consumer advocates have also criticized the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) framework, which allows some ingredients to enter the food supply without formal FDA approval if manufacturers determine they are safe under intended conditions of use.

Food manufacturers and industry groups maintain that approved additives are safe when used within regulatory limits and that additives play important roles in preserving food quality, extending shelf life, and ensuring product consistency.

How consumers can reduce their exposure

While nutritionists emphasize that consumers do not need to eliminate all processed foods from their diets, they recommend several practical steps to reduce exposure to additives:

• Choose whole and minimally processed foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and unprocessed meats typically contain few or no added chemicals.

• Read ingredient labels. Products with shorter ingredient lists often contain fewer additives. Consumers can look for foods that avoid artificial colors, preservatives, and sweeteners when possible.

• Limit highly processed snacks and beverages. Many of the products identified in the investigation fall into the ultra-processed category, which has been associated with poorer health outcomes in multiple studies.

• Diversify food choices. Regularly rotating foods can help reduce repeated exposure to any single additive or contaminant.

The findings arrive amid growing public scrutiny of food additives and increasing pressure on regulators to revisit decades-old safety assessments. Several states have already moved to restrict certain food dyes and additives, while the FDA has announced efforts to phase out several petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply.

For consumers, the investigation serves as a reminder that the most effective way to reduce exposure to additives may be the simplest: building more meals around whole foods and relying less on heavily processed products.

Elon and Oprah arent endorsing those weight-loss pills

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fraudulent online advertisements have increasingly used the names, images, and fabricated endorsements of celebrities to promote dubious investment schemes, miracle health products, and fake giveaways.

• High-profile figures including Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Kelly Clarkson, and Martin Lewis have publicly warned consumers that they never endorsed the products or services featured in the ads.

• Experts say advances in artificial intelligence and deepfake technology have made celebrity impersonation more convincing, contributing to billions of dollars in consumer losses worldwide.

While its true that some celebrities are influencers, you cant believe every pitch that claims to be a celebrity endorsement. Scroll through social media or browse the web, and youll find many familiar names and faces promoting investment opportunities, health supplements, weight-loss products, and other offers.

The problem is that many of those endorsements are entirely fabricated.

Most recently, debunking site Snopes exposed a ruse in which Bill Gates is hawking an Alzheimers cure. He most definitely is not.

Over the past several years, scammers have exploited the popularity and credibility of celebrities by creating fake advertisements that falsely suggest public figures support products or services they have never used or endorsed. In many cases, the ads use manipulated photographs, fabricated quotes, and, more recently, artificial intelligence-generated videos that appear authentic at first glance.

Elon is everywhere

Among the most frequently targeted celebrities is entrepreneur Elon Musk. Fraudsters have repeatedly used his image and likeness to promote cryptocurrency investments and trading platforms, often promising unrealistic returns. Regulators and consumer advocates have warned that many of these schemes are designed to steal money from unsuspecting investors.

Television personality Oprah Winfrey has also been the subject of numerous fraudulent advertisements. Her name has been attached to weight-loss products, dietary supplements, and miracle cures despite her repeated denials of any involvement. Similar have falsely claimed endorsements from television personalities Dr. Phil and Shark Tank investors.

In the United Kingdom, financial journalist Martin Lewis has become one of the most prominent victims of endorsement fraud. Scammers have repeatedly used his image and fabricated testimonials to promote bogus investment opportunities. Lewis has successfully pursued legal action against technology companies and has been a leading advocate for stronger measures to combat online fraud.

Tom Hanks warns fans

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks publicly warned fans after scammers circulated advertisements featuring an AI-generated version of his likeness promoting products he had never approved.

Likewise, actress and singer Kelly Clarkson has spoken out against fake weight-loss advertisements using manipulated images and fabricated quotes.

Other celebrities whose identities have been exploited include Taylor Swift, Keanu Reeves, Gordon Ramsay, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, and former television personalities such as Dr. Mehmet Oz. In many cases, the advertisements direct consumers to fake news websites designed to mimic legitimate media outlets, lending an appearance of credibility to false claims.

Familiar pattern

Consumer protection agencies say the often follow a familiar pattern. An advertisement claims that a celebrity has discovered a secret investment strategy, a breakthrough medical treatment, or a revolutionary supplement. Consumers are then encouraged to click through to a website that requests personal information, payment details, or an investment deposit.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence has made the problem significantly worse. Deepfake videos can now convincingly imitate a celebrity's voice and appearance, making it more difficult for consumers to distinguish legitimate endorsements from fraudulent ones. Cybersecurity experts warn that the technology is evolving faster than many platforms' ability to detect and remove deceptive content.

Major technology companies have pledged to strengthen enforcement efforts, but fraudulent advertisements continue to appear across social media platforms, search engines, and websites. Critics argue that scammers can create new accounts and advertisements faster than platforms can remove them.

Consumer advocates recommend that individuals treat celebrity endorsements with skepticism, especially when advertisements promise extraordinary financial returns, rapid weight loss, or miracle health benefits. Experts advise verifying endorsements through official celebrity websites or social media accounts and researching companies independently before making purchases or investments.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape digital advertising, regulators, technology companies, and consumers face growing pressure to combat a form of fraud that increasingly blurs the line between reality and deception.

Buyers defied growing economic uncertainty

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May from both April and a year earlier, reaching the strongest pace since December.

• The median existing-home price climbed to a record $429,300 for the month of May, marking 35 consecutive months of annual price gains.

• Housing affordability improved nationwide as mortgage rates remained below year-ago levels and inventory edged higher.

Despite growing economic uncertainty and rising prices, the U.S. housing market gained significant momentum in May. Sales of existing homes jumped by 3.2% from the previous month and from a year earlier, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The gain marked the fastest sales pace of 2026 and the highest level since December.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said more Americans are entering the housing market as affordability conditions improve. While mortgage rates have risen modestly in recent months, they remain below levels seen a year ago and are close to long-term historical averages, helping support buyer demand.

The increase in sales was broad-based. Transactions rose in the Northeast, Midwest, and South on a month-over-month basis, while activity in the West was unchanged. Compared with May 2025, sales increased in the Midwest, South, and West but declined in the Northeast.

Inventory also expanded. The number of homes available for sale reached 1.55 million units in May, up 3.3% from April and slightly higher than a year ago. That represented a 4.5-month supply of homes at the current sales pace, unchanged from the previous month.

Home prices are still rising

Home prices continued to rise, though at a more moderate pace. The national median existing-home price for all housing types reached $429,300 in May, up 1.3% from a year earlier and the highest median price ever recorded for the month of May. The increase extended a streak of annual price gains to 35 consecutive months.

Single-family homes accounted for much of the markets growth. Sales in that segment rose 3.5% from April to an annual rate of 3.8 million units, while condominium and co-op sales were unchanged month over month. Median prices increased in both categories.

Affordability measures improved across all four major regions of the country, aided by slower price growth, income gains, and mortgage rates that remained lower than a year ago. NARs Housing Affordability Index rose to 105.6, up from 97.5 a year earlier.

Despite the improvement, economists caution that the housing market remains below pre-pandemic activity levels and continues to face challenges from elevated mortgage rates and high home prices. However, Mays stronger-than-expected sales figures suggest buyers are becoming more active as inventory gradually improves and affordability pressures ease.