Consumer News: Rental are on the rise. Here's how to avoid becoming the next victim.

More shoppers are buying spooky dcor, candy and costumes months before fall and retailers are leaning into the trend

• Summerween is bringing Halloween shopping into the middle of summer, with most consumers planning to buy spooky dcor, candy, and costumes before September.

• Many shoppers are getting a head start because they love the fall aesthetic, want the best selection, or are concerned prices could rise closer to Halloween.

• Experts say shopping early can help you snag limited-edition items, but comparing prices, using promo codes and stacking cash-back offers can help you save the most money.

Halloween used to kick off when the leaves started changing. Now, for many shoppers, the spooky season begins long before Labor Day.

A growing trend known as "Summerween" is inspiring consumers to stock up on Halloween dcor, candy, and costumes in the middle of summer, and retailers are responding by putting seasonal merchandise on shelves earlier than ever.

According to new research from RetailMeNot, most consumers plan to start shopping for fall and Halloween before September, driven by a love of the season, the desire for the best selection, and hopes of avoiding higher prices later.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNots Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls who explained that the trend reflects a growing appetite to extend the Halloween season and it's changing the way retailers approach one of the year's biggest shopping events.

What is summerween?

The idea of Summerween originated from the Disney animated series Gravity Falls, where the fictional town celebrates "Summerween" on June 22 with costumes, trick-or-treating, and monster-themed festivities.

While it started as a TV concept, the name has since been embraced by consumers and retailers, who now use it to describe the growing trend of shopping for and celebrating Halloween months before the traditional fall season begins.

Shoppers are craving fall

While were still months away from crisp air and pumpkin flavored treats, many shoppers are ready for fall now. According to RetailMeNots survey, 70% of consumers plan to shop for fall or Halloween items before September.

Consumers decided this season mattered before retailers ever put up a display, Carls said.

What drives this decision to shop for Halloween so early?

The leading factors were about how the season feels, not what it costs or whether it was in stock, Carls said. Seventeen percent of consumers said they shop early because they enjoy the fall and Halloween aesthetic, and 16% said they want the cozy atmosphere that comes with the season. People are shopping early because they want the feeling of fall now, and that feeling doesnt check a calendar.

Are there better deals now?

The survey found that 13% of shoppers are worried that prices will be higher by the time fall rolls around and shopping now will save them some money later.

Its how a lot of consumers are feeling right now, Carls said. Most Halloween merchandise, including costumes, decor, and candy, relies on components made overseas, and rising import costs have been widely reported this year.

Shoppers are looking at that broader trend and seeing higher prices as a real possibility for their own Halloween budget. Comparing prices early and watching for promotions still matters, especially in a year where cost is on peoples minds.

Keep an eye out for deals

Carls said theres no hard and fast rule that the best Halloween deals are out on store shelves now.

Shopping early gets you selection, she said. It doesnt always get you the lowest price, though stacking promo codes and cash back offers can still bring the cost down even if you buy now. If theres one specific item youd be upset to miss, buy it now. If youd be just as happy with any version of it, wait and compare.

More of Carls money-saving tips:

• Compare prices across retailers before you buy anything, and see what you can stack on top of that, such as promo codes and cash back, instead of stopping at the sticker price.

• Watch for early promotions, since theyre often better than what shows up closer to October.

• Save your urgency for the things that are really limited, because candy and basic decor arent going anywhere, and theres no reason to treat them like they are.

A survey of renters reveals what's fueling doubts about homeownership

• Most middle-income renters say buying a home feels out of reach.

• Many overestimate how much money, income, and credit it takes to qualify for a mortgage.

• Experts say better information not just more savings could help more renters become homeowners.

For many middle-income Americans, buying a home feels more like a distant goal than an achievable milestone. Rising home prices, higher mortgage rates, and the increasing cost of everyday living have left many renters wondering if they'll ever be able to afford a place of their own.

In fact, a new survey from Neighbors Bank found that most middle-income renters believe homeownership is out of reach and many aren't even sure what's actually required to qualify for a mortgage.

To better understand why so many potential buyers feel discouraged, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Ashley Harris, Director of Homebuyer Education at Neighbors Bank. She explains that while affordability challenges are very real, misconceptions about down payments, credit requirements, and the homebuying process may also be keeping qualified buyers on the sidelines.

Key findings

For the study, Neighbors Bank surveyed 1,011 middle-income renters across the country. The researchers defined middle-income as a household income between $40,000 $125,000.

Here are some of the key findings from the survey:

• Nearly 45% of renters earn more than their parents did at the same age, but still can't afford a home.

• Nearly 65% say the dream of homeownership feels out of reach for people like them.

• Nearly 25% have stopped saving for a home or never started.

Assumptions vs. reality

Harris said the gap between what renters think it takes to buy and what it actually takes was one of the biggest surprises from the survey.

The median respondent believed a starter home requires a 20% down payment, a 675 credit score, and roughly $88,000 in household income, she said. That income is about 40% higher than what they're currently earning.

Importantly, Harris explained that there are options for those interested in buying a home. Some of these include:

• FHA loans go as low as 3.5% down with a 580 credit score.

• USDA and VA loans offer zero down payment for eligible buyers.

• Conventional 97 loans bring the minimum to 3% for eligible first-time buyers.

People aren't failing to qualify because the math doesn't work to buy a house, she said. They are ruling themselves out before they ever run the actual numbers.

Challenging outdated assumptions

Based on the survey data, Harris believes one of the biggest things affecting middle-income earners in the homebuying market is a lack of information.

Renters are carrying outdated assumptions about what qualifying actually requires, and that alone is enough to make an achievable purchase feel out of reach, she said.

It's up to us and our team to help people understand a very complicated industry. Education and support have to be foundational to our culture at every stage of the mortgage process.

Financial preparation

If youre thinking about entering the homebuying market but youre not sure if you even should be, Harris has some advice.

The most important shift is to stop preparing in isolation and start the conversation early, she said/ A lot of renters treat talk to a lender as the finish line, something you do once you're already ready, when it should be the starting point. Start it early, prepare, and plan around what an actual lender tells you rather than what you assume they'll say.

Another piece of advice: Don't rush to pay off debts before you talk to a lender. Harris explained that your debt-to-income ratio is what drives whether or not you potentially qualify for a mortgage, and some installment debts can be omitted entirely depending on how many payments are left.

Paying off the wrong balance, or draining savings to do it, can leave you worse positioned than if you'd asked first, Harris said/ A loan officer can tell you which debts actually move your ratio and which ones don't matter.

Lastly, don't assume you can't do it!

Check your numbers against the real minimums instead of the rule of thumb you've heard, she suggested. And actually look into homebuying assistance programs, because almost half of respondents in our survey had never researched a single one in depth, despite 90% knowing at least one existed.

The warehouse club that outcooked Costco

• Sam's Club beat Costco. Consumer Reports ranked Sam's Club's rotisserie chicken No. 1 for flavor, with Costco finishing a close second.

• It wasn't just a taste test. Researchers also checked weight, sodium, texture, and PFAS. No chickens or packaging tested positive for "forever chemicals."

• Save more. Buy chickens fresh, compare price per pound, and use leftovers for soups, tacos, salads, or freezer meals.

For years, Costco's famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken has been the undisputed king of ready-to-eat grocery meals. But a new taste test says there's a new champion.

According to USA Today, citing a new Consumer Reports evaluation, Sam's Club earned the top spot for the best rotisserie chicken, edging out Costco in a blind taste test of chickens from 10 grocery chains, warehouse clubs, and big-box retailers.

Consumer Reports' tasters praised Sam's Club's Member's Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken for its juicy meat, deep roasted flavor, and paprika seasoning with hints of onion and garlic.

Costco's Kirkland Signature chicken finished second, earning high marks for its size and seasoning, although reviewers noted that the saltiness varied between samples.

The rest of the top group included Stop & Shop, Walmart, Wegmans, and Whole Foods. Meanwhile, BJ's, Hannaford, ShopRite, and The Fresh Market were considered better choices for recipes like soups, casseroles, and chicken salad rather than serving on their own.

The rankings weren't just about taste

Consumer Reports didn't simply hold a blind taste test.

Researchers purchased between 10 and 13 chickens from multiple locations for each retailer. They weighed every bird, compared sodium levels with the nutrition label, evaluated flavor and texture, and even tested both the meat and packaging for PFAS, often called "forever chemicals."

The good news? None of the chickens or their packaging tested positive for PFAS.

Five ways to get the best rotisserie chicken

• Buy it fresh. Chickens are usually juiciest during the lunch and dinner rush when stores are constantly putting out fresh batches.

• Compare price per pound. A $5 chicken isn't always the cheapest, especially if it's significantly smaller than a competitor's bird.

• Check the seasoning. Some stores use heavier seasoning or inject additional flavoring, while others keep things simple. Choose the style your family prefers.

• Turn leftovers into another meal. One rotisserie chicken can become tacos, enchiladas, soup, pasta, salads, or sandwiches, stretching your grocery budget.

• Freeze what you won't eat. Shred leftover chicken into meal-sized portions and freeze it for quick weeknight dinners.

The bottom line

Costco remains one of the best values in grocery stores, especially given its long-standing $4.99 price. But if you already have a Sam's Club membership, Consumer Reports suggests its rotisserie chicken is worth picking up on your next shopping trip.

More importantly, the rankings show that some of the best grocery bargains aren't always found where shoppers expect. Always try to compare quality along with price so you can get the most bang for your buck.

But with renewed hostilities with Iran, the relief could be temporary

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Consumer prices fell 0.4% in June, the biggest monthly decline since the early months of the pandemic, as gasoline prices posted their steepest drop in more than six years.

• Annual inflation slowed to 3.5% from 4.2% in May, while core inflation, which excludes food and energy, was unchanged for the month and eased to 2.6% year over year.

• Consumers received relief at the pump, but food and housing costs continued to edge higher, showing that inflation pressures remain uneven across the economy.

It may not feel like it, but consumer prices declined sharply in June. Sharply lower gasoline prices more than offset continued increases in food and shelter costs, providing the biggest one-month drop in inflation since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in June after rising 0.5% in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was the largest monthly decline since April 2020, when widespread economic shutdowns pushed prices lower. Over the last 12 months, the CPI increased 3.5%, down from the 4.2% annual inflation rate recorded in May.

The primary reason for the decline was energy. The energy index fell 5.7% during the month, with gasoline prices plunging 9.7%. The drop in energy costs more than offset increases in food and shelter, making energy the largest contributor to the overall decline in consumer prices.

Core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy categories and is closely watched by the Federal Reserve, was unchanged in June after increasing 0.2% in May. On an annual basis, core inflation slowed to 2.6% from 2.9% the previous month, suggesting underlying price pressures continued to moderate.

Food prices still rising

Food prices continued to rise, though at a modest pace. The overall food index increased 0.2% in June, matching May's gain. Grocery prices also rose 0.2%, led by a 4.3% jump in egg prices and a 1.2% increase in dairy products. Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.6%, while cereals and bakery products increased 0.3%.

Some grocery categories became less expensive. Nonalcoholic beverages fell 1.5% as coffee prices dropped 2.0%, and fruit and vegetable prices declined 0.2% during the month. Restaurant prices continued to climb, with the food-away-from-home index rising 0.2%.

Shelter costs, one of the biggest contributors to inflation over the past several years, rose just 0.1% in June the smallest monthly increase since January 2021. Owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2%, while rent rose 0.1%. Lodging away from home fell 2.3%.

Declines in other sectors

Several other categories also posted price declines. Motor vehicle insurance dropped 2.0% after falling 1.7% in May. Communication services fell 1.5%, apparel declined 0.6%, and used car and truck prices slipped 0.2%. Medical care prices edged down 0.1%, reflecting declines in physician services and prescription drug costs.

Despite June's decline, prices remain higher than a year ago. Energy costs are still up 15.7% over the past 12 months, including a 26.7% increase in gasoline prices. Food prices have risen 3.0% over the past year, while shelter costs are up 3.3%.