Consumer News: More families are going into debt just to buy groceries, study finds

Researchers found far fewer issues with olive oil products

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 9 in 10 processed foods labeled as containing avocado oil failed authenticity tests in a new study, raising questions about whether consumers are getting what they're paying for.

• Researchers found far fewer issues with olive oil products, with only one of 20 products showing signs of being inconsistent with authentic olive oil.

• The study suggests premium oil claims on chips, mayonnaise and salad dressings deserve greater scrutiny because products made with avocado or olive oil often sell at higher prices.

Consumers who pay extra for chips, mayonnaise or salad dressings made with avocado oil may not be getting the premium ingredient they expect, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis found that 48 of 54 processed food products labeled as containing avocado oil had chemical profiles inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. By contrast, only one of 20 products labeled as containing olive oil failed the same authenticity tests.

The findings, published in the journal Advances in Food Resources, are among the first to examine the authenticity of premium oils used as ingredients in processed foods rather than oils sold in bottles.

"Our findings suggest that ingredient-level oil claims may represent an underexamined source of economic adulteration in processed foods," the researchers wrote.

Looking beyond the label

The researchers analyzed oils extracted from 74 commercially available productsincluding potato chips, mayonnaise and salad dressingsthat listed avocado oil or olive oil as their sole edible oil ingredient.

Using internationally recognized standards based on fatty acid and sterol composition, they determined whether the oils matched the expected chemical characteristics of authentic avocado or olive oil.

Overall, the results were stark:

• Avocado oil products: 48 of 54 (89%) were inconsistent with authentic avocado oil.

• Olive oil products: 1 of 20 (5%) was inconsistent with authentic olive oil.

• Breaking the results down by category, the researchers found:

• 93% of avocado oil potato chips failed authenticity testing.

• 71% of avocado oil mayonnaise products failed.

• Every avocado oil salad dressing tested failed.

• Nearly all olive oil products met authenticity standards.

Possible substitution with cheaper oils

The chemical signatures found in many avocado oil products suggested the oils may have been diluted or substituted with less expensive vegetable oils.

The researchers emphasized that they did not identify exactly which oils had been substituted into every product. However, many of the samples showed fatty acid and sterol patterns more consistent with common vegetable oils than genuine avocado oil. One product's composition closely resembled soybean oil.

The study notes that U.S. labeling regulations require ingredients to be identified by their common names, and consumers seeing front-of-package claims such as "made with 100% avocado oil" would reasonably expect avocado oil to be the product's primary fat source.

Paying more doesn't guarantee authenticity

One reason the findings matter to consumers is price.

Products marketed as containing avocado or olive oil generally cost more than comparable products made with conventional vegetable oils.

However, the researchers found that higher prices were not a reliable indicator that the product actually contained authentic avocado oil.

"Consumers cannot rely on price alone as an indicator of authenticity," the authors concluded.

Processing wasn't the culprit

One possible explanation was that frying or emulsifying the oils during manufacturing altered their chemical makeup.

To test that theory, the researchers prepared their own potato chips and mayonnaise using authentic avocado and olive oils. They found only minor changes in the oils' chemical markers after frying and emulsificationfar too small to explain the large differences seen in many commercial products.

Some limitations

The researchers cautioned that the study has limitations. Products were purchased in California stores and online, so they may not represent every product sold nationwide. They also analyzed only two production lots for each product, meaning results could vary between manufacturing batches.

Still, the authors say their findings point to a gap in oversight of premium oil claims in processed foods.

"These findings highlight ingredient-level oil authenticity in processed foods as an under-monitored area of food integrity," the researchers concluded, adding that greater testing and scrutiny could improve labeling transparency and strengthen consumer confidence.

United has increased its 2026 fuel budget by $6 billion

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• United Airlines says it now expects to spend nearly $6 billion more on jet fuel this year than it anticipated just months ago, underscoring how quickly geopolitical events can reshape airline costs.

• Industry analysts say higher fuel costs almost always translate into higher airfares, though passengers may see the biggest increases on routes with limited competition or strong demand.

• United says it expects to recover 80% to 90% of the added fuel costs through higher fares and other revenue in the third quarter, with a full recovery possible by the fourth quarter if demand remains strong.

Consumers hoping for cheaper flights may need to wait longer.

United Airlines, reporting second-quarter earnings this week, warned that soaring jet fuel prices are expected to add nearly $6 billion to its fuel bill this year compared with what the airline expected at the start of 2026. The increase, driven largely by higher crude oil prices following renewed tensions in the Middle East, highlights how quickly fuel costs can ripple through the travel industry.

Fuel is typically an airline's second-largest expense after labor, leaving carriers with little choice but to raise ticket prices when oil prices surge.

United said it spent an additional $2.3 billion on fuel during the second quarter alone, an 84% increase from the same period a year earlier. The airline said it was able to recover roughly half of those higher costs through pricing and other revenue during the quarter. It expects to recover 80% to 90% of the added expense in the third quarter and potentially all of it by the fourth quarter.

Why travelers are paying more

Airlines generally have three ways to cope with rising fuel costs:

• Raise fares.

• Reduce flight schedules to keep planes fuller.

• Absorb some of the higher costs through lower profits.

United is pursuing all three strategies.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby said the airline adjusted schedules when fuel prices spiked while continuing to invest in premium products and customer service. The company also said it has seen strong demand across its network, with premium revenue up 16%, basic economy revenue up 11%, and cargo revenue up 23% from a year ago.

That strong demand gives airlines greater pricing power.

The Wall Street Journal reported that United has already increased fares and trimmed capacity, helping offset much of the increase in fuel costs. Investors, however, remain concerned that sustained high oil prices could eventually weigh on travel demand.

Competition may limit increases

While higher fuel costs generally push ticket prices upward, consumers may not see uniform fare hikes across every route.

On highly competitive routes, airlines often hesitate to raise prices aggressively for fear of losing passengers to rivals. Instead, they may reduce the number of flights, allowing fuller airplanes to generate more revenue per seat.

Routes with less competition or consistently strong demand are more likely to experience noticeable fare increases.

Industrywide, airlines have been benefiting from resilient leisure and business travel despite higher ticket prices. United said yieldsan industry measure of the average fare paid per passenger mileincreased 12% during the quarter, suggesting customers have so far been willing to pay more.

What consumers can do

Travel experts say consumers can reduce the impact of rising fares by:

• Booking flights several weeks or months in advance.

• Remaining flexible on travel dates and airports.

• Flying during off-peak days, such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• Comparing fares across multiple airlines before purchasing.

Whether fares continue climbing will largely depend on oil markets.

If crude oil prices retreat and geopolitical tensions ease, airlines could eventually face pressure to moderate prices. But as long as jet fuel remains expensive and travel demand stays strong, passengers should expect airfare bargains to become harder to find.

The smartest money lessons are playing out on the soccer pitch

• The World Cup offers surprising money lessons. Success comes from preparation, discipline, and smart decisions not one spectacular play.

• Focus on the fundamentals. Build an emergency fund, avoid costly mistakes, and stick to your long-term financial plan.

• Don't quit after a setback. Like championship teams, successful savers recover from mistakes and keep moving toward their goals.

The World Cup may be about soccer, but it also offers a master class in personal finance.

Winning teams rarely rely on one spectacular goal or superstar player. Even legends like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp, and Norways Erling Haaland depend on preparation, discipline, and teammates who understand their roles.

Building financial security works much the same way.

You probably wont become wealthy because of one brilliant investment, a single raise, or a lucky break. Your long-term results are more likely to depend on the everyday decisions you make with your money.

Here are seven personal finance lessons hiding in plain sight during every World Cup match.

1. You dont win the World Cup in the final

The championship match gets the attention, but World Cup winners begin preparing years before they reach the final.

Messis 2022 World Cup victory is a perfect example. The trophy represented the culmination of a career spent developing his skills, surviving disappointments, and continuing to compete at the highest level.

Retirement works the same way.

You dont build a comfortable retirement during the final years of your career. You build it through decades of regular contributions, compound growth, and steadily increasing the amount you save.

Even small contributions made early in your career can have more time to grow than much larger contributions made closer to retirement.

Money move: Automate a retirement contribution every payday. When you receive a raise, be sure to increase your contribution before allowing your spending to expand.

2. Defense wins championships

Scoring goals is exciting, but a team that cannot defend will rarely survive a knockout tournament.

Your financial defense includes the safeguards that prevent one unexpected event from destroying years of progress.

That means having an emergency fund, adequate insurance, and enough room in your monthly budget to absorb an occasional surprise.

Without savings, emergencies such as car repairs, medical bills, or a loss of income frequently end up on a credit card, where interest can turn a temporary setback into a lasting financial problem.

Money move: Start with a small emergency savings target, then gradually work toward enough money to cover several months of essential expenses.

3. Stop chasing the ball

Strong teams maintain their positions and resist the temptation to run towards the ball. They trust the strategy rather than reacting to every movement on the field.

Investors often make the financial version of chasing the ball by rushing into whatever investment is making headlines. They buy an investment after its price has soared, panic when the market falls, and jump from one hot trend to another. By the time they react, much of the opportunity may already be gone.

Even a player with Mbapps speed cannot simply sprint after the ball for an entire match. He has to choose his moments, remain in position, and wait for the right opportunity.

Money move: Create an investment plan based on your goals and timeline, then avoid changing it because of every alarming headline or social media prediction.

4. Avoid financial yellow cards

Some soccer fouls do not immediately remove a player from the game, but they create consequences.

Personal finance has plenty of yellow cards:

• Late-payment fees

• Overdraft charges

• Credit card interest

• Subscription renewals

• Investment expenses

• ATM fees

While one fee may seem insignificant, if repeated month after month, these charges can drain hundreds or thousands of dollars from your budget.

A player carrying a yellow card has to be more careful for the rest of the match. Consumers carrying high-interest debt face similar limitations because more of every paycheck is already committed before it arrives.

Money move: Review three months of bank and credit card statements. Then circle every fee and recurring charge, then decide which ones can be eliminated.

5. Take the easy goals

Not every World Cup goal is a spectacular shot from outside the penalty area. Sometimes the smartest play is a simple pass to a teammate standing in front of an open net.

Haaland is famous for putting himself in excellent scoring positions. Many of his goals come not from attempting the impossible but from anticipating where the ball will arrive and being ready to finish.

Personal finance has easy goals, too, yet many consumers overlook them.

One of the clearest examples is an employer retirement match. If your workplace contributes money when you contribute to a 401(k), failing to participate may mean leaving part of your compensation unused.

Other relatively easy wins include automating savings, paying bills on time, using cash-back rewards, and shopping around before renewing your insurance.

Money move: Check whether your employer offers a retirement match and then determine how much you must contribute to receive the full amount.

6. Dont score an own goal

In soccer, an own goal occurs when a player accidentally puts the ball into the teams own net.

Financial own goals are mistakes that undermine your progress even though they are completely avoidable.

Common examples include:

• Carrying a credit card balance while money sits in a low-interest savings account.

• Buying more stuff simply to earn credit card rewards.

• Financing an expensive vehicle immediately after receiving a raise.

• Withdrawing retirement money for a non-emergency.

• Ignoring a bill because you are afraid to open it.

The opposing team did not beat you. You made the situation more difficult for yourself.

Even Mbapps scoring ability would not help much if his team repeatedly gave away penalties or made careless mistakes near its own goal.

Money move: Identify the one repeated habit doing the most damage to your finances. Fixing that problem may help more than finding several tiny ways to save.

7. Keep playing after falling behind

Even elite soccer teams give up goals. The difference is that great teams do not abandon their strategy simply because they fall behind.

Financial setbacks happen, too. You may face medical bills, job loss, divorce, an expensive repair, or a poorly timed investment loss. You may also reach a certain age and realize you have saved less than you hoped.

That does not mean the game is over.

Messi endured years of criticism and several painful international tournament defeats before finally winning the World Cup. His story is a useful reminder that falling short of a goal does not mean you stop working toward it.

You can cut expenses, redirect a raise, increase retirement contributions, delay a major purchase, or find ways to earn more. Progress may be slower than you wanted, but small improvements still change the final outcome.

Money move: Dont try to repair everything at once. Instead, choose the next achievable goal, perhaps paying off one credit card or saving your first $1,000, and become hyper-focused on that.

Retailer highlights lower supply prices, convenient shopping, and budget-friendly school essentials

• Walmart says it's offering its lowest prices since 2019 on 14 of the most common school supplies, with select items starting at 25 cents.

• The retailer is expanding back-to-school offerings with clothing, lunch solutions, wellness services and college essentials.

• New digital tools and multiple shopping options are designed to help families save both time and money.

Back-to-school shopping is about much more than picking up notebooks and pencils. For many families, it marks the return to school routines, busy schedules, and a long list of supplies, clothing, and everyday essentials.

To help customers prepare, Walmart has unveiled its 2026 back-to-school and back-to-college lineup, emphasizing lower prices, convenience, and a broader selection of products for students of all ages. According to the retailer, it is offering its lowest prices since 2019 on the 14 school supplies most commonly found on classroom lists nationwide, with select items starting at just 25 cents.

The company says its seasonal assortment is designed to cover everything from classroom supplies and dorm room necessities to meals, health services, and fashion, allowing shoppers to complete more of their school preparation in one place.

What's included this year

Beyond traditional school supplies, Walmart says this year's assortment includes trendy accessories, themed merchandise, stationery, and updated clothing collections aimed at helping students personalize their school gear.

The retailer is also highlighting practical everyday needs. Its back-to-school lunch basket features nutritious meal options that average less than $2 per lunch, while its Recipe Hub offers one-click meal ideas that can be delivered through Express Delivery, where available.

Families can also shop for low-cost immunizations, vision care, and health essentials during their school shopping trips, with Walmart Wellness Day scheduled for July 25.

For college students, Walmart has introduced a College Grocery Haul priced under $35, along with dorm dcor, technology, organization products, and new online tools such as College Wishlist, Dynamic Showroom, and Be Your Own Model.

Teachers are also included in this year's campaign, with classroom organization supplies and teacher appreciation gifts starting at $2.48.

What this means for consumers

For shoppers, the announcement means there are more opportunities to tackle back-to-school shopping in one trip or without making a trip at all.

Walmart is emphasizing flexible shopping options, including in-store purchases, curbside pickup, fast shipping ,and Express Delivery, as well as digital features that allow customers to shop directly from classroom supply lists and create classroom registries.

The retailer is also placing a strong focus on value by combining lower-priced school supplies with clothing, groceries, health services, and college products. For families, teachers, and college students preparing for a new school year, the expanded assortment is intended to simplify the shopping process while making it easier to check multiple items off their back-to-school lists in one place.