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A new store comparison shows big savings for families who shop smart

• The average cost of a 20-item school supply list rose 20% compared with last year, according to FinanceBuzz.

• Dollar General and Walmart offered the lowest overall prices, while Michaels had the highest total cost.

• Comparing prices between retailers could save families well over $100 on the same list of supplies.

Back-to-school shopping is an annual tradition for many families, but this year's supply lists may come with a bigger price tag than expected.

A new analysis from FinanceBuzz found that the average cost of buying 20 common school supplies has increased significantly compared with last year, making it even more important to pay attention to where those items are purchased.

To compare prices, researchers looked at online costs for common elementary, middle, and high school supplies across 10 major retailers. The list included everyday essentials like notebooks, folders, backpacks, calculators, pens, pencils, binders, and paper, allowing for an apples-to-apples comparison between stores.

Some stores are far cheaper than others

FinanceBuzz found that the average cost of the full shopping list reached $123.70 this year, up from $102.87 in 2025 a 20% increase. Every retailer included in the study charged more than it did a year ago, although the size of those increases varied widely.

Heres a look at how the stores stacked up:

• Dollar General came in as the least expensive option, with the complete list totaling $73.25.

• Walmart followed closely behind at $74.84, making it the only other retailer where shoppers could buy every item for less than $100.

• Meijer and Target rounded out the more affordable options, totaling $105.44 and $111.84, respectively.

• Office supply chains like Office Depot and Staples landed in the middle of the pack, running shoppers $126.45 and $127.08, respectively.

• Michaels had the highest overall cost at $210.67 nearly three times as much as Dollar General.

• Walgreens and Amazon also ranked among the more expensive places to purchase the full list of supplies, costing shoppers $169.57 and $141.77, respectively.

Researchers also noted that no single retailer had the lowest price on every item, with Walmart offering the best prices on seven products and Meijer leading on five.

What this means for shoppers

The findings suggest that families who automatically head to one favorite retailer could end up paying much more than necessary. Even though shopping at a single store may be more convenient, comparing prices before heading to the checkout could lead to meaningful savings.

FinanceBuzz also recommends looking into back-to-school tax holidays if they're available in your state and taking advantage of rewards offered by store credit cards for planned purchases. While supply costs have increased across the board, a little comparison shopping may help stretch the back-to-school budget further this year.

Health officials arent ruling out other produce

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal investigators are still focusing on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as the most likely source of a major Cyclospora outbreak, despite withdrawing an earlier positive laboratory test as a false positive.

• Health officials say there is no evidence that other produce is involved in the five-state outbreak, but they have not ruled out additional foods or distribution channels as the investigation continues.

• Because Cyclospora is notoriously difficult to detect in food, investigators are relying primarily on epidemiological evidence and traceback data rather than laboratory testing alone.

Federal health officials continue to investigate this summer's widespread outbreak of illnesses caused by the Cyclospora parasite, saying the evidence still points overwhelmingly to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, even after an earlier laboratory finding was determined to be a false positive.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says its investigation remains active, with traceback evidence linking contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states to a single supplier in central Mexico. The agency stressed that the erroneous laboratory result does not change its overall conclusion because the epidemiological evidence remains strong.

The outbreak has sickened at least 1,645 people in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, with more than 140 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.

Meanwhile, the FDA announced Thursday that it is investigating a new Cyclospora outbreak with 72 new cases. It has not yet identified the source.

Health officials in North Carolina this week said they are investigating cases that may be linked to parsley and cilantro.

False positive complicated the investigation

On July 19, FDA announced that a laboratory sample previously reported as positive for Cyclospora should instead be considered a false positive after experts re-examined the test.

Cyclospora is exceptionally difficult to detect in food samples because the parasite is often present in very low numbers and laboratory testing remains technically challenging. As a result, investigators frequently depend on patient interviews, food histories, and supply-chain tracing to identify the source of an outbreak rather than laboratory confirmation alone.

The FDA says it continues collecting and analyzing product samples, but as of its latest update, no food samples have been confirmed positive for Cyclospora.

Could other produce be contaminated?

For now, health officials are not advising consumers to avoid produce generally. Their warning remains limited to recalled iceberg lettuce and products containing it.

However, investigators have stopped short of declaring that lettuce is the only contaminated food.

The FDA notes that because the investigation is ongoing, "additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified" if new evidence emerges. That reflects standard practice in foodborne illness investigations rather than evidence that another fruit or vegetable has already been implicated.

Cyclospora has historically been linked to a variety of fresh produce, including leafy greens, cilantro, basil, raspberries, and other fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw. The parasite is spread when produce is contaminated by water or soil containing human waste; it cannot multiply once it reaches food.

Recall remains in effect

Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and distributed between June 29 and July 16. The recall includes shredded lettuce sold to food-service customers and certain Marketside-branded iceberg lettuce products sold at Walmart stores in 15 states. Taco Bell has also stopped using lettuce supplied by the implicated source.

Consumers should discard any recalled lettuce, avoid eating recalled products served in restaurants, and contact a healthcare provider if they develop prolonged watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, or fatigue after eating fresh produce. Symptoms can begin several days to two weeks after exposure, and the illness often requires prescription antibiotics for treatment.

Researchers say Bourbon virus may be another tick-borne threat to watch

• Researchers confirmed the first known case of Bourbon virus in New York state, linked to a lone star tick on Long Island.

• The study combined patient testing, tick surveillance, and deer blood samples to look for evidence that the virus is circulating locally.

• While Bourbon virus remains rare, the findings suggest healthcare providers and the public should be aware of another potential tick-borne illness.

For many people, tick season brings concerns about Lyme disease. But researchers say another, much rarer infection may also deserve attention.

A new study led by Stony Brook Medicine confirmed the first known case of Bourbon virus in New York state, marking another disease associated with the expanding range of the lone star tick.

The virus was first identified in Kansas in 2014 and remains uncommon, but unlike many bacterial tick-borne illnesses, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for it. Researchers say the discovery doesn't mean the virus is widespread, but it does suggest that it is now circulating in parts of New York and could make diagnosing tick-related illnesses more complicated.

There are a lot of lone start ticks in New York and in the Northeast, we have dense populations, and when someone is infected with Bourbon virus symptoms they are similar to other tick-born infections, researcher Luis Marcos, MD, said in a news release.

For these reasons, the Bourbon virus is likely more prevalent than we think in our region and other cases are likely not being diagnosed.

The study

To investigate whether Bourbon virus had become established in the region, researchers looked beyond the initial patient.

The team reviewed the case of a Long Island resident who became ill after a lone star tick carrying Bourbon virus was identified. They also conducted extensive surveillance by collecting thousands of lone star ticks from public areas in Suffolk County and testing them for the virus.

In addition, they analyzed blood samples from hundreds of hunter-harvested white-tailed deer from across New York. Deer are commonly used in surveillance because exposure to the virus can be detected through antibodies in their blood, helping researchers understand where the virus may be circulating even when human infections are rare.

The results

The surveillance found Bourbon virus in several tick pools collected from Suffolk County, and many deer from the same area showed evidence of previous exposure. Together, those findings indicate the virus is actively circulating on Long Island.

Researchers say Bourbon virus infections remain rare, but the symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches can resemble those of other tick-borne illnesses, making diagnosis challenging.

Because there are no antiviral treatments or vaccines available, the authors say awareness among healthcare providers is important, particularly in areas where lone star ticks are becoming more common.

For consumers, the findings are another reminder that avoiding tick bites, checking for ticks after spending time outdoors, and seeking medical care if illness develops after a tick bite remain important steps during tick season.

The researchers explained that these findings further highlights the need for expanded viral surveillance, clinical testing, and assay development to improve clinical decision-making and inform tick-borne disease epidemiology and vector management.

A new analysis shows pharmacy deserts are making it harder for some consumers to access medications

• More Americans are searching for online prescription refills as pharmacy access becomes more limited, with searches up 440% since 2022.

• A new Tebra analysis found millions of households live in pharmacy deserts, where getting to a local pharmacy can be difficult.

• Experts say online prescription services can help fill access gaps, but consumers should use licensed, reputable providers and not view them as a replacement for quality healthcare.

Picking up a prescription has long been a routine part of healthcare, but for many Americans, it's becoming less convenient than it used to be.

As pharmacies close or become harder to reach, some communities are finding themselves in what's known as a "pharmacy desert" areas where access to prescription medications is limited. That shift is prompting more consumers to look for digital alternatives, from online prescription refills to virtual pharmacy services.

A new analysis from Tebra examines where pharmacy access is most limited across the country and how those challenges are changing the way people manage their medications. ConsumerAffairs spoke with Kyle Ryan, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Tebra, who explained how digital healthcare tools are helping fill some of the gaps, while also highlighting why they aren't a complete replacement for in-person pharmacy care.

Key findings

To better understand where pharmacy access is most limited and how consumers are responding, Tebra analyzed data from all 50 states to create a Pharmacy Desert and Digital Demand Index.

The ranking combined three factors: the share of census tracts classified as pharmacy deserts (40%), the number of federally designated medically underserved areas per 100,000 residents (40%), and online healthcare search activity (20%). The search analysis included five prescription-related terms, such as "online pharmacy" and "prescription refill online," using search data from 2025 through 2026 and U.S. Census population estimates.

Some key findings from the survey include:

• Searches for "prescription refill online" have increased 440% since 2022, making it the fastest-growing search term in the category.

• Alaska had the highest share of pharmacy deserts, with more than half (51.41%) of its census tracts lacking adequate pharmacy access.

• Texas had the largest number of affected households at more than 2.8 million.

• Washington ranked first in overall online pharmacy search demand, suggesting residents are increasingly seeking digital healthcare options.

• Wyoming led the nation in searches for "prescription refill online," highlighting how limited local pharmacy access may be driving consumers to look for online alternatives.

A 440% rise in searches for prescription refill online shows that people are looking for backup options when the nearest pharmacy is too far away, too busy, or no longer available, Ryan said. The findings illustrate that access problems and online behavior do not always reflect each other.

The risks

While many consumers are turning to digital pharmacies out of necessity, Ryan warns that there are some risks involved with doing so.

One significant risk is assuming that an online prescription tool works like any other online checkout, he said. Medication is different because a safe refill depends on prescription verification, dosage accuracy, drug-interaction checks, privacy protections, and access to a licensed clinician or pharmacist when consumer questions arise.

Consumers should be careful with websites that promise unusually cheap medication, skip medical review, or make it difficult to identify who is dispensing the prescription. Online refills can be incredibly useful, but they should still feel like healthcare and not a shortcut around healthcare.

What are the long-term solutions?

Ultimately, Ryan says that the long-term goal should be to increase access to pharmacy services to areas that need it most.

The long-term answer cannot be just telling consumers to go online, because online access still depends on broadband, delivery reliability, insurance coverage, and comfort using digital health tools, Ryan said.

Instead, a better solution is redundancy: safe mail-order pharmacy options, telehealth-enabled refills, mobile pharmacy services, local clinic partnerships, and better support for rural and independent pharmacies. For consumers in pharmacy deserts, the goal should be having more than one reliable path to essential medication before a refill becomes urgent. That is especially important in large states like Texas, where the study found 2.8 million households in pharmacy deserts, making this a scale problem as much as an access problem.