Consumer News: Higher grocery prices are sending 42% of shoppers to other stores

It may seem backward, but price isn't necessarily what determines which products end up behind glass

• Price isn't everything: Cheap everyday products can be attractive theft targets because they're small, easy to conceal, and easy to resell.

• It can vary by store: What's locked up at your Walmart may depend partly on which products are disappearing at that location.

• There's a downside: Locked cases may deter theft, but they can also frustrate legitimate shoppers and cost retailers sales.

You've probably had this Walmart experience. You need toothpaste, deodorant, or maybe razors. You wander around and find the right aisle, then reach for the product only to discover it's locked behind glass.

Now you need an employee to unlock an $8 item.

Meanwhile, you can walk two aisles over and find merchandise worth $50 or $100 sitting completely unsecured.

It seems backward, but there's a reason for it. Retailers aren't necessarily locking up the most expensive products; they're trying to protect the products that attract the most thieves.

An $8 product can be a better target than a $100 one

For someone planning to resell stolen merchandise, an ideal product is relatively small, easy to carry, readily available, and something other people will actually buy. That's why seemingly mundane products such as razors, cosmetics, laundry detergent, over-the-counter medicine, and personal-care products can end up behind glass.

A National Retail Federation study of organized retail crime groups found that they largely targeted everyday consumer goods because they offered a combination of ease of theft, decent monetary value, and are easy to resell.

For example, a bulky $100 patio chair may be worth significantly more than a package of razors. But try stuffing a couple patio chairs into a backpack.

Why toothpaste and detergent?

Those boring household necessities have another characteristic that can make them attractive for resale: People always need them.

Consumers continually buy more toothpaste, detergent, deodorant, cosmetics, and medicine.

And selling a few discounted packages of razors or bottles of detergent online may attract considerably less attention than trying to unload a suspiciously cheap $1,500 television.

The NRF found that health and beauty products, infant products, housewares, toys, and laundry products have all been frequent targets of organized retail theft.

The organization's research also found relatively few organized theft groups targeted large or heavy high-value products, such as televisions and appliances.

Why isn't the same stuff locked up at every Walmart?

This is where things can get kinda confusing: A Walmart in a neighboring city might have that same toothpaste sitting on an open shelf.

This is because retailers can monitor inventory losses and theft patterns, meaning security measures arent always consistent from one store to another.

While it would be interesting, Walmart doesn't publicly provide a formula explaining exactly when a particular item gets put behind glass, so don't assume there's a magic dollar amount that triggers a locked case.

The more important question may be whether that particular product keeps disappearing from that particular store.

Locked cases create another problem

There's a reason Walmart doesn't simply put everything behind glass. Locked merchandise can be VERY annoying. You press the call button. You wait. Nobody comes. You press it again.

Eventually, some shoppers may decide the toothpaste isn't worth the hassle and leave without buying it.

That's a problem for retailers, too. The NRF acknowledges that security barriers can increase costs, frustrate shoppers, and lead to lost sales as shoppers turn to the ease of Amazon.

Walmart has also tested electronic locks that employees can open using work phones, rather than requiring workers to track down physical keys.

What can you do if you're tired of waiting?

Besides just buying all your household necessities from Amazon, here's perhaps the easiest workaround: Pull out the Walmart app.

Then just search for the exact item and see whether it's available for pickup or shipping. You can also check the online price while you're at it. You might be able to order the same product without standing in an aisle waiting for someone to unlock a case.

Staying active as a child could offer mental health benefits decades down the road

• A study spanning more than 30 years linked better childhood cardiovascular fitness to a lower risk of depression in adulthood.

• Researchers found a stronger connection with endurance-related fitness than with muscle strength or power.

• The findings suggest that encouraging children to stay active could have benefits that extend beyond their physical health.

Getting kids moving can help them develop healthy habits, but physical activity may also have benefits that last well into adulthood. New research suggests that children and teenagers with better cardiorespiratory fitness may be less likely to develop depression later in life.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Tasmanias Menzies Institute for Medical Research, followed participants over more than three decades. The findings offer a closer look at how physical fitness early in life may be connected to mental health years later.

Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to how well the heart and lungs supply oxygen to the body during physical activity. Activities that get children breathing harder, such as running and other forms of aerobic exercise, can help build this type of fitness.

We already know that being physically active is good for our mental health, and previous research has shown that fitter adults are less likely to develop depression, researcher Professor Grant Tomkinson said in a news release. But we know relatively little about whether being fit early in life is linked to better mental health decades later.

This study shows that children and teenagers with better cardiorespiratory fitness had a lower risk of developing depression as adults. Importantly, fitness is something we can change, it may be an important target for improving long-term mental health.

How researchers conducted the study

Researchers used data from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study, which originally assessed Australian children between the ages of 7 and 15 in 1985. More than 1,000 participants were included in the analysis.

The team evaluated participants physical fitness using several tests. A 1.6-kilometer run helped measure cardiorespiratory fitness, while a standing long jump assessed muscular power. A smaller group of participants also completed cycling tests and handgrip strength assessments.

More than 30 years later, when participants were between 36 and 49 years old, researchers assessed their mental health histories. They used a diagnostic interview developed by the World Health Organization to determine whether participants had experienced depression during their lifetimes.

By comparing the original fitness measurements with the later mental health assessments, researchers could examine whether different aspects of childhood fitness were associated with depression in adulthood.

What the findings mean for families

The results showed that better cardiorespiratory fitness during childhood and adolescence was consistently associated with a lower risk of depression in adulthood. The relationship appeared stronger among female participants.

Researchers found weaker and less consistent associations between later depression and muscular strength, while muscular power showed no clear relationship.

For families, the findings offer another reason to encourage children to find physical activities they enjoy. Running, playing sports, cycling, and other activities that get the heart pumping can help build cardiorespiratory fitness.

However, the study does not prove that lower fitness causes depression.

There are many contributing factors to depression, meaning no single factor explains risk on its own. Fitness may be one piece of the puzzle, researcher Dr. Kylie Smith said in the release. While we cannot say a lack of fitness during childhood causes depression in adults, the findings suggest that childhood fitness may have benefits beyond physical health.

Most cardholders say they've paid down their balances only to see them climb again

• A new survey found that 72% of credit cardholders have paid down their debt, only to see their balances rise again, while 58% report significant stress or anxiety related to what they owe.

• Shame, repeated financial setbacks, and debt-related stress can make it harder for consumers to make progress or seek help.

• Consumers are encouraged to review what they can realistically afford, exploring hardship programs, and considering debt relief options when minimum payments aren't enough.

Paying down credit card debt can feel like a major accomplishment until an unexpected expense or another tight month sends the balance climbing again. For many Americans, that cycle can make it difficult to feel like they're making any real progress, even when they're working hard to pay what they owe.

A new survey from Freedom Debt Relief found that 72% of U.S. credit cardholders have paid down their debt only to see it rise again. The financial strain can also take an emotional toll, with 58% reporting significant stress or anxiety related to their debt.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Sean Fox, president of Freedom Debt Relief, who discussed why breaking the cycle can be so challenging, how debt-related stress can affect financial decisions, and what consumers can do to start working toward a more manageable financial future.

How the survey was conducted

Freedom Debt Relief conducted an online survey in July 2026, gathering responses from 1,006 U.S. adults who carry a credit card balance from one month to the next.

Respondents had an average age of 42, with millennials accounting for 51% of the group, followed by Gen X (24%), Gen Z (16%) and baby boomers (8%). The survey explored how often cardholders get caught in a cycle of debt, what makes repayment difficult, and how carrying a balance affects their financial and emotional well-being.

What the survey found

The results suggest that paying down credit card debt doesn't always translate into lasting progress. Overall, 72% of respondents said they've reduced their balances only to see them rise again, while 60% said they feel trapped in a cycle of credit card debt.

Financial strain was particularly pronounced among lower-income households: 69% of respondents earning less than $30,000 annually felt trapped, compared with 42% of those earning six figures.

The survey also highlighted gaps in financial knowledge and the emotional toll of carrying debt. Only 29% of respondents knew the exact interest rate on their highest-balance credit card, and 58% said their debt caused significant stress or anxiety.

Nearly half (47%) felt embarrassed or ashamed about how much they owed. Despite these challenges, 57% had never considered a debt relief program, suggesting that many cardholders may be struggling to find a path forward.

The psychological barriers to paying down debt

Fox touched on the idea of shame and how that can be a driver to continuous credit card debt.

Shame can make people treat debt as a reflection of their character, he said. They feel embarrassed about what they owe or believe they should fix it themselves, so they delay asking for help even when their payments arent making a meaningful difference.

Another factor: worn down confidence from repeated setbacks. When months of repayment are erased by one unexpected expense, people can stop believing theyll ever get ahead, Fox said. Making the minimum payment becomes a way to get through the month rather than a plan to get out of debt.

A constant cycle of stress

While debt alone can feel like a burden, Fox explained that consistent credit card debt can also impact how consumers feel about making other financial decisions. One bad decision can sometimes feel like every choice after that will be catastrophic.

Debt stress can make it harder to weigh options because so much attention is consumed by the immediate pressure of paying bills, Fox said. People may focus on whichever choice gets them through the next due date, even if it leaves them with higher costs or a payment they cant sustain.

Anxiety can also make people put their head in the sand and ignore important account details. Checking a balance or opening a statement can feel overwhelming when they dont have the money to address it. That can delay action until their choices are more limited.

Breaking the cycle

Low-income consumers were the most likely to feel trapped by a never ending cycle of credit card debt. Fox offered some advice for those trying to break out of that trap.

For someone with limited income, a debt repayment plan has to leave enough for daily life, he explained. If making a payment means putting groceries back on the card, that payment isnt producing lasting progress. Start with take-home income, subtract essential, fixed expenses, and determine what you can consistently afford to put toward debt.

If that amount wont cover the minimums, ask your card issuers about hardship programs that could reduce interest or payments. But if the balance itself is more than you can realistically repay, its worth exploring an approach that addresses the amount owed.

Fox also recommends that consumers look into debt settlement, which can be particularly helpful for people facing financial hardship.

Reducing the debt itself can put getting out of debt within reach when cutting expenses and making minimum payments havent been enough, he said. A professional assessment can help you understand whether that approach fits your circumstances and what an affordable program could look like.

Ask for help

Foxs biggest piece of advice: dont wait to ask for help.

You dont have to wait until you miss a payment to ask for help, he said. The purpose of seeking advice is to understand what could work from here, without being judged for how you got here.

Seeking help can make debt feel less isolating and give people a clearer sense of what they can do next.

Prices are softening, but affordability remains elusive

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Home sellers are cutting asking prices, giving buyers more room to negotiate but discounts may not offset higher borrowing costs.

• The average 30-year mortgage rate reached 7.40% on October 8, up from 6.30% a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac.

• The softer market can benefit buyers with cash or substantial equity, while households dependent on financing still face steep monthly payments.

The housing market is in a rare position. Buyers have an increasing level of bargaining power but many still lack the money to make the purchase. A combination of high prices and rising mortgage rates are keeping homeownership beyond many household budgets.

While sellers are becoming more willing to negotiate, the payment needed to close the deal may still exceed the buyers budget.

That gap between bargaining power and purchasing power helps explain why a softer market does not automatically translate into more affordable homeownership.

Realtor.coms September report found that the median asking price was $419,250, down 1.4% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, 20.8% of listings had price reductions, the highest share since October 2022. The stock of listings under contract fell 4.1% from September 2025. Those figures describe asking prices and listing activity, rather than a uniform decline in completed-sale prices.

Rising mortgage rates

Borrowing costs are moving in the opposite direction. Freddie Mac reported that the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage reached 7.40% on October 8, compared with 7.28% the previous week and 6.30% a year earlier.

For buyers, those competing trends can mean a cheaper house comes with a more expensive payment.

Consider a hypothetical $400,000 home purchased with a 20% down payment and a 30-year mortgage at 6%. Monthly principal and interest would total about $1,919.

Heres an example

Now suppose the seller reduces the price by $20,000, to $380,000, but the buyers mortgage rate is 7.4%. With the same percentage down payment, principal and interest would rise to about $2,105 a month.

The buyer saves 5% on the purchase price but pays approximately $186 more each month. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any mortgage insurance or association fees would add to the bill.

Selling times also require a closer look. Realtor.com reported a national median of 61 days in September, one day longer than August but one day shorter than a year earlier. However, homes were taking longer to sell in 27 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, including Baltimore and Charlotte.

The result is a market whose opportunities depend heavily on the buyers finances. A cash buyer can benefit directly from a price reduction without facing a higher mortgage rate. A homeowner carrying substantial equity into the next purchase may also need a smaller loan.

Problems for first-time buyers

For a first-time buyer financing most of the purchase, the same discount may provide much less relief. A lender evaluates whether the borrower can support the payment, and a sellers willingness to bargain cannot make an unaffordable payment fit a household budget.

Buyers who can proceed may be able to negotiate help with closing costs, repairs, or a mortgage-rate buydown. But temporary payment relief should be evaluated against the payment that takes effect when that assistance ends.

Freddie Mac also encourages borrowers to obtain multiple mortgage quotes, saying comparison shopping can potentially save thousands of dollars over a loans lifetime.

For sellers, the challenge is that an attractive discount must ultimately translate into a payment someone can manage. For buyers, the key question is whether the full cost of ownership fits their income even after the seller lowers the price.