Tag: Consumer

Santa Cruz woman falls for gift card scam, but takes quick action and gets her money back

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) — Millions of Americans fall for scams every year — and unfortunately once bad guys get your money, it’s usually gone for good.

But not so for a Santa Cruz mother of three. She fell for a gift card scam, but with quick action and help from 7 On Your Side, she got most of her money back!

It began when scammers persuaded a Santa Cruz mom that she was in big trouble with the law. She says she felt hypnotized into believing it — until her partner got home and snapped her out of it. And then, it was a race against time.

“They’re on my phone and in my purse, like, driving me around town,” Dax Mills of Santa Cruz recalled of those frantic moments.

“I’m in my pajamas. Not even like the cute ones. Like, these are pajamas you should not go out in public. I mean, I look like a crazy person,” she said.

Her identity had been stolen. Criminals were using it for drugs and pornography. She could be arrested at any moment.

Or so, she believed.

“Looking back on it I really feel like I was in a trance. Like I was hypnotized,” she said.

MORE: Bay Area software rep. lost $176K of savings after accepting remote job she thought to be with FB

“When I got home, I saw Dax in such a manic state,” said Rob Rusin, Dax’s partner.

It all started when Miller was working online from home.

“All of a sudden… my computer started making this loud alarm sound, which I’ve never heard it make, and all these windows popped up… saying like, stop, don’t touch anything,” Miller said. “I do see a phone number on the screen, like a Microsoft support number or something like that. And so I called that phone number.”

“I let him download some program on my computer. I know you’re not supposed to do that but I don’t know why I did it, he was going to help me,” she said.

The man said he found incriminating evidence on her computer.

“That my identity has been used to create all these different bank accounts in nine different countries. And these accounts are buying child pornography. And, and I’m being watched by the DEA,” Miller said.

The man said he’d transfer her to the Drug Enforcement Administration, then to the Treasury Department to clear this up.

“… and I think I’m talking to the DEA, I think I’m talking to the Treasury Department because… they’re like, just hold on, you’re going to get a call in a minute… that there’s a warrant out for my arrest,” Miller said. “That’s why I wasn’t supposed to tell anybody about what’s happening.”

MORE: With big events coming to the Bay Area, would-be concertgoers should watch for ticket scams

The purported “federal agents” told her to quickly get her money out of her bank accounts.

And put it in gift cards.

Miller rushed to her bank and withdrew $8,000 cash.

“At the bank, she’s in there in her pajamas, disheveled, pulling out cash,” recalled Rusin.

“I didn’t feel like I had time to even change clothes and put a brush through my hair,” said Miller. “Because if it wasn’t done by the end of the day, I’m going to go to jail.”

As instructed, she drove to a Safeway store and bought four Nordstrom gift cards, then to another Safeway to buy Target cards, and a third store to buy more Nordstrom cards.

“I know that you’re not supposed to go around town buying gift cards and yet I was like a zombie,” she said.

“They had her so wound up she was like in a trance,” said Rusin.

MORE: ‘Big red spot’: Bay Area 90-year-old reports skin irritation where she wears Apple Watch

“It’s not that easy to buy gift cards with that much money at a self checkout… the Safeway employee was helping me, he looked me right in my face and said, ‘Are you being scammed?’ and I said no! I actually said to him… my aunt is so quirky… she’s giving out my cousins these gift cards… Oh how cute!” Miller said.

At each stop she sat in the parking lot and scratched off the card numbers, texting them to the purported DEA agents still on the phone in her purse.

“I drove home luckily my partner arrived too,” she said.

“And she wouldn’t talk to me. I said, ‘Honey, what’s wrong, what’s going on?” Rusin said.

Miller was worried the agents would hear her talking. “And I am so terrified at this point and they’re still on the phone with me. So I grab a piece of like a pad of paper and I start writing on it,” she said.

“It was a dry erase board that she picked up and was writing ‘can’t talk,’” Rusin said.

“And I wrote down, like, ‘identity theft DEA,’” Miller recounted.

But after the scammers hung up — Miller blurted it out.

MORE: What parents need to know about tracking their kids with GPS

“She goes, ‘It’s the DEA, and they’re going to arrest me!’ And I go honey, it’s a scam. whatever you do, don’t give them any money. And she goes, I already did!” Rusin said. “She said I spent all day giving them money.”

“And I, you know, burst into tears and cried for a couple of minutes,” Miller said. “OK, enough. We can cry later, if there’s any chance of getting our money back we have to act now.”

“I got on the phone with Nordstrom,” Rusin said.

“I was on the phone with Target,” said Miller.

Target quickly blocked all five cards. Nordstrom said the scammers had already used $1,900 worth of cards, and were about to redeem another $3,000.

Nordstrom was able to stop payment – just in time!

The only problem? Miller never got that $3,000 back.

“That’s when I contacted 7 On Your Side,” she said.

MORE: AI-powered ‘cloned voice’ scams on the rise, experts warn. Here’s how to protect yourself

7 On Your Side contacted Safeway, where she bought the cards. The store contacted Nordstrom which issued a credit for those blocked cards — and days later, Safeway refunded her money.

“It was victory!” cried Miller. “Thank you 7 On Your Side.”

“You really helped us,” added Rusin.

The big lesson: if a Microsoft emergency pops up on your computer it’s almost certainly a scam. Do not call the number on the screen; instead find the real number on your own.

Also the federal government would never get on the phone with you — and would never ever tell you to buy gift cards.

Just to note, Safeway tells us Nordstrom could only recover $2,900 out of that $3,000. But Miler tells us she got about $100 in reward the day she bought the cards, so she was made whole.

A Safeway statement said:

“We’re pleased we could enlist Nordstrom to assist Mrs. Mills in recovering her funds from this deplorable gift card scam. While all gift card sales are final, and these scams are beyond our control, we appreciate Nordstrom’s willingness to make resolution possible in this case.”

Take a look at more stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 7 to 10 business days for a response.

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Stephanie Sierra

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January 28, 2026
Amazon CEO warns prices have gone up from tariffs

Some of the things people buy the most are at their most expensive point of the year as the calendar changes over to 2026. Our get the facts data team dug into what actually caused the prices of some items to go up or go down. Let’s start with beef. Right now, the average price for ground beef is 823 per pound and 967 for steaks, the highest prices for both all year. Several factors like President Trump’s tariffs. Cattle inventories and an aging farming population contributed to the increase, but so did something called the New World screwworm, *** parasitic fly that produced *** deadly disease in some places like Mexico. Another grocery staple that is more expensive now, coffee. Our get the Facts data team found the price rose each month throughout the year, maxing out at 926 cents *** pound. Two of the world’s biggest coffee producers, Brazil and Vietnam, Were impacted by drought and excessive rains earlier this year, which reduced coffee production, and Brazil saw an additional 40% tariff over the summer as well. One of the biggest talking points, especially from President Trump about the state of the economy was egg prices. They are one of the few items tracked that actually are cheapest now. Egg prices saw their biggest price hike in nearly 10 years in January, then rose to an all-time high of 623. Per dozen in March. This was in large part to ongoing bird flu outbreaks. Egg prices would start falling in the summer and are now 286 *** dozen. Some other groceries that saw increases this year, cookies, potato chips, bacon, cheddar cheese, and orange juice. But it wasn’t all increases at the supermarket. Some items are cheaper now compared to January, like pasta, white bread, tomatoes, and strawberries. In Washington, I’m Amy Lou.

If your next Amazon order seems more expensive, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs may be partially to blame, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Tuesday.Like many retailers, Amazon and its vast network of third-party sellers loaded up on inventory ahead of Trump’s tariff rollout last spring. But that supply ran out by the fall, Jassy said in a CNBC interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.“So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items,” he said. “Some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand and some are doing something in between.”The comments are a stark shift from last June, when Jassy said in a CNBC interview that the company had not seen “prices appreciably go up.” That was after Amazon drew the direct ire of Trump and members of his administration following reports that the e-commerce giant planned to display how tariffs were impacting prices.After Trump spoke with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the time, a company spokesperson told CNN the move “was never a consideration for the main Amazon.” It was only being considered for certain products on its spinoff site, Haul, which sells items below $30, the company said.On Tuesday, though, Jassy said: “We’re going to do everything we can to work with our selling partners to make prices as low as possible for consumers, but you don’t have endless options.”In a statement, though, the company told CNN that overall price levels have not changed more than expected. “While we are seeing prices for some sellers and some brands go up, overall the prices of products on Amazon have not changed outside of normal fluctuations,“ an Amazon spokesperson said.And the White House said it maintains that foreign exports are footing that tariff bill.“The average tariff imposed by America has increased by almost tenfold under President Trump, and inflation has continued to cool from Biden-era highs,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.“The Administration has consistently maintained that foreign exporters who depend on access to the American economy, the world’s biggest and best consumer market, will ultimately pay the cost of tariffs, and that’s what’s playing out,” he added.Amazon isn’t the only retailer warning of higher prices because of tariffs. Walmart, Target and Home Depot and many other companies have publicly said tariffs are making products more expensive. And while overall consumer inflation was modest last year, many businesses surveyed by the Federal Reserve in its latest Beige Book, a collection of anecdotes, warned they’re planning bigger price hikes this year.

If your next Amazon order seems more expensive, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs may be partially to blame, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Tuesday.

Like many retailers, Amazon and its vast network of third-party sellers loaded up on inventory ahead of Trump’s tariff rollout last spring. But that supply ran out by the fall, Jassy said in a CNBC interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items,” he said. “Some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand and some are doing something in between.”

The comments are a stark shift from last June, when Jassy said in a CNBC interview that the company had not seen “prices appreciably go up.” That was after Amazon drew the direct ire of Trump and members of his administration following reports that the e-commerce giant planned to display how tariffs were impacting prices.

After Trump spoke with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the time, a company spokesperson told CNN the move “was never a consideration for the main Amazon.” It was only being considered for certain products on its spinoff site, Haul, which sells items below $30, the company said.

On Tuesday, though, Jassy said: “We’re going to do everything we can to work with our selling partners to make prices as low as possible for consumers, but you don’t have endless options.”

In a statement, though, the company told CNN that overall price levels have not changed more than expected. “While we are seeing prices for some sellers and some brands go up, overall the prices of products on Amazon have not changed outside of normal fluctuations,“ an Amazon spokesperson said.

And the White House said it maintains that foreign exports are footing that tariff bill.

“The average tariff imposed by America has increased by almost tenfold under President Trump, and inflation has continued to cool from Biden-era highs,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

“The Administration has consistently maintained that foreign exporters who depend on access to the American economy, the world’s biggest and best consumer market, will ultimately pay the cost of tariffs, and that’s what’s playing out,” he added.

Amazon isn’t the only retailer warning of higher prices because of tariffs. Walmart, Target and Home Depot and many other companies have publicly said tariffs are making products more expensive. And while overall consumer inflation was modest last year, many businesses surveyed by the Federal Reserve in its latest Beige Book, a collection of anecdotes, warned they’re planning bigger price hikes this year.

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January 21, 2026
Scams to look out for when renting a house or apartment

Every
year begins with fresh starts, and for many people, that means finding a new
place to rent. That search often starts online: scrolling, clicking and
comparing what’s available.

However, Consumer Reports advises being cautious
before moving forward, to help avoid losing money and exposing personal
information on a rental that turns out not to be real.

Rental
scams are costing people millions of dollars every year.

Real estate broker
Rachel DiSalvo says a scammer stole one of her listings originally for sale
and reposted it online as a rental. Unfortunately, the people got scammed out
of money.

These types of scams aren’t just on rental websites anymore—they’re on social media, and scammers are using ads and stolen videos from
actual listings to trick renters into sending money and personal information.

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission shows renters
have reported nearly 65,000 rental scams since 2020, with losses totaling about
$65 million. And because many scams are never reported, the FTC says the real
losses are likely much higher.

People ages 18 to 29 are three times more likely than other
adults to report losing money to a rental scam. Consumer Reports says there are
ways renters can protect themselves.

First, search for the rental address online. If the same
place is listed with different prices, different contact information or listed
for sale instead of rent, that’s a red flag.

Next, be cautious about sharing personal information too
early. Before you’ve agreed to rent, a landlord doesn’t need sensitive details
like your Social Security number to run a credit check.

And if a listing is priced far below similar rentals, and
someone pressures you to move fast, that’s a sign to walk away.

Rachel says you should also avoid paying in cash. She
recommends using more secure forms of payment. Typically, she would request a
certified cashier’s check or a bank check.

Consumer Reports says there are other payment methods you
should stay away from. You should never be pressured into paying your deposit
or your rent with gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfer. If you’re being
asked to use those methods, it’s a strong sign that it may be a scam.

A
bit of caution can help keep your money and information safe.

And one more
thing to keep in mind for college renters: scammers often target Facebook
groups where students look for sublets and off-campus housing.

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January 21, 2026
What parents need to know about tracking their kids with GPS

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — If you track your children’s location using tech, you’re not alone. A 2024 survey by Pew Research Center found that one in four parents monitor their kids’ whereabouts using GPS.

But is that private data safe? Consumer Reports evaluated 15 popular kid-tracking devices, and here’s what they found.

Overall, Apple’s AirTags and Apple Watches, eufy’s SmartTrack Link, and Garmin’s Bounce performed well when it came to privacy and data security.

If you’re considering a device for your kid, Consumer Reports recommends choosing one that uses multi-factor-authentication so that not just anyone can log in to the device.

Parents should also take the time to read the documentation that comes with the device, including privacy disclosures, and go through the settings menu when first using it to make sure you’re comfortable with what’s being tracked.

Finally, Consumer Reports says you should talk to your kids and let them know what information is being shared with you, the parent, to establish trust and emphasize safety.

Access the Consumer Reports analysis here.

Take a look at more stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 7 to 10 business days for a response.

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Stephanie Sierra

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January 15, 2026
Appliances, mattresses: What Consumer Reports suggests you buy in January

If you’re feeling a little sticker shock after the holidays, you’re not alone.

January is usually a quieter month for sales but there are still smart ways to save if you know where to look. Consumer Reports breaks down the best deals you can expect this month.

After the holiday rush, many of the deep discounts in November and December disappear, that’s why it’s especially important for shoppers to know what to expect. CR closely monitors pricing trends throughout the year and has shopping tips on what big ticket items go on sale each month.

MLK weekend is the biggest sales event of the month and it’s especially good for shoppers looking to replace large appliances. You’re going to see lots of sales on mostly every large appliance there is -that includes washers, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators.

And if you’re shopping for a refrigerator, CR has found that top-freezers are more reliable than other types of refrigerators, including the coveted French-door style.

MLK weekend is also a great time to snag a deal on a mattress with major brands offering meaningful discounts, along with other items to help you sleep better. There will be plenty of bedding sales on sheets, pillows, duvet covers or anything you need to enhance your bedroom.

CR says the best pillows stabilize your neck and align it with the rest of your body. The right bedding is also key. Look for sheets in breathable fabrics like 100-percent cotton or linen.

And retailers know that January is when those New Year’s resolutions kick in! So, you’re going to see discounts on fitness tools, trackers and equipment.

If you need a new treadmill for your home gym or want a fitness tracker or a smartwatch, January is the time to look for deals on those items. CR says to be on the lookout for retailers and fitness brands that may offer special promotions not just on products themselves but subscriptions and memberships as well.

The bottom line: While January isn’t packed with bargains you can still find deals with a little research. See some specific product recommendations on Consumer Reports’ website.

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January 7, 2026
President Trump orders divestment in $2.9 million chips deal to protect US security interests

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the unraveling of a $2.9 million computer chips deal that he concluded threatened U.S. security interests if the current owner, HieFo Corp., remained in control of the technology.The executive order cast a spotlight on a business deal that drew scant attention when it was announced in May 2024 during President Joe Biden’s administration. The deal involved aerospace and defense specialist Emcore Corp. selling its computer chips and wafer fabrication operations to HieFo for $2.92 million — a price that included the assumption of about $1 million in liabilities.But Trump is now demanding that HieFo divest that technology within 180 days, citing “credible evidence” that the current owner is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.HieFo was founded by Dr. Genzao Zhang and Harry Moore. According to a press release that came out after the deal closed, plans for the technology acquired from Emcore were to be overseen by largely the same team of employees in Alhambra, California.Zhang, who was a vice president of engineering at Emcore before becoming HieFo’s CEO, pledged to “continue the pursuit of the most innovative and disruptive solutions” with technology designed for purposes that would include artificial intelligence.HieFo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s order.Emcore was a publicly traded company at the time of the HieFo deal, but was taken private last year by the investment firm Charlesbank Capital Partner.

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the unraveling of a $2.9 million computer chips deal that he concluded threatened U.S. security interests if the current owner, HieFo Corp., remained in control of the technology.

The executive order cast a spotlight on a business deal that drew scant attention when it was announced in May 2024 during President Joe Biden’s administration. The deal involved aerospace and defense specialist Emcore Corp. selling its computer chips and wafer fabrication operations to HieFo for $2.92 million — a price that included the assumption of about $1 million in liabilities.

But Trump is now demanding that HieFo divest that technology within 180 days, citing “credible evidence” that the current owner is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.

HieFo was founded by Dr. Genzao Zhang and Harry Moore. According to a press release that came out after the deal closed, plans for the technology acquired from Emcore were to be overseen by largely the same team of employees in Alhambra, California.

Zhang, who was a vice president of engineering at Emcore before becoming HieFo’s CEO, pledged to “continue the pursuit of the most innovative and disruptive solutions” with technology designed for purposes that would include artificial intelligence.

HieFo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s order.

Emcore was a publicly traded company at the time of the HieFo deal, but was taken private last year by the investment firm Charlesbank Capital Partner.

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January 2, 2026
Top 5 CPG Innovation Trends of 2025

Every year, our team steps back and looks across the hundreds of products, tests, conversations, retail walks, and consumer moments we touch. There is always a pattern hiding in the noise. Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it shows up quietly and then becomes the only thing anyone talks about a year later.

2025 was one of those years where the small signals were more revealing than the flashy headlines.

Innovation didn’t tilt in one direction. It spread out into very specific behaviors, formats, and consumer expectations that kept showing up in multiple categories. That is usually the first sign that a trend is real.

Here are the five themes our team keeps returning to. Each one has its own shape, but they all point toward the kind of innovation shoppers will reward in 2026.

An Inc.com Featured Presentation

1. Micro-occasions became the real battleground

Innovation used to chase broad needs. Better snacks. Cleaner ingredients. More flavor. Those ideas still matter, but the real action this year happened inside very narrow consumption moments. Tiny slices of the day where shoppers want something oddly specific.

Evening treats that offer comfort. Midday bites that feel functional but still taste indulgent. Seasonal flavors that capture nostalgia without drifting into gimmicks. Our team watched these micro-occasions become a strategy, not an accident. If a brand could anchor itself to a clear moment, it usually performed better.

This tells us something important about next year. Brands that define the moment clearly will separate faster, because shoppers don’t think about “snacks” or “treats” anymore. They think about what they need right now.

2. Protein kept rising, but shoppers demanded cleaner vehicles

Protein has been climbing for years, but the shift in 2025 trended more toward the delivery systems. There was a noticeable push toward products that deliver meaningful protein with fewer tradeoffs. Cleaner labels. Better textures. More sustainable formats. Less packaging waste.

Protein is no longer limited to bars and shakes. It is showing up in pastas, foams, lattes, kids’ snacks, and pantry staples. The message is clear. People want functional benefits woven into the items they already enjoy. They want it to feel natural and balanced, not bolted on.

Looking to 2026, the expectation will rise again. More thoughtful sourcing. More believable benefits. More formats that feel familiar instead of clinical.

3. Frozen became the most creative playground in the store

Our team kept finding innovation wins in frozen. Not big one-off experiments. True, thoughtful expansions that unlocked new occasions. Candy bar novelties. Fruit-forward indulgence. Classic brands stepping into frozen desserts in a way that made perfect sense once you saw it.

Frozen rewards brands that already have strong emotional equity. The category gives them a way to extend that story without confusing shoppers. It is also a place where retailers seem very willing to support disruptive ideas because frozen lifts the basket and drives repeat trips.

In 2026, expect frozen to pull in even more brands that want to stretch into new formats without overextending their identity. The category has become a safe place to take creative risks that still feel grounded.

4. Everyday functional benefits turned into expectations

This trend was everywhere. Drinks with added protein. Snacks layered with superfoods. Lattes with meaningful nutrition upgrades. Shoppers aren’t chasing miracle claims. They just want small boosts that make daily choices feel more intentional.

Functional has moved out of the “performance” world and into the mainstream. It showed up in categories that never used to carry added benefits. Families are reading labels differently. Kids are asking for products that feel like upgrades. Even quick on-the-go purchases have shifted toward items that offer a little more than flavor.

In 2026, functional will become the price of entry in many categories. Brands that ignore this shift will feel stale quickly.

5. Fan-driven innovation created instant traction

The most surprising pattern of the year came from collaboration and cocreation. When brands paid attention to what fans were already mixing, posting, or hacking together, the launches hit stronger and spread faster.

Several high-profile examples proved that shoppers respond when brands formalize something people already love. It creates trust because the demand existed before the product did. Retailers also lean in quickly because the signal is loud and honest.

Next year, more brands will study these organic behaviors. They will use real consumer creativity as a pathway to faster yeses, cleaner bets, and launches with ready-made momentum.

What all of this says about 2026

The biggest theme is clarity. Shoppers reward products that understand the moment, the benefit, the format, and the emotional cue behind the purchase. They reward simplicity with purpose. They also reward brands that innovate without overcomplicating their identity.

Innovation in 2026 will favor teams that stay close to real behavior. Teams that choose sharper occasions rather than broader claims. Teams that use frozen strategically. Teams that make functional benefits feel natural. Teams that let consumers lead the way when the signal is loud enough.

At Mission Field, we spend a lot of time helping brands read these signals and translate them into smart, testable ideas. If this year taught us anything, it is that the best innovations didn’t try to reinvent everything. They solved real moments in believable ways.

2026 will be no different.

Go inside one interesting founder-led company each day to find out how its strategy works, and what risk factors it faces. Sign up for 1 Smart Business Story from Inc. on Beehiiv.

Jonathan Tofel

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December 26, 2025
‘Massive boom!’: What to do if neighbor’s tree falls on your house, yet insurance denies your claim?

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) — Your neighbor’s tree topples your house — who’s responsible for the bill? What should you do if their insurance claims it’s not their problem?

As the Bay Area braces for the incoming atmospheric river, we have an important warning for homeowners.

This case can happen to any of us. It turned into a months-long dispute that wasn’t resolved until 7 On Your Side’s Stephanie Sierra and our team got involved.

What happened

A tree falls on your property, except… it’s not your tree. It’s technically on your neighbors’ property.

Yet, as this Castro Valley woman found out, she was being stuck with the headache and the bill.

“I was jolted out of bed. to a huge crash. I thought it was going to come through the house,” Angela Bereola said.

A year ago this week — in the midst of heavy rain and 36 mile-per-hour winds — a massive oak tree fell and damaged Bereola’s Castro Valley home.

“I couldn’t see into the backyard. Our whole back of the house went dark,” she said.

MORE: COVID patient recruited to participate in ‘free’ research study, gets hit with $6.9K bills

This 100-year-old tree was on the other side of her fence, rooted in the grounds of the Hayward Unified School District.

“We were just in disbelief. I can’t believe this is happening,” Bereola said.

The damage to her home was estimated to be $70,600.83, according to a third-party estimate. And that didn’t include damages caused when the tree was removed.

Bereola said her insurance adjuster only offered to cover just over a quarter of that cost — $19,200.86, leaving her on the hook for $51,399.97.

“This isn’t fair,” Bereola said. “It wasn’t like we were doing something that caused the tree to fall.”

MORE: 7 On Your Side helps SF resident get reimbursed for newspaper delivery damage

Bereola said after months of back and forth with the school district’s insurance authority, her claim was denied.

It’s something that could happen to any of us.

The school district’s property and cyber claims specialist wrote her: “We regret any inconvenience this event has caused and thank you for your patience and understanding during this process.”

They added in another email: “Based on our findings and applicable code, we have determined that the tree fall was an act of nature, and no liability attaches to the Hayward Unified School District.”

“It was upsetting, very much so,” Bereola said.

MORE: Bay Area family gets $5,000 bill for sitting in an ER waiting room. Here’s how 7 On Your Side helped

According to the district’s investigation findings: “there were no signs of disease, decay or structural weakness… that would have indicated instability.” They added: “the property had no prior complaints that would give the district knowledge of this unforeseeable event.”

Janet Ruiz with the Insurance Information Institute said if this happens to you, it’s best to reach out to your insurance provider first.

“Generally speaking, if a tree falls and damages property and there’s insurance involved, the insurance should pay for the damage,” Ruiz said.

Bereola said she went back to her insurer, requesting full payment and provided the requested documentation — but for months she said she never got a response.

“They stopped responding,” she said. “It was like they blocked us out.”

MORE: South Bay family loses water after fire they say PG&E caused during unexpected visit to property

That’s when she called 7 On Your Side.

“I was scared,” Bereola said. “What else can I do? Who do I know? Honestly, 7 On Your Side came to mind.”

Our team followed up with Assurant Insurance and were told Bereola received the supplemental payment adding: “Assurant has connected with Ms. Bereola… She has expressed satisfaction with the resolution and next steps. Delivering an exceptional customer experience remains our priority, and we are committed to consistently meeting and exceeding that standard.”

“I was very relieved to have 7 On Your Side support us,” Bereola said, tearing up. “Sorry, it was a lot… (It was a) huge weight lifted off my shoulders.”

And the roof is fixed, back on her house.

Thankfully, in the end, Bereola got the money needed to fix her roof. But even a year later, Bereola’s fence is still not completely fixed after this ordeal — boarded up ahead of this next storm.

Bottom line

It’s an important reminder that even if a hazard isn’t physically on your property, it doesn’t mean it’s not your problem.

If something similar happens to you, be sure to take a lot of pictures, always get any evaluations and estimates in writing and if you make temporary repairs, keep your receipts — those can also be reimbursed by your insurance.

Take a look at more stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 7 to 10 business days for a response.

Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Stephanie Sierra

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December 17, 2025
VCs discuss why most consumer AI startups still lack staying power | TechCrunch

Even three years after the generative AI boom started, most AI startups are still making money by selling to businesses, not individual consumers.

Although consumers quickly adopted general-purpose LLMs like ChatGPT, most specialized consumer GenAI applications have yet to resonate.

“A lot of early AI applications around video, audio, and photo were super cool,” said Chi-Hua Chien, co-founder and managing partner at Goodwater Capital, onstage at TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event in early December. “But then Sora and Nano Banana came out, and the Chinese open sourced their video models. And so, a lot of those opportunities disappeared.”

Chien compares some of those applications to the simple flashlight, which was initially a popular third-party download after the iPhone launched in 2008 but was quickly integrated into iOS itself.

He argued that, just as it took a few years for the smartphone platform to solidify before game-changing consumer apps emerged, AI platforms need a similar period of “stabilization” for lasting AI consumer products to flourish.

“I think we’re right on the cusp of the equivalent to mobile of the 2009-2010 era,” Chien said. That period was the birth of massive mobile-first consumer businesses like Uber and Airbnb.

We could be seeing inklings of that stabilization with Google’s Gemini reaching technological parity with ChatGPT, Chien said.

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Elizabeth Weil, founder and partner at Scribble Ventures, echoed Chien’s sentiment about the early days of GenAI, describing the current state of consumer AI applications as being in an “awkward teenage middle ground.”

What will it take for consumer AI startups to grow up? Possibly a new device beyond the smartphone.

“It’s unlikely that a device that you pick up 500 times a day but only sees 3% to 5% of what you see is going to be what ultimately introduces the use cases that take full advantage of AI’s capabilities,” Chien said.

Weil agreed that a smartphone may be too limiting for reimagining consumer AI products in large part because it is not ambient. “I don’t think we’re going to be building for this in five years,” she said, indicating her iPhone as she showed it to the audience.

Startups and incumbent tech companies have been racing to build a new personal device that can supplant smartphones.

OpenAI and Apple’s former design chief, Jony Ive, are working on what’s rumored to be a “screenless,” pocket-sized device. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are controlled by a wristband that detects subtle gestures. Meanwhile, a number of startups are trying, with often disappointing results, to introduce a pin, pendant, or ring that uses AI in a way different from how smartphones do.

However, not every AI consumer product will be dependent on a new device. Chien suggested that one such offering could be a personal AI financial adviser customized to the user’s specific needs. Similarly, Weil anticipates that a personalized, “always-on” tutor will become ubiquitous, with its specialized tutelage delivered directly from a smartphone.

Though excited by AI’s potential, Weil and Chien expressed skepticism about the emergence of several, still-stealthy AI-powered social network startups. Chien said these companies are building networks where thousands of AI bots are interacting with the user’s content.

“It turns social into a single-player game. I’m not sure that it works,” he said. “The reason that people enjoy social networking is the understanding that there are real humans on the other side.”

Marina Temkin

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December 15, 2025
How to spot real savings on Travel Tuesday

Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday.In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend with another post-Thanksgiving sales push: Travel Tuesday.On the same day as the nonprofit world’s Giving Tuesday, airlines, hotels, cruise ship companies, travel booking platforms and tour operators get in on the annual spirit to spend by promoting one-day deals. Consumer advocates say there are legitimate savings to be had but also chances to be misled by marketing that conveys a false sense of urgency.”People see ‘40% off’ and assume it’s a once-in-a-lifetime steal, without recognizing that the underlying price may have been inflated or that the same itinerary was cheaper last month.” Sally French, a travel expert at personal finance site NerdWallet, said.She and other seasoned travelers advised consumers who want to see if they can save money by booking trips on Travel Tuesday to do research in advance and to pay especially close attention to the fine print attached to offers.People hoping to score last-minute deals for Christmas or New Year’s should double-check for blackout dates or other restrictions, recommended Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer expert for the online travel site Hopper.It’s also wise to to keep an eye out for nonrefundable fares, resort fees, double occupancy requirements or upgrade conditions that may be hidden within advertised discounts, according to French.Shoppers should be wary of travel packages with extra transportation options or add-on offers, French said. Instead of lowering fares or room rates, some companies use statement credits, extra points, included amenities and bundled extras as a way to tempt potential customers, she said.“Many travel brands want to keep sticker prices high to maintain an aura of luxury, but they still need to fill planes, ships and hotel rooms,” French said. “Add-on perks are their workaround.”Consumers who are prepared rather than impulsive and on the lookout for the up-sell are in a much better position to identify authentic bargains, consumer experts stressed. Knowing what a specific trip would typically cost and comparison shopping can help expose offers based on inflated underlying costs and whether the same itinerary might have been cheaper at other times, they said.“Compare prices, check your calendar and make sure the trip you’re booking is something you genuinely want, not something you bought because a countdown timer pressured you,” French said. “What gets glossed over is that the best deal might be not booking anything at all if it doesn’t align with your plans.”Travel Tuesday came about based on existing industry trends. In 2017, Hopper analyzed historical pricing data and found that in each of the nine previous years, the biggest day for post-Thanksgiving travel discounts was the day after Cyber Monday.The site named the day Travel Tuesday. The number of offers within that time-targeted window and the number of travelers looking for them has since expanded.“Nearly three times as many trips were planned on Travel Tuesday last year compared to Black Friday,” Hopper’s Schwimer said. “We continue to see growth in the day, year over year, as more travel brands and categories offer deals.”The event’s origin story is in line with the National Retail Federation coining Cyber Monday in 2005 as a response to the emerging e-commerce era. American Express came up with Small Business Saturday in 2010 to direct buyers and their dollars to smaller retailers, credit card fees and all.A report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company last year noted that November and December tend to be slow months for travel bookings, making Travel Tuesday a “marketing moment” that could help boost revenue.Hotel, cruise and and airline bookings by U.S. travelers increased significantly on Travel Tuesday 2023 compared with the two weeks before and after the day, the report’s authors wrote, citing data provided by the travel marketing platform Sojern.While Travel Tuesday so far has been mostly confined to the United States and Canada, “European travel companies can anticipate the possibility that Travel Tuesday will become a growing phenomenon in their region, given that other shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have spread beyond North America,” the report stated.Vivek Pandya, lead insights analyst for Adobe Analytics, which tracks online spending, said consumers have more tools than ever this holiday season to help them determine if deals hold up to scrutiny.“Social journeys, influencers providing promo codes and values, and generative AI platforms taking all that in – the prices, the social conversation, the reviews – and giving guidance to the consumer, that’s a very different, dynamic kind of journey consumers are taking than they have in previous seasons,” Pandya said.Both he and French emphasized that prices rise and fall based on multiple factors, and that the winter holidays are not the only major promotional period of the year.“We now have dozens of consumer spending ‘holidays,’” French said. “Amazon alone keeps adding new versions of Prime Day. So if you don’t buy on Travel Tuesday, you haven’t missed your moment.”

Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday.

In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend with another post-Thanksgiving sales push: Travel Tuesday.

On the same day as the nonprofit world’s Giving Tuesday, airlines, hotels, cruise ship companies, travel booking platforms and tour operators get in on the annual spirit to spend by promoting one-day deals. Consumer advocates say there are legitimate savings to be had but also chances to be misled by marketing that conveys a false sense of urgency.

“People see ‘40% off’ and assume it’s a once-in-a-lifetime steal, without recognizing that the underlying price may have been inflated or that the same itinerary was cheaper last month.” Sally French, a travel expert at personal finance site NerdWallet, said.

She and other seasoned travelers advised consumers who want to see if they can save money by booking trips on Travel Tuesday to do research in advance and to pay especially close attention to the fine print attached to offers.

People hoping to score last-minute deals for Christmas or New Year’s should double-check for blackout dates or other restrictions, recommended Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer expert for the online travel site Hopper.

It’s also wise to to keep an eye out for nonrefundable fares, resort fees, double occupancy requirements or upgrade conditions that may be hidden within advertised discounts, according to French.

Shoppers should be wary of travel packages with extra transportation options or add-on offers, French said. Instead of lowering fares or room rates, some companies use statement credits, extra points, included amenities and bundled extras as a way to tempt potential customers, she said.

“Many travel brands want to keep sticker prices high to maintain an aura of luxury, but they still need to fill planes, ships and hotel rooms,” French said. “Add-on perks are their workaround.”

Consumers who are prepared rather than impulsive and on the lookout for the up-sell are in a much better position to identify authentic bargains, consumer experts stressed. Knowing what a specific trip would typically cost and comparison shopping can help expose offers based on inflated underlying costs and whether the same itinerary might have been cheaper at other times, they said.

“Compare prices, check your calendar and make sure the trip you’re booking is something you genuinely want, not something you bought because a countdown timer pressured you,” French said. “What gets glossed over is that the best deal might be not booking anything at all if it doesn’t align with your plans.”

Travel Tuesday came about based on existing industry trends. In 2017, Hopper analyzed historical pricing data and found that in each of the nine previous years, the biggest day for post-Thanksgiving travel discounts was the day after Cyber Monday.

The site named the day Travel Tuesday. The number of offers within that time-targeted window and the number of travelers looking for them has since expanded.

“Nearly three times as many trips were planned on Travel Tuesday last year compared to Black Friday,” Hopper’s Schwimer said. “We continue to see growth in the day, year over year, as more travel brands and categories offer deals.”

The event’s origin story is in line with the National Retail Federation coining Cyber Monday in 2005 as a response to the emerging e-commerce era. American Express came up with Small Business Saturday in 2010 to direct buyers and their dollars to smaller retailers, credit card fees and all.

A report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company last year noted that November and December tend to be slow months for travel bookings, making Travel Tuesday a “marketing moment” that could help boost revenue.

Hotel, cruise and and airline bookings by U.S. travelers increased significantly on Travel Tuesday 2023 compared with the two weeks before and after the day, the report’s authors wrote, citing data provided by the travel marketing platform Sojern.

While Travel Tuesday so far has been mostly confined to the United States and Canada, “European travel companies can anticipate the possibility that Travel Tuesday will become a growing phenomenon in their region, given that other shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have spread beyond North America,” the report stated.

Vivek Pandya, lead insights analyst for Adobe Analytics, which tracks online spending, said consumers have more tools than ever this holiday season to help them determine if deals hold up to scrutiny.

“Social journeys, influencers providing promo codes and values, and generative AI platforms taking all that in – the prices, the social conversation, the reviews – and giving guidance to the consumer, that’s a very different, dynamic kind of journey consumers are taking than they have in previous seasons,” Pandya said.

Both he and French emphasized that prices rise and fall based on multiple factors, and that the winter holidays are not the only major promotional period of the year.

“We now have dozens of consumer spending ‘holidays,’” French said. “Amazon alone keeps adding new versions of Prime Day. So if you don’t buy on Travel Tuesday, you haven’t missed your moment.”

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November 29, 2025
Black Friday shoppers spend more time looking for deals but less money amid economic angst

Black Friday shoppers flocked to stores, hoping to get more bags for their buck as they grapple with inflation, tariffs and anxiety about the health of the economy.

Citadel Outlets in Commerce was mobbed Friday morning with long waits for parking and winding lines in front of stores as consumers tried to grab good deals. Camila Romero and her 13-year-old daughter spent hours in line trying to get the best possible deals on Ugg and Coach items on their wish lists.

“You come to the Citadel because it’s outlets. And it’s discounts on top of that,” she said. “So even when you’re broke, you don’t feel it.”

Shoppers across Los Angeles plan to spend less this holiday season, data show. While retailers tease their biggest deals and prepare for what they hope is robust demand, a Deloitte survey found that Angelenos plan to spend 14% less over the holidays compared with last year.

Nationally, shoppers are expected to spend 10% less than last year.

Consumers are pulling back on spending in response to economic uncertainty and rising prices, said Rebecca Lohrey, a partner at Deloitte with expertise in retail and e-commerce.

“There is at least a perception of higher prices and higher costs of goods,” Lohrey said. “That is a concern for consumers across the board, and is one of the reasons they’re tightening their wallets a little bit.”

The survey found that 62% of Angelenos expect the economy to weaken in the year ahead, up from 34% in 2024. Around the same percentage of respondents said they are concerned about a potential recession in the next six months.

Across income groups, consumers are making cost-cutting trade-offs and putting more emphasis on finding the best deal, the data showed. More than half of Los Angeles respondents said they would switch brands if their first choice was too expensive.

“It tends to be the lower income brackets or the middle income brackets that are the most likely to trade down,” said Collin Colburn, vice president of commerce and retail media at the Interactive Advertising Bureau. “This year, actually, everyone is trading down.”

Camryn Smith and her daughter showed up to snoop around for the deals at the Americana at Brand in Glendale early Friday morning. The discounts help knock off some of the effect of inflation, she said.

“The prices are higher and they just bring them down to what they normally would be,” Smith said. “It’s crazy.”

Consumers are fatigued from continuous inflation and instability brought on by the Trump administration. More shoppers are regifting or considering giving homemade gifts, the Deloitte survey found.

“We’ve been in an environment where prices continue to rise for a host of reasons, inflation being one, tariffs being another,” Colburn said. “I think when that happens year on year, it really drags on the consumer.”

This means more shoppers are looking for ways to save on purchases — and presents — they cannot put off.

The National Retail Federation predicts that a record number of Americans will shop the sales over Thanksgiving weekend. Retail sales in November and December are expected to grow between 3.7% and 4.2% compared with last year, the federation said.

Cautious consumers are more eager than ever to find a hot deal, said NRF chief economist Mark Mathews.

“People are changing the way that they spend,” he said. “They’re focusing more on stretching their dollar and getting value for the dollar.”

Even shoppers spending more than usual may be doing it out of concern, economists say. Consumers who anticipate inflation sometimes spend now out of fear that prices will rise later.

Brooklyn Farmer braved the crowds at Citadel to shop and try to save amid inflation.

“People are struggling right now, but the holidays are still important to them,” he said. “The thinking is if there’s going to be discounts like this, I might as well go while I can, instead of spending more later.”

Of those surveyed by Deloitte in Los Angeles, 43% said they planned to spend most of their holiday budget at big-box retailers and 32% said they would spend the most at digital-first retailers.

Shoppers are also using new tools to help them find products and deals, including artificial intelligence. Data collected by the Interactive Advertising Bureau found that AI now ranks as the second-most influential shopping source, ahead of retailers’ websites and apps and behind only search engines.

Nearly 90% of shoppers nationally said AI helps them find products they wouldn’t have found otherwise, according to the IAB data.

Mattel, the El Segundo-based toy company, is offering up to 50% off at Target on Hot Wheels, Barbie dolls and Disney Princess toys, said company spokesperson Kelly Powers.

“Mattel is working closely with retailers across the country on Black Friday deals,” Powers said.

In May, Mattel said it was considering raising its prices to offset the effect of President Trump’s tariffs on China..

On the October earnings call, however, the company said the full effect of tariffs won’t be seen until the fourth quarter.

Discount retailers that depend heavily on foot traffic have given conflicting signals about their business.

Walmart recently raised its sales forecast for the year after reporting a 6% year-over-year increase in revenue in the third quarter.

Target, in contrast, missed analyst expectations and reported a 1.5% decline in sales in the third quarter. On a call with analysts earlier this month, Target Chief Executive Brian Cornell said the company “has not been performing up to its potential.”

Of course, for many shoppers on Friday, the pilgrimage to splurge at the local mall was about more than saving.

Ericka Pentasuglia brought her daughter to the Americana the Brand at around 3 a.m. to be the first in line for a pop-up store selling Billie Eilish perfume. She thought it was important for her to pass down the tradition of Black Friday shopping.

“I do feel like it is dying a little bit,” Pentasuglia said. “The best thing is that you don’t lose a tradition, it continues to your children.”

Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Christopher Buchanan, Gavin J. Quinton

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November 28, 2025
Holiday Shopping Trends Brands Must Know This Season

Getting crafty about cutting corners, consumers are changing their approach to holiday shopping. Against a background of intimidating inflation and tariff costs, the traditional peak spending season is moving away from the short, sharp spending spree that it has always been associated with. Instead, shoppers are shunning impulse buys for a more measured, strategic, and information-led approach.

Recent holiday shopping reports help identify these trends. Here’s what they mean for your business’s holiday shopping season strategy.

Important holiday shopping trends for 2025

The distinctive consciousness of the 2025 shopper is defined by three changes: a combination or hybrid of online and in-person shopping, calculated trade-offs to mitigate inflation, and starting the holiday shopping earlier.

An Inc.com Featured Presentation

These holiday shopping trends introduce a new consumer character that brands must adapt to, and reminds us that dynamism and close attention to consumer sentiment are indispensable.

1. The relationship between hybrid shopping and holiday shopping

Rather than separate options, both online and in-person shopping are playing a part in the customer journey.

Seventy-seven percent of consumers are searching for items on their mobile devices even while in the store. Combining the convenience of online reviews and research with the advantages of in-person purchasing, consumers are blending both worlds to get the best customer experience.

2. Inflation is changing consumer behavior

While many plan to spend less in their holiday shopping this year, another take is that consumers will spend the same, while changing their shopping behavior.

For example, holiday shopping data suggests that 81 percent plan to focus on gift cards this holiday, as more are assessing purchases for their necessity, price, and long-term value.

3. Consumers are beginning holiday shopping earlier

It seems that shoppers are turning their backs on the traditional holiday splurge, that slim seasonal shopping window defined by Black Friday and other flash sales.

The PissedConsumer survey reveals that 46.7 percent of consumers planned to start their holiday shopping between August and October, whereas stores are also changing their calendars to meet this change in buying behavior.

Online reviews affect holiday shopping behaviors

Trust and customer loyalty are even more valuable to your business during times of economic uncertainty. Holiday shopping statistics indicate that consumers are becoming increasingly cautious about where their money goes, and are looking for assurance through social proof found via online reviews and social media.

Indeed, 89 percent of consumers note that negative reviews influence their purchase decisions. A well-executed online review management strategy could shape holiday shopping for your brand more than any other aspect of business.

Understand the new needs

Holiday shopping trends in 2025 are defined by a cautious consumer looking for value, flexibility, and brands that listen. A receptive approach is the answer. The customer experience during the holiday season shopping has to be prioritized, and your brand must satisfy the emerging need for hybrid, value-focused shopping that meets the consumer’s need to feel that their money is being spent prudently and wisely.

The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

Michael Podolsky

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November 26, 2025
Gift ideas for the technology lovers on your shopping list

article

DALLAS – These gadgets are sure to be at the top of every holiday wish list!

MORE: Steve Noviello’s Holiday Gift Guide

Casetify Cases and MagSafe Accessories

Whether it’s cases or accessories, Casetify has you covered. Their full line offers style and convenience, including their BioVeg Wallet to keep all your essentials together, with a slim profile that secures to your phone with a powerful MagSafe-compatible attachment. They come in a variety of different prints, styles, colors and have the ability to be customized to truly match your personal style. | Buy It

Mixx Revival 55 Portable Suitcase Vinyl Record Player

MIXX Revival 55 Vinyl Record Player

Rediscover the magic of vinyl with the MIXX Revival 55 Vinyl Record Player. Featuring Bluetooth output to stream your records to external speakers and Bluetooth input for playing digital music through built-in stereo speakers, this versatile turntable combines retro charm with modern convenience. | Buy It

VUEROID S1 4K Infinite AI Dash Cam

VUEROID S1 4K Infinite AI dash cam is an AI-powered high-resolution 4K automotive dash cam that captures reliable, high-quality evidence for accidents and other RV and automotive incidents. | Buy It

Rockster Cross Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

ROCKSTER CROSS Wireless Speaker

The Fender x Teufel ROCKSTER CROSS straddles the border between maximum portability and powerful true stereo sound and comes jam-packed full of the finest in audio technology. Switch on Outdoor Mode to boost the bass for wide open spaces. Comes with an original Fender guitar strap and 16 hours of battery life. | Buy It

Pinwheel Smartwatch For Kids

Designed for ages 7 – 14, the Pinwheel Watch is the first and only smartwatch with a parent-monitored, voice-to-text AI chat app. It gives kids a little independence to call and text with parent-approved contacts only and includes GPS tracking, a camera and games. Theres no open internet and no social media for total peace of mind. | Buy It

Dell 32 Plus 4k QD-OLED Monitor

Be captivated by the sound and visuals on the world’s first QD-OLED monitor with AI-enhanced 3D Spatial Audio. The 4K 120Hz QD-OLED display delivers outstanding clarity, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast for a true cinematic feel. | Buy It

Timekettle AI Translation T1

Timekettle T1 AI Translator

Perfect for globetrotters and language lovers alike, the Timekettle T1 AI Translator is a sleek, pocket-sized device which translates 39 languages in real time—even without Wi-Fi—thanks to its powerful offline capabilities and built-in global data (free for 2 years). With lightning-fast 0.2-second response time, photo translation, and smart features like automatic currency and time zone updates, the T1 makes international travel smoother, smarter, and stress-free. Whether they’re navigating a new city or bartering at a local market, the T1 helps travelers connect confidently and meaningfully across any language barriers. | Buy It

BuBlueVortex V5

The Bublue BuVortex V5 is an innovative robotic pool skimmer that combines advanced technology with user-friendly features. Its industry-first Active Suction Technology generates a powerful vortex suction force capable of capturing debris as large as leaves and as fine as 0.2mm particles, including oil films. The 3-in-1 design offers two cleaning modes—Auto Mode for general surface cleaning and CornerBoost Mode for focused corner cleaning, ensuring comprehensive pool maintenance. | Buy It

Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus 4k Projector

Epson Lifestudio Flex Pus 4k Projector

Turn any gathering into an unforgettable event with the Lifestudio Flex Plus portable lifestyle projector. Delivering a sharp 4K PRO-UHD¹ picture up to 150″, it transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Set the perfect vibe with built-in ambient lighting that casts a soft, colorful glow, 1,000 Lumens of Color Brightness and 1,000 Lumens of White Brightness. Plus enjoy immersive sound that fills the room with the world’s first smart streaming projectors featuring Sound by Bose technology. Built-in Google TV⁴ puts over 10,000 streaming apps at your fingertips⁵, including Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. | Buy It

Make Music Count, Learn and Play Piano

Make music count transforms math practice into an exciting musical journey. The app includes education and entertainment helping students learn essential math skills while having fun playing real songs! | Buy It

Ecoflow Rapid Pro Power Bank

Ecoflow Rapid Pro Power Bank

This premium power bank is designed for fast charging, making it the ideal companions for business travelers or those on the go. Charge in only 20 minutes while maintaining peace of mind thanks to temperature sensor checks which adjust to prevent overheating 10 million times each day. Sleek and secure. | Buy It

LOCKLY Visage Facial Recognition Smart Lock

Your Face is Your Key: Unlock your smart lock for front door effortlessly with Lockly Visage’s advanced facial recognition technology – just walk up, and the lock detects your face to open automatically. Dual infrared sensors ensure accuracy in any lighting, even at night. Your facial data is encrypted and stored securely on the device, ensuring privacy and safety for your home. 6 ways to unlock including Apple Homek Key, fingerprint, physical key, Alexa and a virtual keypad. | Buy It

Casseta by Lutron Smart Outdoor Plug

Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug

Whether it’s for holiday lights or year round accessories, the Caseta Weatherproof+ Outdoor Smart Plug is an IP66-rated IoT Smart Plug, providing protection against dust, dirt, and severe rainfall. This Outdoor Automation Tool is built to last, capable of withstanding temperatures from -4 to 122 F. Incorporate a Lutron Caseta Smart Hub for enhanced smart control. This plug is compatible with Alexa, the Google Assistant, Apple Home, Ring, and more, allowing control via your preferred voice assistant, the Lutron app, or a Pico remote (sold separately). | Buy It

MIXX StreamQ TV Transmitter and Headphones

MIXX StreamQ TV Headphones and Audio Transmitter Bundle

Enhance your home entertainment with the MIXX StreamQ TV Headphones and Audio Transmitter Bundle. Featuring immersive 3D Surround Sound and Voice Mode for crystal-clear dialogue with up to 40 hours of battery life, on-ear controls, and hands-free calling. The comfortable over-ear fit, soft ear cushions, and foldable design make it ideal for long listening sessions and travel. Plus, the Mixx StreamPort Audio Transmitter enables wireless audio streaming from your TV, smartphone, or sound system so you can listen even when others don’t want to. | Buy It

Mobvoi Ticnote

With a versatile dual recording engine, TicNote captures crystal-clear audio in any scenario. Pair it with TicNote’s app to integrate advanced AI capabilities, enabling swift, accurate transcription and summarization in over 120 languages. Go beyond basic notes to create automatic Mind Maps, interact via AI Chat, and get comprehensive meeting minutes, enhancing both productivity and intelligence. | Buy It

MORE: Steve Noviello’s Holiday Gift Guide

The Source: FOX Consumer reporter Steve Noviello compiled this list from the more than 100 products submitted for review for the 2025 FOX Holiday Gift Guide.

News Consumer

Steve.Noviello@fox.com (Steve Noviello)

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November 25, 2025
Amazon is issuing Prime refunds as part of an FTC settlement. Here’s who’s eligible and what you’ll get

Amazon began the process of issuing refunds to eligible Prime members this week as part of a large settlement the company agreed to over federal allegations that it misled customers.Related video above: Amazon Scam exposed — Don’t fall for this refund text trickIn 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Amazon. In it, and in media releases since, the FTC has said the company “enrolled millions of people in Prime subscriptions without their consent – and then made it hard for those unwilling Prime subscribers to cancel.”On Sept. 25, 2025, Amazon, without admitting liability, reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC. “Amazon and our executives have always followed the law and this settlement allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers,” Amazon said upon reaching the settlement. “We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world. We will continue to do so, and look forward to what we’ll deliver for Prime members in the coming years.”As part of the agreement, Amazon agreed to offer $1.5 billion in refunds to eligible customers. So, do you qualify? Here’s everything we know about the Amazon refunds.When are refund payments being sent out? Amazon has already started the process of issuing automatic refunds to eligible Prime customers. The automatic payments began being doled out on Nov. 12, and that process will continue through Dec. 24, 2025. How much money will I get? According to the FTC, under the settlement, eligible Prime customers can receive a refund of their Amazon Prime subscription fees, up to $51.Who is eligible for the automatic refunds? To qualify for the automatic refund, you had to have signed up for Amazon Prime in the U.S. between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025.Customers only qualify if they signed up for an Amazon Prime subscription through a “challenged enrollment flow,” which the FTC says includes “the universal Prime decision page, shipping selection page, single page checkout, or the Prime Video enrollment flow.”If you’re unsure of whether you signed up through a challenged enrollment flow, you don’t need to worry. According to an FAQ document linked to the FTC’s alert about the refund payments, “you will not need to determine whether or not you signed up through a Challenged Enrollment Flow. That analysis is being completed for you.”Furthermore, to qualify, you must have used no more than three “Amazon Prime Benefits” in “any 12-month period following Amazon Prime enrollment,” according to the FTC. Those benefits include Prime Music or Prime Video products offered for free to Prime subscribers.How will payments be issued? Those who are eligible will receive an email. The FTC says refunds must be accepted within 15 days. Refunds can be issued via PayPal or Venmo. However, those who would rather get a check should “ignore the email from Amazon,” the FTC said in its alert. If you do not claim the PayPal or Venmo payment, a check will be sent to the default shipping address listed on your Prime subscription. The checks must be cashed within 60 days, the FTC said.What if I didn’t get an automatic refund?If you think you are eligible but don’t get an automatic refund, the FTC says you “don’t need to do anything right now.””In 2026, Amazon will begin its claims process for eligible Prime customers who didn’t get an automatic refund between November and December 2025,” the FTC said in its alert, adding, “You don’t need to contact the FTC to receive a refund.”The FTC said it will update its “Amazon Refunds” webpage when the claims process begins.You can also sign up to receive emails by going to this website.Don’t fall for scamsIn its alert about the automatic refunds, the FTC is cautioning consumers that the FTC “will never ask you to pay to get a refund.””Don’t pay anyone who promises you a refund in exchange for a fee. And don’t give personal information to anyone who contacts you promising a refund,” the FTC said.

Amazon began the process of issuing refunds to eligible Prime members this week as part of a large settlement the company agreed to over federal allegations that it misled customers.

Related video above: Amazon Scam exposed — Don’t fall for this refund text trick

In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Amazon. In it, and in media releases since, the FTC has said the company “enrolled millions of people in Prime subscriptions without their consent – and then made it hard for those unwilling Prime subscribers to cancel.”

On Sept. 25, 2025, Amazon, without admitting liability, reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC.

“Amazon and our executives have always followed the law and this settlement allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers,” Amazon said upon reaching the settlement. “We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world. We will continue to do so, and look forward to what we’ll deliver for Prime members in the coming years.”

As part of the agreement, Amazon agreed to offer $1.5 billion in refunds to eligible customers.

So, do you qualify? Here’s everything we know about the Amazon refunds.

When are refund payments being sent out?

Amazon has already started the process of issuing automatic refunds to eligible Prime customers.

The automatic payments began being doled out on Nov. 12, and that process will continue through Dec. 24, 2025.

How much money will I get?

According to the FTC, under the settlement, eligible Prime customers can receive a refund of their Amazon Prime subscription fees, up to $51.

Who is eligible for the automatic refunds?

To qualify for the automatic refund, you had to have signed up for Amazon Prime in the U.S. between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025.

Customers only qualify if they signed up for an Amazon Prime subscription through a “challenged enrollment flow,” which the FTC says includes “the universal Prime decision page, shipping selection page, single page checkout, or the Prime Video enrollment flow.”

If you’re unsure of whether you signed up through a challenged enrollment flow, you don’t need to worry. According to an FAQ document linked to the FTC’s alert about the refund payments, “you will not need to determine whether or not you signed up through a Challenged Enrollment Flow. That analysis is being completed for you.”

Furthermore, to qualify, you must have used no more than three “Amazon Prime Benefits” in “any 12-month period following Amazon Prime enrollment,” according to the FTC.

Those benefits include Prime Music or Prime Video products offered for free to Prime subscribers.

How will payments be issued?

Those who are eligible will receive an email. The FTC says refunds must be accepted within 15 days.

Refunds can be issued via PayPal or Venmo. However, those who would rather get a check should “ignore the email from Amazon,” the FTC said in its alert. If you do not claim the PayPal or Venmo payment, a check will be sent to the default shipping address listed on your Prime subscription. The checks must be cashed within 60 days, the FTC said.

What if I didn’t get an automatic refund?

If you think you are eligible but don’t get an automatic refund, the FTC says you “don’t need to do anything right now.”

“In 2026, Amazon will begin its claims process for eligible Prime customers who didn’t get an automatic refund between November and December 2025,” the FTC said in its alert, adding, “You don’t need to contact the FTC to receive a refund.”

The FTC said it will update its “Amazon Refunds” webpage when the claims process begins.

You can also sign up to receive emails by going to this website.

Don’t fall for scams

In its alert about the automatic refunds, the FTC is cautioning consumers that the FTC “will never ask you to pay to get a refund.”

“Don’t pay anyone who promises you a refund in exchange for a fee. And don’t give personal information to anyone who contacts you promising a refund,” the FTC said.

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November 21, 2025
New Text to 911 service allows you to reach help without cell reception. Here’s how it works

Have you ever been in or traveling through an area where there is no or low traditional cell service and thought, “What if I had an emergency and needed to call 911?”Now, because of a well-known cell service provider’s connection to a popular network of satellites, there’s a solution when you have an emergency and are off the grid and out of reach of a terrestrial cell tower’s signal.Related video above: A different new piece of technology helps guide rescuers to woman stuck in swampThe service is called Text to 911, and its availability is all thanks to T-Mobile’s new T-Satellite with Starlink, a service that, according to a recent release from the mobile carrier, was rolled out in July and connects compatible phones to an array of Starlink satellites orbiting the Earth.But if you’re not a T-Mobile customer, don’t fret. You don’t need to be a subscriber of the provider to use Text to 911. The service is available to anyone in the U.S. who has a compatible, satellite-capable iPhone or Android phone, and is designed to work anywhere in the 500,000 square miles of the U.S. not reached by traditional cell towers.That means even customers of providers like AT&T and Verizon can sign up for Text to 911.How to sign up for and use Text to 911While the service is free to use, non-T-Mobile customers are required to sign up in advance to use Text to 911. That can be done on the company’s website. The company said T-Mobile customers can add the service under “Manage Data & Add-Ons’” in their account or in T-Life. You don’t need to take any special action to use Text to 911. The mobile provider says that all you need is a view of the sky, and that using the service is just like sending a normal text message. All you need to do is enter a message on your phone’s native messaging app and enter 911 in the number field. From there, all you’ll need to do is hit “send.”While some areas around the U.S. already have the ability to text 911, this new service allows users to do so even when they can’t get reception from a traditional cell tower. If that’s the case, Text to 911 finds you a signal from a satellite up in space.The company said it “was a no-brainer” to make Text to 911 available and free for any person who enrolls and has a compatible phone.“There’s a good chance you’ve had that moment in your life at some point. Badly rolled ankle deep into a backcountry hike. Stuck in a tree well while skiing. Flat tire on a backcountry road. Or a million other situations that require access to emergency services in a place without cell service. It’s an absolutely terrifying feeling that we don’t want anyone to have ever again,” Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products for T-Mobile, said in announcing the availability of Text to 911 on Nov. 5.

Have you ever been in or traveling through an area where there is no or low traditional cell service and thought, “What if I had an emergency and needed to call 911?”

Now, because of a well-known cell service provider’s connection to a popular network of satellites, there’s a solution when you have an emergency and are off the grid and out of reach of a terrestrial cell tower’s signal.

Related video above: A different new piece of technology helps guide rescuers to woman stuck in swamp

The service is called Text to 911, and its availability is all thanks to T-Mobile’s new T-Satellite with Starlink, a service that, according to a recent release from the mobile carrier, was rolled out in July and connects compatible phones to an array of Starlink satellites orbiting the Earth.

But if you’re not a T-Mobile customer, don’t fret. You don’t need to be a subscriber of the provider to use Text to 911.

The service is available to anyone in the U.S. who has a compatible, satellite-capable iPhone or Android phone, and is designed to work anywhere in the 500,000 square miles of the U.S. not reached by traditional cell towers.

That means even customers of providers like AT&T and Verizon can sign up for Text to 911.

How to sign up for and use Text to 911

While the service is free to use, non-T-Mobile customers are required to sign up in advance to use Text to 911. That can be done on the company’s website. The company said T-Mobile customers can add the service under “Manage Data & Add-Ons’” in their account or in T-Life.

You don’t need to take any special action to use Text to 911. The mobile provider says that all you need is a view of the sky, and that using the service is just like sending a normal text message. All you need to do is enter a message on your phone’s native messaging app and enter 911 in the number field. From there, all you’ll need to do is hit “send.”

While some areas around the U.S. already have the ability to text 911, this new service allows users to do so even when they can’t get reception from a traditional cell tower. If that’s the case, Text to 911 finds you a signal from a satellite up in space.

The company said it “was a no-brainer” to make Text to 911 available and free for any person who enrolls and has a compatible phone.

“There’s a good chance you’ve had that moment in your life at some point. Badly rolled ankle deep into a backcountry hike. Stuck in a tree well while skiing. Flat tire on a backcountry road. Or a million other situations that require access to emergency services in a place without cell service. It’s an absolutely terrifying feeling that we don’t want anyone to have ever again,” Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products for T-Mobile, said in announcing the availability of Text to 911 on Nov. 5.

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November 13, 2025
Credit card tier discrimination may be coming: New Visa-Mastercard swipe settlement could reshape rewards—and surcharges | Fortune

Premium credit card users and small merchants could soon feel the effect of a decades-long battle over swipe fees.

A newly proposed settlement between Visa and Mastercard could reshape how much merchants—and ultimately, consumers—pay to use their payment networks, while giving stores more flexibility to treat high-end and mid-tier cards differently.

If approved by the court, the payment giants would reduce interchange fees by 0.1% over the next five years and cap standard consumer credit rates at 1.25% for eight years. It would also scrap a rule requiring merchants to accept all cards from a given network. That change could open the door for stores to reject credit card tiers—such as higher-fee, high-reward cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X—or further pass fees directly to consumers.

The current system has long frustrated merchants, especially small businesses, who must decide whether to absorb rising swipe fees or pass costs to customers. Visa and Mastercard collected $111.2 billion in credit card swipe fees in 2024—up 10% from the year prior and quadruple the level from 2009, according to the National Retail Federation.

With the new move, merchants could more easily add surcharges selectively who are less price-sensitive, John Cabell, managing director of payments intelligence at J.D. Power, told Fortune. Premium cardholders, with annual fees above $500, spend an average of $2,736 a month, nearly three times as much as those with cheaper cards. Only 22% of those cardholders report they select alternate payment methods when faced with a surcharge, according to J.D. Power data. That’s compared to 33% of holders of no-fee cards.

But while some merchants might be tempted to trim costs by limiting which cards they accept, doing so could alienate big spenders and disrupt the lucrative rewards ecosystem that fuels consumer spending.

“Over time, if premium cards become even more expensive to use at the point of sale, this type of change might reign in the upward spiral of rewards and benefits that consumers have grown to appreciate,” Cabell added. “Even relatively modest cards might see a reduction in offerings as well if surcharges become generally more prevalent with mid-tier and premium card groupings.”

But others argue merchants will think twice before turning away big spenders. Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, told Fortune he didn’t expect the deal’s potential results to be dramatic because if businesses refuse top-tier rewards cards, they’d likely lose more revenue than they save on interchange fees.

“If this settlement proceeds, merchants may continue adding small fees for credit card transactions, which they’re already allowed to do today,” Kelly added.

In a statement, Mastercard said they believe the settlement is the best solution for all parties.

“Smaller merchants will gain in this settlement – more acceptance choices, reduced costs and simplified rules,” the company said in a statement. Even more, it allows us to focus our energies on continuing to give consumers, small businesses and larger merchants what they expect from Mastercard – a better payments experience, strong value and peace of mind.”

Visa told Fortune the deal would “provide meaningful relief, more flexibility and options to control how they accept payments from their customers.”

Trade group argue the deal fails to protect merchants

Many trade groups criticized the settlement, arguing it doesn’t go far enough to protect merchants.

“Once again, this proposal is all window dressing and no substance,” National Retail Federation Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz said in a statement. “The reduction in swipe fees doesn’t begin to go far enough, and the change in the honor-all-cards rule would accomplish nothing. If the courts can’t fix this, it’s time for Congress to take action.”

The National Grocers Association added that the proposed settlement does not address the “anticompetitive price-setting in the credit card industry.”

“Independent grocers, operating on net margins of less than 2%, have been hit hardest by rising swipe fees, which grow faster than inflation and cost consumers and businesses over $100 billion annually,” wrote Chris Jones, NGA chief government relations officer and counsel.

A previous Visa-Mastercard agreement was denied earlier this year, so it remains to be seen if this new proposal will ultimately be approved.

Lawmakers have also floated reform through the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which would reduce swipe fees and target the “Visa-Mastercard duopoly” by requiring secondary networks on credit cards. The measure, which was first introduced in 2023 and backed by then-U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, could put additional pressure on payment giants if the settlement doesn’t satisfy regulators—or merchants.

Preston Fore

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November 13, 2025
Stimulus payment November 2025, IRS direct deposit relief payment & tariff dividend fact check
WASHINGTON – Don’t spend that money just yet! Rumors are circulating online that the federal government will issue new stimulus checks before the end of the year.

But Congress has not passed any legislation authorizing payments, and the IRS has not confirmed that any new stimulus checks are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Here’s a look at the facts:

Federal stimulus payments for November 2025?

What we know:

The last round of economic impact payments came in 2021. Any future payments would require new legislation from Congress.

In 2024, the Internal Revenue Service announced that they would issue automatic payments to eligible people who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. The maximum payment was $1,400 per individual.

No action was needed for eligible taxpayers to receive those payments, which went out automatically from December 2024 to January 2025. The payments were automatically direct deposited or sent by check. Eligible taxpayers received letters notifying them of the payment.

The final chance to claim the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit was by filing a 2021 tax return before April 15, 2025. That deadline has passed, with no extensions available.

READ MORE: IRS direct deposit relief payment in November? Here’s what we know

Trump $2000 tariff dividend proposals?

What we know:

President Trump has floated the idea of using tariff revenue for tariff dividends.

“A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

In the post he defended tariffs, saying the U.S. is the richest and most respected nation, with low inflation, a record stock market and strong 401(k) gains. Trump also pledged to begin paying down the country’s $37 trillion national debt, adding that leftover funds from dividend payments would go toward the balance.

Currently, the tariff revenue payments remain proposals. No payments have been approved.

During an interview on FOX 5 Thursday, NOTUS reporter Violet Jira was asked about the chances of a tariff dividend payment actually happening. She said it was difficult to say.

“I will say yesterday at the White House press briefing, Karoline Leavitt was asked, is the Trump administration committed to sending these checks to the American people? And their answer was yes,” Jira said.

“Since that truth social post from Trump, we’ve gotten more details. For example, he said that the checks would be going to middle to low income people. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that would be individuals or families who make $100,000 or less,” Jira added. “So we’re getting more details about the plan, but as for whether or not this actually comes to fruition, it’s a bit difficult to tell. There’s a couple of factors at play that have made some people skeptical.”

READ MORE: $2000 tariff dividend? Here’s what President Trump said about the payments

Stimulus scams and rumors

Recurring online claims of $1,702 payments or $1,390 checks can often be traced back to state-level programs, such as Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend, or are scam posts.

READ MORE: $1702 stimulus payment? Here’s what we know

IRS stimulus warnings

What you can do:

The IRS continues to caution taxpayers about fake stimulus payment messages designed to trick people into sharing personal information.

Here are some ways to tell if the IRS is reaching out or if it’s a scammer:
- The IRS never makes contact through email, texts, or social media; scammers often use fake accounts or links.
- The IRS begins communication with an official letter or notice, which can be verified through a secure IRS Online Account or customer service.
- Agents may call after sending a notice, but they will not leave threatening, pre-recorded messages or demand payment.
- Private agencies may contact taxpayers only after written notice, and all legitimate collection notices include a matching Taxpayer Authentication Number.
- The IRS has ended most unannounced visits by revenue officers to improve safety for taxpayers and employees.
- More info from the IRS online.
Supreme Court appears skeptical on legality of Trump’s tariffs

The Trump administration defended its sweeping global tariffs against a highly skeptical Supreme Court on Wednesday. The tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump are broad and the administration’s decision to place tariffs on nearly every country in the world — sometimes over 100% — affects how much you pay for many things, from electronics to clothes to car parts. FOX 5’s Katie Barlow explains.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press, the IRS and previous FOX 5 reporting.

News Politics Personal Finance Consumer Money Washington, D.C.
Sam.Kosmas@fox.com (Sam Kosmas)

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November 13, 2025
Don’t Waste Your Money: How much have grocery prices fluctuated in the past year?

Grocery “affordability” seems to be a buzzword right now, as many Americans focus on their constantly increasing grocery bill.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, turkeys and the fixings are said to remain affordable, but other items are as high as ever.

Coffee is the most increased grocery item of 2025, which is up 19 percent. The second most increased item: beef, up 15% from last year.

Customers across the country said they have to buy less this year. Regina Gertsen is among those, saying meat is just too expensive.

Other popular items that have seen price hikes include frozen juice, which is up nine percent. Bananas and condiments have both increased by seven percent.

There are some items that are down, though still pricier than they used to be. Eggs are down 12%, cooking oils are down 3% and canned tuna is down 3% as well.

The Farm Bureau blames low cattle inventory for the high costs. It is at its lowest level in 60 years. Factors like drought and high feed prices lead to lower inventories.

Market owner Neil Luken said that steak and burger prices typically drop in winter, as people buy roasts instead. However, that has yet to happen this year, and ground beef is still above six dollars a pound.

That’s why President Trump unveiled a plan to import more beef from Argentina. In the meantime, switching to chicken won’t save much. The cost of chicken breasts has gone up over a dollar a pound this year.

While eggs and a few things are more affordable, the reality is that prices on most staples remain high.

Every Thursday, WRAL News tracks the prices of groceries across multiple grocery chains in the Triangle. It reflects that some staples like beef and chicken remain high, but there are some that might not break your budget.

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November 12, 2025
Presents to arrive in time for the holidays, but may be more expensive

Consumers don’t have to worry about products arriving in time for the holidays, though they may be facing higher prices, say officials at one of America’s largest ports.

Imports at the Port of Long Beach are flowing smoothly through its facilities despite the government shutdown and tariff uncertainties, port executives said. Still, they acknowledge that the volume and prices of products in the millions of containers coming through the port suggest that imports are becoming more costly and consumers are more cautious.

Until now, retailers, manufacturers and other intermediaries have absorbed much of the cost of tariffs, but that is changing as it becomes more apparent which tariffs are here to stay, Mario Cordero, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, said Friday during a virtual news conference.

“Consumers will likely see price escalation in the coming months as shippers continue to pass along the cost of tariffs on goods, and a higher percentage of these costs will be passed on to the consumer,” he said.

Cordero, who drinks Starbucks coffee, said he’s seen the price of a cup of coffee increase by 15% and that more consumers are going to discount stores to find deals. However, potential price hikes could be offset if the United States and China strike further trade agreements.

The Port of Long Beach, a gateway for trade between the United States and Asia-Pacific, released new data that offers a glimpse into how President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs are affecting goods imported from key trade partners, such as China.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court also started to hear arguments as the justices examine the legality of Trump’s tariffs.

Over the past year, the port saw a drop in the movement of containers filled with certain goods such as winter apparel, kitchen appliances and toys that people typically buy as gifts, a sign that consumers are likely wary about spending.

Still, the impact of tariffs on cargo volume hasn’t been as bad as some experts predicted. Cordero said some experts had projected that the port could see as much as a 35% drop in cargo volume.

“Clearly today, it’s fair to say that the worst scenarios some predicted did not occur,” Cordero said. “The challenges were many, and there’s no doubt that many companies and their workers suffered, but cargo volume is turning out to be just as high this year as it was last year.”

In fiscal year 2025, which runs from October 2024 to September 2025, the port surpassed 10 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the first time, up 11% from the same period last year. TEU is a measurement used to describe cargo capacity for container ships and terminals.

While the port saw a decline in the amount of TEUs moved in October compared with the same period in 2024, Cordero said he thinks the port will end 2025 in “positive territory.”

In October, there were 839,671 TEUs moved. That’s because retailers and shippers started shipping goods earlier than normal to avoid fees and to stock up their warehouses because of tariffs.

The Port of Long Beach is an economic engine for California. Officials say it helps create 691,000 jobs in Southern California. More than 2.7 million U.S jobs are connected to the Port of Long Beach, they say.

Queenie Wong

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November 8, 2025
Tax Pros on Call: Get your tax filing questions answered

As we approach the end of the year, 5 On Your Side is here to get your tax preparation questions answered.

5 On Your Side is partnering with the North Carolina Society of Enrolled Agents to answer your tax planning questions – for free!

Tax Pros On Call is Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 4-7 pm.

From 4 to 7 p.m. next Wednesday, you’ll be able to speak with a tax professional about your questions or issues.

Call 919-234-5007 to talk to tax pros for free!

This event is all about answering your questions about filing taxes. Federally licensed enrolled agents will be taking your calls, answering questions about everything from the best ways to file, avoiding penalties and changes to tax law.

Best of all: The information is completely free!

FAQ: IRS tax questions and answers

If you can’t call in, check out the links below for resources to help you get your tax questions answered.

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November 6, 2025