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Tag: consumer news

  • Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs will offer relief, business owners say

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    Business owners said that a Supreme Court ruling on Friday striking down sweeping U.S. tariffs could spell relief by lowering their costs and potentially leading to refunds.

    The high court ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose levies on imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. Mr. Trump last year invoked the 1977 law to impose tariffs on dozens of U.S. trade partners, claiming that trade deficits and the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. constitute national emergencies. 

    Beth Benike, co-founder of  Busy Baby, which makes mealtime accessories for babies, said that uncertainty about the legal status of the IEEPA tariffs had forced her to halt all imports from China, where the Minnesota-based company’s products are made. She also has inventory in China that her manufacturer is holding for her overseas.

    “I should have had it shipped last month, but I was waiting for the Supreme Court decision, because it was the difference between paying an extra $48,000 [in tariffs] or not,” she told CBS News before the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision on Friday.

    Beth Fynbo Benike, founder of Busy Baby, talks with her brother and COO, Eric Fynbo, about an order they’re packing for WalMart on Oct. 15, 2024 in the company’s warehouse in Zumbrota, Minn.

    Anthony Souffle/Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images


    Not all businesses opposed the emergency tariffs. Before the high court’s ruling, Drew Greenblatt, owner of Maryland manufacturer Marlin Steel told CBS News on Friday that he supported higher levies on U.S. trade partners because they provided a “level playing field” that allowed Marlin Steel to better compete with overseas steelmakers. 

    The average U.S. tariff rate on all imports is around 17%, including levies Mr. Trump imposed under IEEPA, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Scrapping the IEEPA duties will drop the average tariff rate to the 7% range, according to Michael Gregory, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets Economics. 

    A recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that U.S. businesses and consumers bore the brunt of Mr. Trump’s tariffs in 2025, paying for nearly 90% of the levies. The Trump administration disputes the analysis.

    Billions in potential refunds

    Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, said the Supreme Court ruling against Mr. Trump’s tariffs nullifies “the biggest and baddest of Trump’s 2025 tariffs.” 

    “The court’s decision is welcome news for American importers, the United States economy, and the rule of law, but there’s much more work to be done,” he said in an email after Friday’s ruling. “Most immediately, the federal government must refund the tens of billions of dollars in customs duties that it illegally collected from American companies pursuant to an ‘IEEPA tariff authority’ it never actually had.” 

    The Treasury Department collected $287 billion in tariffs in 2025, up 192% from the previous year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. As of mid‑December, roughly $130 billion had been collected in IEEPA tariffs, although total refunds for businesses could approach $150 billion, according to economists with PNC Financial Services Group.

    “I am expecting a full refund, but if for some reason we don’t get them, I would have to raise my prices, which will be tough for consumers,” Benike said. “People buying baby products are already buying new stuff they didn’t have to buy before they had the baby, so they are already squeezed.”

    Rachel Rozner, owner of Elden Street Tea Shop in Reston, Virginia, said ahead of the decision that a Supreme Court ruling striking down the IEEPA tariffs could make an “astronomical” difference for her business. Most of the tea and other products she sells come from China, India, Japan and Nepal. 

    “If I can just order and get the product, and I know the price is good, that will take away a lot of stress,” she told CBS News. 

    Meanwhile, some experts think the issue of tariff refunds could end up in court. 

    “[W]e think it’s reasonable to assume a few months would pass before refunds begin, and even longer if the distribution faces significant legal challenges,” Morgan Stanley analysts said in a report.

    Although Rozner’s business could be eligible for a tariff refund following the ruling, she expressed concern that she might never see the money.

    “What if they run out of money before you’re able to get your refund?” Rozner said. “I’m worried that some people might get refunds and others will not, and that people will take advantage of the system.”

    We Pay the Tariffs, an advocacy group of 800 small businesses that opposes the Trump administration’s tariffs, said the IEEPA levies had damaged small businesses by forcing them to take out loans and freeze hiring. 

    “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a tremendous victory for America’s small businesses, who have been bearing the crushing weight of these tariffs,” the group’s executive director, Dan Anthony, said in a statement to CBS News. 

    The group also urged the White House to issue “full, fast and automatic refunds” to employers that had paid the tariffs.

    Trump announces new tariffs

    The Trump administration has previously said it can deploy other import duties to replace the IEEPA tariffs. To that end, after the high court’s ruling, Mr. Trump promptly announced he would impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, and then announced the next day he’s raising it to 15%.

    The president also indicated that his administration would expand other existing tariffs, such as levies imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. 

    Section 301 allows the U.S. president to apply country-based tariffs if the U.S. Trade Representative determines that another nation is engaging in unfair trade practices. Section 232 authorizes the president to impose duties on trade partners to protect national security, based on an investigation from the Department of Commerce.

    Still, those tariffs are more restrictive than the IEEPA levies, however. Section 122 tariffs are capped at 15% and may remain in force only for 150 days, according to Capital Economics. The tariff rate also must be the same for all trade partners, limiting Mr. Trump’s ability to negotiate different deals with different countries. 

    Section 301 tariffs also can’t be applied to all foreign imports, according to trade experts. And replacing IEEPA tariffs with substitute levies could also take many months, according to Morgan Stanley. 

    If businesses could get a boost from the removal of IEEPA tariffs, consumers may not see a dip in prices, with companies such as Walmart recently saying that they are hiking their prices because of the import duties. 

    “Any consumer looking for relief from tariff-driven price hikes did not find it at the Supreme Court today,” Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at Groundwork Collective, a progressive think tank focused on economic issues, said in a statement on Friday. 

    He added that refunds for businesses could take years to process and that, even if they are eventually administered, “there is little reason to believe companies will pass those savings on to consumers.” 

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  • The latest GDP data isn’t as bad as it looks. Here’s what to know.

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    After humming along at a robust pace for much of 2025, the economy hit a wall in the fourth quarter, with a six-week government shutdown and slowdown in consumer spending stunting growth at the end of the year.

    Gross domestic product — which measures the nation’s output of goods and services — grew at a meager 1.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said Friday. That came in well under economists’ forecasts of roughly 2% growth and is down sharply from the previous three months, when the economy expanded at a blistering 4.4% pace.

    Yet while the GDP number was weaker than expected, analysts say the economy remains on firm ground and is likely to accelerate in the coming months.

    “Today’s headline number is certainly disappointing,” eToro U.S. investment analyst Bret Kenwell told CBS News. “When you peel back the layers a little bit, it’s not quite as bad as it appears on the surface.”

    The latest GDP data, which was delayed due to the recent government shutdown, was the first snapshot of fourth-quarter economic growth. The Commerce Department will deliver two more readings for the quarter in the coming months.

    The government also released the Personal Consumption Expenditures, or PCE, report on Friday, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. Headline PCE grew at an annual rate of 2.9% in December, a sign that inflation remains sticky.

    Here are other key takeaways from Friday’s GDP report.

    Government shutdown tipped the scales

    The main reason the economy slumped in the final three months of 2025, according to economists: the 43-day government shutdown last year, during which hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed and federal funding for a range of programs came to a halt.

    Gregory Daco, chief economist at consulting firm EY-Parthenon, in an email called the shutdown a “self-inflicted black eye.”

    “The disappointing end to the year largely reflected a self-inflicted drag from the longest government shutdown in U.S. history,” he said.

    The lapse in federal spending lasted for nearly half of the fourth quarter, stretching from October to early November. According to Friday’s GDP report, the shutdown reduced fourth-quarter growth by about 1 percentage point, largely due to a reduction in federal government services. The shutdown also contributed to a steep drop in government spending in the fourth quarter.

    Consumers pulled back on spending

    A slowdown in consumer spending also modestly weighed on economic activity last quarter. Spending rose by 2.4% in the final three months of the year, down from 2.9% in the third quarter.

    “Spending didn’t fall off a cliff, but it certainly slowed and decelerated from the pace we had earlier this year,” Kenwell said.

    Consumer spending is the nation’s main engine of growth, accounting for around two-thirds of economic activity. 

    Economists expect a rebound 

    Friday’s GDP print comes as other sectors of the economy display strength. Job growth came in higher than expected last month, with employers adding 130,000 positions. Inflation is also cooling.

    With the 2025 government shutdown in the rearview mirror, analysts expect the economy to rebound this year. Investment advisory firm Capital Economics expects the economy to grow at a 3% annual rate in the first quarter of 2026.

    Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, also thinks the economy will pick up because of softening tariff pressures and ongoing tax cuts, which he said will boost spending.

    “We expect a sharp rebound in the coming months, driven by a larger tax refund season,” he said in a research note.

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  • Bayer proposes $7.2 billion settlement to resolve Roundup weedkiller cases

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    Bayer said on Tuesday that its Monsanto chemical subsidiary has proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve lawsuits by customers alleging that its Roundup weedkiller product caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

    If the settlement wins court approval, Monsanto would make annual payments for up to 21 years. People diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who were exposed to Roundup before the proposed legal remedy was announced on Tuesday can file a claim to receive payments, according to Reuters. 

    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s infection-fighting immune system.

    Bayer said in a statement that the agreement does not include any admission of liability or wrongdoing. Bayer said these resolutions will increase its litigation liability from 7.8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) to 11.8 billion euros ($13.9 billion).

    Bayer, a German agricultural and pharmaceutical company, also said Tuesday that it had reached agreements to resolve other Roundup-related cases. The terms of those additional settlements were not disclosed.

    Bayer has faced thousands of lawsuits linked to Roundup since it bought Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion. In 2020, Bayer announced it would pay up to $10.9 billion to settle some 125,000 filed and unfiled claims. Three years later, a jury awarded a California man $332 million after deciding that Monsanto had failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks of using Roundup. 

    Roundup is still available for sale online and from other major retailers. Bayer maintains that Roundup products are safe and that their ingredients have been thoroughly tested and reviewed.

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  • Consumers and businesses paid nearly 90% of Trump tariffs in 2025, new analysis found

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    Almost all of President Trump’s tariffs last year were passed on to U.S. consumers and businesses in the form of higher costs, according to a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

    As the average U.S. tariff on imports jumped to 13% in 2025, up from less than 3%, “nearly 90% of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers,” the researchers wrote.

    Who bears the burden of tariffs?

    The Trump administration maintains that foreign companies and other exporters pay the lion’s share of tariffs. 

    In a Jan. 30 Wall Street Journal op-ed defending his tariff agenda, for example, Mr. Trump said that “data shows that the burden, or ‘incidence,’ of the tariffs has fallen overwhelmingly on foreign producers and middlemen, including large corporations that are not from the U.S.”

    “In many cases, nations that are heavily dependent on exports have had no choice but to ‘eat’ the tariffs to avoid even worse losses from their excess capacity,” he added.

    The New York Fed’s findings, which align with those of most mainstream economists, challenge that view. For the eight-month period from January through August, U.S. importers bore 94% of tariff costs. By November, exporters were shouldering slightly more of the burden, but U.S. importers remained on the hook for 86% of tariffs, according to the analysis. 

    “In sum, U.S. firms and consumers continue to bear the bulk of the economic burden of the high tariffs imposed in 2025,” the report concluded. 

    Defending tariffs

    The White House on Thursday defended Mr. Trump’s tariffs, touting the economic gains.

    “America’s average tariff rate has increased nearly sevenfold in the past year, yet inflation has cooled and corporate profits have increased,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to CBS News. “The reality is that President Trump’s economic agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs, and energy abundance [is] reducing costs and accelerating economic growth.”

    Recent data point to solid economic growth. The nation’s gross domestic product expanded at a robust 4.3% annual pace in the third quarter, the strongest growth in two years. 

    The job market also remains healthy, with employers adding a stronger-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, according to employment figures released earlier this week. 

    Tariffs could be struck down

    Economists predicted last year that elevated tariffs on imports were likely to drive up inflation. For the most part, those price hikes have failed to materialize.

    In December, the Consumer Price Index rose at an annual rate of 2.7%, unchanged from November. The Department of Labor is scheduled to release the January CPI data on Friday. 

    The Treasury Department collected $287 billion in tariffs in 2025, up 192% from the previous year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. 

    Yet President Trump’s scope to wield tariffs in future is uncertain, with the Supreme Court expected to rule soon on his authority to impose levies under a federal emergency powers law.

    If those tariffs are struck down, the U.S. government could owe businesses as much as $168 billion in refunds, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. 

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  • Trump administration moves to end

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    The Trump administration said it’s ending a credit for automakers that install a so-called “start/stop feature” in the vehicles, part of a broader rollback of environmental regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    The start/stop feature, which is today widely used in newer vehicles, shuts off gas engines when cars idle, such as when they’re stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic. The Environmental Protection Agency described the technology as “almost universally hated” in its Thursday announcement about the broader overhaul. 

    About two-thirds of cars are now manufactured with the start/stop feature, which is aimed at making internal combustion engines more fuel efficient while reducing carbon emissions. One analysis found that the feature can improve fuel economy by between about 7% and 26%, depending on driving conditions.

    While that may seem like a benefit to drivers who want to cut down on fuel costs, the Trump administration has linked such features to a sharp rise in automobile prices in recent years. In comments at the White House on Thursday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the regulatory overhaul will help save consumers an average of $2,400 when they purchase a new car.

    “There will be no more climate participation trophies awarded to manufacturers for making Americans’ cars die at every red light and stop sign,” Zeldin said. “It’s over, done, finished.” 

    What’s happening with auto start/stop?

    The Trump administration on Thursday said it will no longer regulate greenhouse gases emitted from sources such as cars, trucks and power plants. 

    The action formally repeals what is known as the “endangerment finding,” which provides the legal and scientific underpinning for the federal government to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. 

    As part of the action, the EPA said it would eliminate credits given to automakers that install the start/stop functionality.

    Most cars allow drivers to turn off the start/stop feature, but not shut it off permanently, notes Consumer Reports. That means drivers must turn off the feature each time they drive.

    Has the start/stop feature increased vehicle costs? 

    The Trump administration’s action pushes back on a broader range of environmental regulations that it says has pushed up car prices.

    The average new vehicle currently costs almost $50,000, up nearly 43% from a decade ago, according to Cox Automotive.

    The rise in auto prices stems from several factors, including a shift to more luxurious models and showroom markups, rather than more stringent fuel-efficiency standards, according to the National Consumers League, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. 

    “Federal safety and fuel economy standards save households thousands of dollars over the life of their vehicle while having a marginal effect on vehicle prices,” Daniel Greene, the group’s senior director of consumer protection and product safety, said in a Feb. 3 statement.

    What do automakers say? 

    Automakers largely applauded the Trump administration’s overhaul, with Ford saying in a statement that it appreciated the effort “to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice.”

    Stellantis said it welcomed the decision “because it enables us to continue offering Americans a broad range of cars, trucks and SUVs – including BEVs, REEVs, hybrids and efficient internal combustion engines – that they want, need and can afford.”

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  • Ford recalls some 119,000 vehicles due to engine block heater fire risk, NHTSA says

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    Ford is recalling roughly 119,000 vehicles because their engine block heaters have a defect that increases the risk of fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.

    The recall involves some 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer and 2024 Explorer vehicles as well as certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engines.

    The NHTSA says the vehicles’ engine block heaters may crack and develop coolant leaks, causing them to short circuit when the block heaters are plugged in.

    “This increases the risk of an under-hood fire when the vehicle is parked and the engine block heater is plugged into a 110-volt electrical supply,” Ford said in a statement.

    The car maker said that owners of affected vehicles should stop using their engine block heater immediately and not plug it into any sort of power source until the issue has been addressed.

    “The risk of fire is only present when the heater is plugged into an electrical outlet,” Ford said.

    Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be in the mail Feb. 13, and more letters will be sent once the final repair is available, which the NHTSA expects will be in April.  

    Ford said it is developing a new block heater element and that once it becomes available, customers can visit a Ford dealer for a free replacement. 

    Another option is to have the vehicle’s block heater removed and a threaded plug installed at a Ford dealer, the company said. Ford said dealers will provide that service free of charge.

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  • Weight loss drugs could save airlines money on fuel as Americans slim down

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    Airlines could have weight loss drug manufacturers to thank for savings if passengers become lighter, allowing carriers to spend less money on fuel.

    As GLP-1 medications for weight loss become accessible to more Americans, they are expected to have a slimming down effect on society. The implication for airlines is lower fuel consumption and therefore cost savings, a recent analysis from Jefferies Research Services shows.

    Fuel costs are directly related to the weight of planes, including passengers, their luggage and other essential cargo. A heavier plane requires more fuel, while a lighter aircraft uses less.

    Airlines have always taken steps to keep aircraft as light as possible and limit fuel consumption, from serving pit-less olives to using thin or light paper stock, according to the Jefferies analysis.

    Airlines “have a long history of searching for unique methods to reduce the weight of the aircraft, in turn reducing fuel consumption and limiting an airline’s largest cost bucket,” analysts said in the report.

    They have no ability to limit how much passengers weigh, however.

    If weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy lead to a 10% slimmer society, the analysts found that would translate to total airline passenger weight declining by 2%. For airlines, this means 1.5% in fuel savings, plus a 4% boost to earnings per share, according to the analysis.

    Jefferies used the example of a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft to model the savings. It weighs 99,000 pounds empty and can carry 46,000 pounds of fuel. If it seats 178 passengers with an average weight of 180 pounds, plus about 4,000 pounds of other cargo, its total takeoff weight reaches 181,200 pounds. By contrast, if passengers slim down by 10%, to weigh an average of 162 pounds, that aircraft’s total weight drops to 177,996 pounds.

    Jefferies found that translates to $580 million in fuel savings annually for the top four carriers in the U.S. — American, Delta, Southwest and United. Those airlines are expected to spend $38.6 billion combined on jet fuel this year.  

    Jefferies conducted the study in response to pharmaceutical companies developing weight loss pills and following a 2023 report it released studying the effects of weight loss on fuel costs.

    “With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waist lines,” analysts said.

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  • Recall of Frigidaire minifridges sold at major retailers grows to nearly 1 million

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    Nearly 1 million Frigidaire-branded minifridges are now being recalled over potential fire hazard risk, as part of an expanded recall issued by a Canadian company last year.

    Curtis International, which manufactures and distributes electronic and appliances, is recalling 330,000 minifridges, adding to the 634,000 minifridges it recalled in July 2024, according to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday. 

    The government agency stated that internal electrical components in the appliance can short-circuit, causing the surrounding plastic to ignite and posing fire and burn hazards. 

    The recall involves Curtis International 6-can minifridge model EFMIS121, sold exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com from January 2020 through October 2023. The affected minifridges are red and have the word “Frigidaire” printed on the front. Curtis International has received “at least” six reports of this specific model catching fire, according to the recall notice.

    The minifridge model Curtis International is recalling is red and says “Frigidaire” across the front.

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


    The initial recall notice, which involved different Frigidaire minifridge models, documented 26 reports of minifridges smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating and catching fire. CPSC said property damages for those incidents totaled more than $700,000.

    The units in the earlier recall were sold at Walmart and Amazon.com. 

    CPSC advises consumers who purchased the model EFMIS121 minifridge to stop using it immediately. They should also unplug it, cut the power cord and write “Recall” on the front of the fridge in permanent marker. When disposing of the minifridge, consumers should abide by local and state regulations, the recall notice says.

    Affected customers can visit www.recallrtr.com/minifridge for a refund. The recall number for the product is 26-199.

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    Aimee Picchi

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  • What parents need to know about tracking their kids with GPS

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    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.

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  • What to know about

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    “Buy now, pay later” plans are becoming more popular for shoppers this holiday season.

    The popularity of companies that provide the option, including Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm, is on the rise.

    A recent survey by LegalShield found more than 75% of Americans have used a “buy now, pay later” plan to finance a purchase.

    “You can buy something that’s more expensive without taking on the kinds of interest that you would see with credit cards,” Seth Ketron, associate professor of marketing at the University of St. Thomas, said.

    The survey also said that nearly half of those people who have opted into a plan have missed a payment. Ketron urges consumers to think before they spend. 

    “It can become easy for people, especially if they’re doing multiples of these, to lose control,” he said. 

    Earlier this month, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a multistate coalition of seven attorneys general asking six of the largest companies for information regarding pricing, repayment structures, consumer contracts, user agreements and disclosures. Ellison’s office says the Trump administration abandoned “a federal rule that the Biden Administration issued that would have required BNPL providers to adhere to the same consumer protections as other lenders.”

    “We know people are using them to buy gas and groceries, and they can end up in a lot of debt,” Jamie Lettis, associate editor with Consumers’ Checkbook, said.

    Consumers’ Checkbook is a nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Lettis says “buy now, pay later” companies don’t offer the same protections as credit cards. 

    “If there’s a problem, you get bad service or a product that doesn’t work and the vendor won’t make it right, you have the power to use a credit card chargeback and your credit card company will help you get that money back,” he said.

    WCCO asked Ketron if he has any advice for consumers.

    What are some creative ways to give gifts to people that aren’t going to cause you to have to break your bank? Can you make something? Thrift stores are a great place to look. Antique stores,” he said. “Gifts are supposed to be about the idea behind them and the thought behind them as opposed to just being a high-ticket item that you really can’t afford.”

    This summer, the Fair Isaac Corporation announced it would be incorporating “buy now, pay later” into credit scores. Ellison says those with concerns should reach out to his office.  

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  • American Airlines stops offering miles and other rewards for basic economy fares

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    Members of American Airlines’ loyalty program will no longer earn miles or other travel rewards when purchasing a basic economy ticket. 

    People enrolled in the carrier’s AAdvantage program previously earned two miles and loyalty points for each dollar they spent on a regular fare. Now they will only earn points if they buy a more expensive ticket. 

    The new policy, which American Airlines announced on Thursday, is effective as of Dec. 17.

    “We routinely evaluate our fare products to remain competitive in the marketplace,” American Airlines said in a statement to CBS News. “Customers who purchase a basic economy ticket on December 17, 2025, and beyond will not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points towards AAdvantage status. Basic Economy customers will continue to receive one free personal item and one free carry-on bag, free snacks, soft drinks and in-flight entertainment.”

    Over the past decade, major airlines introduced bare-bones tickets with few perks to better compete with budget carriers. For example, purchasers of a basic economy ticket generally cannot reserve seats without charge, can’t change their itineraries without paying a fee and are last to board flights. 

    In its most recent quarter, American Airlines lost $114 million on revenue of $13.7 billion, according to a regulatory filing. 

    “American has been trying to find this sweet spot with basic economy fares where it wants them to be available, but doesn’t want people who might otherwise book more expensive fares to be booking them,” Scott Keyes, founder of travel deals website Going.com, told CBS News. “So they are rolling back some perks and benefits associated with them to make them less appealing to people who could decide, ‘I’ll pay an extra $40 to be in main economy rather than basic.’”

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  • The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

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    Know someone who lives in their kitchen. These delicious proof tools make mealtime simpler and make great gifts. I’m going to show you three amazing products, ones we’ve tested, we just love, and they’re unbelievably versatile. First, this warming mat is great for holiday parties and buffets and costs about $40 on Amazon. The temperature, set the timer for it to shut off. This is *** must, must have, especially if you’re doing *** lot of cooking. It’s it’s the holidays and you’ve got big pots and you don’t have much space. If you’re always on the go, check out NutriBullet’s $70 portable rechargeable blender. You can even use your laptop to charge it. You’re at your desk the middle of the day. You’re like, you know what, it’s smoothie time. And what is totally awesome is you don’t have to lug around this the base, the base and just take this. It’s done, boom. Finally, this space saving collapsible steamer and strainer from Williams Sonoma costs just under $30. It pops open like this, and you can either use it to steam or you can fully immerse whatever food you want to cook. Give the gift of self-care. Women’s Health has you covered with gift suggestions that are equal parts relaxing and thoughtful. We have curated *** few of our favorite gifts and products that will make an amazing present for anyone in your life that needs *** little extra rest or relaxation, and don’t we all? First up, the $19 Beauty Sleep fabric spray from Laundreist. Put it on your pillow for *** calming effect before bed. This is *** very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster. There’s also an active wear version that is great for refreshing gym clothes. Next, Nodpod’s $38 weighted sleep mask. So *** lot of sleep masks, when you wrap them around your head. They can be kind of uncomfortable when you’re laying on your back or on your side. This one really takes away that whole issue. And for *** soft, luxurious splurge, Brook Lennon’s super plush robe starts at $95. The Women’s Health editors are obsessed with this robe because it is really like stepping into *** five-star spa when you get out of the shower. Shopping for someone who loves their home, look no further than these Good Housekeeping approved gifts. The three gifts that we’ve chosen here today for the home are award winners and editor favorites from Good Housekeeping for 2025. 1st, something practical and perfect for anyone with *** green thumb. These $14 Fiskers pruning and gardening shears. This pair of shears from Fisker’s cuts easily. Through stems and branches whether you’re pruning house plants or pruning shrubs outside, we love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with *** lifetime guarantee. Next, *** gift that brings peace of mind, the $75 smoke and carbon monoxide detector from Kitty is Ring App enabled and connects to your smartphone. The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger. And simultaneously sound an alarm through all of the connected detectors in your home. And for the home cook who loves *** clean countertop, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum costs about $89. They’re your batch cooking on Sundays like me or baking for the holidays. We all know what *** mess the kitchen counter and stove can look like after this vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen clean up quick and easy. Looking for something special for the beauty lovers in your life? Cosmopolitan has you covered. Cosmo Beauty editors test products all year long. We’re always researching, reviewing, swiping, swatching all of the newest beauty launches. Let’s start small and affordable with *** perfect stocking stuffer. These $9 lip balms from EELF come in tons of colors. You can use them on your own or layered over ***. Lip pencil for *** fun lip combo, but really great stocking stuffer at $9. You can’t go wrong. Next, Dazzle Dry’s fast track mini kit for $39 you’ll get salon quality nails at home. So on average, you’ll get 10 days out of *** Dazzle Dry Manny. You can do it at home. It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally 5 minutes for that fresh from the salon blowout. Multi-stylers are having *** major moment. The T3 Air is *** splurge at $250 but that’s half the price of *** Dyson Airwrap. So there’s one base, and then there’s all these interchangeable parts. This is the blow dryer, round brush, really good for *** bouncy blowout, and then two interchangeable curling wands, super easy to use, works on all hair types, and also comes in three really cute colors. Shopping for the outdoorsmen or woman in your life, Men’s Health has *** few solid picks to choose from. all year long at Men’s Health, our team is testing the latest and greatest in new gear. Like these tumblers, Arctic has been one of Men’s Health’s top cooler brands for years. Now they have *** $20 to $25 happy hour collection. What I love about these is that they’re. Insulated, that means that anything you’re putting into them, whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste for camping trips, the $40 Coast voice control lantern is *** great find. Now these things can operate with *** button press, but you can also activate this little one here and say coast red. And it changes for you and for *** sensible splurge, the Amaze Fit Active 2 smartwatch costs about $100. *** lot of guys on staff have these, including myself. Set up is *** cinch. It’s incredibly easy to navigate and it has *** 160+ workout mode so you can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy in your life.

    The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    Our experts from Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Delish share their top holiday gift picks.

    Updated: 12:38 PM PST Nov 24, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    National Consumer Producer

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list. Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan. If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said. For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.” For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.” Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes. For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said. Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief. To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said. Foodie gifts loved by Delish For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said. Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list.

    Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover

    For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

    If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said.

    For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.

    Elf Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

    Dazzle Dry Fast Track Cherry Mini Kit

    Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts

    If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.”

    For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.

    For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.”

    Happy Hour Lowball Tumbler

    RTIC Happy Hour Pint Tumbler

    Coast EAL35R Voice Control Lantern

    Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health

    To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes.

    For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.

    If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said.

    Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray

    Laundress Activewear Fabric Spray

    Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

    Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping

    For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief.

    To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.

    For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said.

    Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears

    Kidde Ring App Enabled Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

    KitchenAid Go™ Cordless Kitchen Vacuum

    Foodie gifts loved by Delish

    For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.

    For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.

    For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said.

    Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender

    Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket

    williams-sonoma.com

    $29.95

    Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    [ad_1]

    Know someone who lives in their kitchen. These delicious proof tools make mealtime simpler and make great gifts. I’m going to show you three amazing products, ones we’ve tested, we just love, and they’re unbelievably versatile. First, this warming mat is great for holiday parties and buffets and costs about $40 on Amazon. The temperature, set the timer for it to shut off. This is *** must, must have, especially if you’re doing *** lot of cooking. It’s it’s the holidays and you’ve got big pots and you don’t have much space. If you’re always on the go, check out NutriBullet’s $70 portable rechargeable blender. You can even use your laptop to charge it. You’re at your desk the middle of the day. You’re like, you know what, it’s smoothie time. And what is totally awesome is you don’t have to lug around this the base, the base and just take this. It’s done, boom. Finally, this space saving collapsible steamer and strainer from Williams Sonoma costs just under $30. It pops open like this, and you can either use it to steam or you can fully immerse whatever food you want to cook. Give the gift of self-care. Women’s Health has you covered with gift suggestions that are equal parts relaxing and thoughtful. We have curated *** few of our favorite gifts and products that will make an amazing present for anyone in your life that needs *** little extra rest or relaxation, and don’t we all? First up, the $19 Beauty Sleep fabric spray from Laundreist. Put it on your pillow for *** calming effect before bed. This is *** very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster. There’s also an active wear version that is great for refreshing gym clothes. Next, Nodpod’s $38 weighted sleep mask. So *** lot of sleep masks, when you wrap them around your head. They can be kind of uncomfortable when you’re laying on your back or on your side. This one really takes away that whole issue. And for *** soft, luxurious splurge, Brook Lennon’s super plush robe starts at $95. The Women’s Health editors are obsessed with this robe because it is really like stepping into *** five-star spa when you get out of the shower. Shopping for someone who loves their home, look no further than these Good Housekeeping approved gifts. The three gifts that we’ve chosen here today for the home are award winners and editor favorites from Good Housekeeping for 2025. 1st, something practical and perfect for anyone with *** green thumb. These $14 Fiskers pruning and gardening shears. This pair of shears from Fisker’s cuts easily. Through stems and branches whether you’re pruning house plants or pruning shrubs outside, we love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with *** lifetime guarantee. Next, *** gift that brings peace of mind, the $75 smoke and carbon monoxide detector from Kitty is Ring App enabled and connects to your smartphone. The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger. And simultaneously sound an alarm through all of the connected detectors in your home. And for the home cook who loves *** clean countertop, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum costs about $89. They’re your batch cooking on Sundays like me or baking for the holidays. We all know what *** mess the kitchen counter and stove can look like after this vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen clean up quick and easy. Looking for something special for the beauty lovers in your life? Cosmopolitan has you covered. Cosmo Beauty editors test products all year long. We’re always researching, reviewing, swiping, swatching all of the newest beauty launches. Let’s start small and affordable with *** perfect stocking stuffer. These $9 lip balms from EELF come in tons of colors. You can use them on your own or layered over ***. Lip pencil for *** fun lip combo, but really great stocking stuffer at $9. You can’t go wrong. Next, Dazzle Dry’s fast track mini kit for $39 you’ll get salon quality nails at home. So on average, you’ll get 10 days out of *** Dazzle Dry Manny. You can do it at home. It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally 5 minutes for that fresh from the salon blowout. Multi-stylers are having *** major moment. The T3 Air is *** splurge at $250 but that’s half the price of *** Dyson Airwrap. So there’s one base, and then there’s all these interchangeable parts. This is the blow dryer, round brush, really good for *** bouncy blowout, and then two interchangeable curling wands, super easy to use, works on all hair types, and also comes in three really cute colors. Shopping for the outdoorsmen or woman in your life, Men’s Health has *** few solid picks to choose from. all year long at Men’s Health, our team is testing the latest and greatest in new gear. Like these tumblers, Arctic has been one of Men’s Health’s top cooler brands for years. Now they have *** $20 to $25 happy hour collection. What I love about these is that they’re. Insulated, that means that anything you’re putting into them, whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste for camping trips, the $40 Coast voice control lantern is *** great find. Now these things can operate with *** button press, but you can also activate this little one here and say coast red. And it changes for you and for *** sensible splurge, the Amaze Fit Active 2 smartwatch costs about $100. *** lot of guys on staff have these, including myself. Set up is *** cinch. It’s incredibly easy to navigate and it has *** 160+ workout mode so you can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy in your life.

    The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    Our experts from Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Delish share their top holiday gift picks.

    Updated: 3:38 PM EST Nov 24, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    National Consumer Producer

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list. Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan. If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said. For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.” For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.” Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes. For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said. Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief. To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said. Foodie gifts loved by Delish For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said. Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list.

    Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover

    For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

    If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said.

    For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.

    Elf Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

    Dazzle Dry Fast Track Cherry Mini Kit

    Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts

    If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.”

    For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.

    For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.”

    Happy Hour Lowball Tumbler

    RTIC Happy Hour Pint Tumbler

    Coast EAL35R Voice Control Lantern

    Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health

    To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes.

    For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.

    If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said.

    Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray

    Laundress Activewear Fabric Spray

    Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

    Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping

    For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief.

    To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.

    For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said.

    Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears

    Kidde Ring App Enabled Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

    KitchenAid Go™ Cordless Kitchen Vacuum

    Foodie gifts loved by Delish

    For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.

    For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.

    For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said.

    Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender

    Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket

    williams-sonoma.com

    $29.95

    Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Target says it’s working with ChatGPT for AI-assisted shopping

    [ad_1]


    Target on Wednesday said it’s working with OpenAI to let customers shop its products through ChatGPT, a move that comes as the retailer is struggling to convince inflation-weary consumers to stick with it.

    Customers will be able to browse Target’s selection and make purchases within the ChatGPT app, according to the retailer. The tool will debut next week, providing access to ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly active users in time for the holiday shopping season.

    Target is leaning on price cuts and a $1 billion investment plan to revive its brand, the retailer said separately Wednesday, as same-store sales fell 2.7% in the latest quarter and profit tumbled 19%. With shoppers increasingly relying on AI to find products online, other big retailers — including Walmart, which struck a similar partnership with OpenAI last month — are turning to the technology to boost sales.

    Here’s how the ChatGPT-powered Target tool will work: Inside the ChatGPT app, consumers can tag Target and ask for ideas, such as if they’re planning something like a holiday family movie night. The Target app will then suggest specific products, such as blankets or snacks, and allow users to buy them directly without leaving the ChatGPT interface.

    Target said that AI will eventually start to understand and predict what customers want to buy. 

    A recent Harris Poll shows that nearly half of Gen Z consumers would trust AI as a personal shopper that helps them pick out what they buy and find deals. Streamlining the purchasing process could help retailers boost sales, according to retail experts. 



    Exploring the rise of artificial intelligence company OpenAI

    04:14

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Capitol Hill, White House focus on affordability with new policy initiatives

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    From Capitol Hill to here at the White House, lawmakers are zeroing in on affordability. You could see it from the administration here in the last week, from videos to messages and new policy rollouts all designed and aimed at lowering costs for Americans. From 50 year mortgages to $2000 tariff checks, the White House is proposing bold solutions to *** stubborn issue. We’re working overtime on reducing costs. Among the changes, the White House. new trade frameworks with Latin American countries to lower the cost of groceries among other items. September’s inflation data shows coffee, bananas, and beef are among the items up significantly over the past year. We understand that people understand as they look at their pocketbooks that go to the grocery store, that there’s still work to do. It comes as the economy absorbs the damage from the 43 day government shutdown, which the White House says wiped out about $90 billion in economic growth and about 60,000 non-fe. Workers their jobs. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, many lawmakers tell us affordability is also their priority moving forward. Our constituents are absolutely suffering under the crushing costs of health care cost increases, housing increases, childcare, groceries, gas, you name it. I’m going to be focusing my attention on housing affordability, and for Democrats, the fight that drove the shutdown isn’t over. They’re now racing to restore health care subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. *** lapse that could leave families paying hundreds more each month. We’re working towards bringing another bill to the floor that would actually solve the crisis of affordability in healthcare and bring down healthcare premiums for those 24 million Americans. Senate Republicans have promised *** vote to extend those healthcare subsidies in December, not guaranteeing what that vote outcome would be. However, House Republicans have not promised such *** vote at the White House. I’m Christopher Salas.

    The federal government has reopened after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and the focus is now shifting to affordability, a pressing issue for millions of Americans. From Capitol Hill to the White House, lawmakers are concentrating on reducing costs.The White House is proposing bold solutions to address affordability, including 50-year mortgages and $2,000 tariff checks. Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council director, said, “We’re working overtime on reducing costs.”Among the changes, the White House announced new trade frameworks with Latin American countries to lower grocery costs. September’s inflation data shows significant price increases for coffee, bananas, and beef over the past year. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to eliminate tariffs on a broad swath of commodities, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits.Hassett acknowledged the ongoing challenges, saying, “We understand that people understand as they look at their pocketbooks and go to the grocery store that there’s still work to do.”The economy is absorbing the impact of the 43-day shutdown, which the White House said wiped out $90 billion in growth and cost about 60,000 non-federal workers their jobs. On Capitol Hill, many lawmakers emphasize affordability as their priority moving forward. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat from Maryland, said, “Our constituents are absolutely suffering under the crushing costs of healthcare and cost increases, housing increases, childcare, groceries, gas, you name it.” Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, added, “I’m going to be focusing my attention on housing affordability.”For Democrats, the fight that led to the shutdown continues as they race to restore healthcare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, which could result in families paying hundreds more each month. Rep. Josh Harder, a Democrat from California, said, “We’re working towards bringing another bill to the floor that would actually solve the crisis of affordability in health care and bring down health care premiums for those 24 million Americans.”Senate Republicans have promised a vote to extend healthcare subsidies by December, but the House has not made such a promise. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits. A USDA spokesperson stated that the Secretary aims to address “fraud, waste and incessant abuse” in the SNAP program, noting that earlier fraud rates were only assumptions. The USDA plans to use existing recertification processes, review state data, and potentially introduce new regulations as part of this effort. However, the USDA has not specified when a broad reapplication would start, how it would work, or whether families could lose benefits during the process. Further details have been requested.See the latest news from the Washington News Bureau:

    WASHINGTON —

    The federal government has reopened after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and the focus is now shifting to affordability, a pressing issue for millions of Americans. From Capitol Hill to the White House, lawmakers are concentrating on reducing costs.

    The White House is proposing bold solutions to address affordability, including 50-year mortgages and $2,000 tariff checks. Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council director, said, “We’re working overtime on reducing costs.”

    Among the changes, the White House announced new trade frameworks with Latin American countries to lower grocery costs. September’s inflation data shows significant price increases for coffee, bananas, and beef over the past year.

    President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to eliminate tariffs on a broad swath of commodities, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits.

    Hassett acknowledged the ongoing challenges, saying, “We understand that people understand as they look at their pocketbooks and go to the grocery store that there’s still work to do.”

    The economy is absorbing the impact of the 43-day shutdown, which the White House said wiped out $90 billion in growth and cost about 60,000 non-federal workers their jobs.

    On Capitol Hill, many lawmakers emphasize affordability as their priority moving forward. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat from Maryland, said, “Our constituents are absolutely suffering under the crushing costs of healthcare and cost increases, housing increases, childcare, groceries, gas, you name it.”

    Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, added, “I’m going to be focusing my attention on housing affordability.”

    For Democrats, the fight that led to the shutdown continues as they race to restore healthcare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, which could result in families paying hundreds more each month.

    Rep. Josh Harder, a Democrat from California, said, “We’re working towards bringing another bill to the floor that would actually solve the crisis of affordability in health care and bring down health care premiums for those 24 million Americans.”

    Senate Republicans have promised a vote to extend healthcare subsidies by December, but the House has not made such a promise.

    Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits. A USDA spokesperson stated that the Secretary aims to address “fraud, waste and incessant abuse” in the SNAP program, noting that earlier fraud rates were only assumptions. The USDA plans to use existing recertification processes, review state data, and potentially introduce new regulations as part of this effort. However, the USDA has not specified when a broad reapplication would start, how it would work, or whether families could lose benefits during the process. Further details have been requested.

    See the latest news from the Washington News Bureau:

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  • Rising turkey prices impact on Thanksgiving

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    Wholesale turkey prices are up about 40% from last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O’Grady explains the impact on your Thanksgiving meal.

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  • Your health insurance premiums are set to jump in 2026, with costs rising twice as fast as inflation

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    Open enrollment — the annual window when employees can adjust their benefits — may deliver sticker shock this year. Workers are likely to pay between 6% to 7% more for their 2026 employer-sponsored health insurance, more than double the current rate of inflation, according to a new analysis from consultant Mercer. 

    That means employees could pay about $2,400 next year for single coverage in an employer-provided preferred provider organization, or PPO, the most common type of medical plan, Mercer said. Families would likely face paycheck deductions of $8,900 a year for their coverage, according to the group, whose projections are based on a survey of more than 1,700 employers. 

    More working-age Americans receive health insurance through their employers than any other source, with about 60% — or 164.7 million people — covered by their workplaces, according to KFF.

    Companies, which typically pick up the bulk of their employees’ health insurance costs, are likely to spend more than $18,000 on average to insure each worker in 2026, Mercer told CBS News. Workers typically shoulder between 16% to 25% of the total, depending on whether they are receiving single or family coverage, according to KFF’s 2024 employer health benefits survey.

    The findings come as American households continue to feel squeezed by rising prices, with inflation inching higher this year on everything from groceries to housing. The jump in health insurance costs are partly due to an aging workforce that’s tapping more medical services, as well as increased demand for costly treatments such as the GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, Mercer Chief Actuary Sunit Patel said. 

    Employees “might also see an increase in the cost-sharing provisions in the design as well — higher co-pays, higher deductibles — so it’s getting hit on both ends,” Beth Umland, director of research for health and benefits at Mercer, told CBS News.

    Employees who receive their health insurance through their employers will soon learn their new costs when open enrollment begins, which typically runs for several weeks in the fall but varies by company.

    Health care prices aren’t likely to ease soon, Patel added, pointing to higher provider wages, inflation in medical goods, and an older workforce, as ongoing pressures. “We think costs are pretty sticky right now,” he said.

    Financial squeeze 

    Americans pay double what residents in other developed nations pay for health care, even though outcomes in the U.S. are worse than those in other countries, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation noted in an August analysis.

    In addition to an aging workforce and inflation, the complexity of the U.S. health care system is also driving those costs higher, noted Peterson. On top of that, growing consolidation amongst health insurers has made the market less competitive, resulting in higher costs, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a December report. 

    Higher health care costs could add to the financial squeeze felt by many families, who are already coping with higher grocery, utility and housing prices, noted Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, a liberal-leaning economic think tank. 

    A KFF poll in July found that 4 in 10 insured adults under 65 years old worry about affording their monthly health insurance. 

    “You can’t really go without health care, so something else will have to give,” Owens said. That could mean cutting “a family vacation, a family trip to a soccer game, or putting groceries on the credit card so you can clear the health care premiums.”

    The Consumer Price Index, a basket of goods and services typically purchased by Americans, likely rose 3.1% on an annual basis in September, an uptick from August’s 2.9% annual rate, according to economists polled by FactSet. The September inflation data will be released on Oct. 24. 

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  • Some protein powders, shakes contain high levels of lead and other metals, Consumer Reports finds

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    Some protein powders and shakes contain unsafe levels of lead, according to a Consumer Reports investigation. 

    In the report, published Tuesday, Consumer Reports analyzed 23 protein powders and shakes — a range of dairy, beef and plant-based protein supplements — and found that more than two-thirds of the products contained more lead in a single serving than what experts say is safe to consume, about 0.5 micrograms per day.

    “Protein powders and shakes have become immensely popular and are part of a daily routine for many people who are focused on consuming more protein in their diet,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a news release. “Our tests found that toxic heavy metal contamination in protein supplements is widespread and has worsened since we first analyzed these products 15 years ago.”

    On average, lead levels in plant-based products were the worst — about nine times the amount in dairy-based proteins, like whey, and twice as much as beef-based products.

    The products that Consumer Reports found contained the highest amount of lead were Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer and Huel’s Black Edition — which the report categorized as “products to avoid.” A full list of the products tested can be found in the report.

    A spokesperson for Huel told Consumer Reports that its ingredients undergo “rigorous testing” and that the company is “confident in the current formulation and safety of the products.” 

    In a statement to CBS News on Tuesday, Huel’s Head of Nutrition Rebecca Williams said its products “fully comply with international food safety regulations” and are “completely safe to consume.”

    “Trace amounts of lead occur naturally in some food ingredients. The level reported by Consumer Reports for Huel Black Edition is well within internationally recognised safety limits and poses no health risk,” the statement added. “We carry out regular testing with accredited independent laboratories to ensure our products consistently meet the highest standards of quality and safety.”

    A Naked Nutrition spokesperson told Consumer Reports it sources ingredients from “select suppliers” that provide documentation showing they were checked for heavy metals, but said it requested a third-party test of its Mass Grainer powder.

    CBS News has also reached out to Naked Nutrition for comment. 

    Two products also exceed Consumer Reports’ level of concern for cadmium, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. And three products contained inorganic arsenic, a known human carcinogen according to the EPA.

    “Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t review, approve, or test supplements like protein powders before they are sold,” the release noted, adding Consumer Reports launched a petition Tuesday calling on the FDA to take action once the government shutdown is over.

    “No one should have to worry that their protein shake could expose them to dangerous levels of lead. It’s time for the FDA to protect the public and hold industry accountable by setting strong limits on lead in protein powders and shakes,” Ronholm said.

    Earlier this year, the FDA, for the first time, set guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods such as jarred fruits and vegetables.

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  • Inflation fears drive falling consumer sentiment in September

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    New data shows Americans are feeling increasingly concerned about the state of the economy. A survey reveals that consumer sentiment fell in September for the second consecutive month. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has more.

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  • Big crowds and big business at the Great Minnesota Get-Together

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    It’s not just the crowds that were big at the Great Minnesota Get-Together on Sunday. Angie Voight and Maddy Emanuel were seated next to their big prizes they won on the Midway.

    “We like to come and win animals every year,” said Voight, from Minneapolis.    

    Whether it’s the Midway, the food or beverages, the fair has some making return trips.

    “This is my fourth time this year,” said Dana McWilliam from Burnsville.

    The latest statistics through Saturday show that nearly 1.6 million people have passed through the fair gates. It’s a number that tops both last year and the year before, to date.

    “Beautiful weather, so it’s a good day to be here,” said Voight.

    Speaking of weather, the fair has only seen rain twice this year. We can see rain up to four times, on average.

    The majority of the days this year have also had below average temperatures.

    It’s all meant big business for some fair first-timers.

    “We surpassed expectations,” said Jill Pavlak, co-owner of Urban Growler Brewing Company.

    In fact, Pavlak said their mocktails, in particular the Bonspiel Blue, are so popular this year, they’ve already started canning them at their St. Paul brewery.

    Their Cheweenies, which are mini-Kramarczuk’s hot dogs, are also flying out of their booth.

    It’s also Zavion Hyatt’s first time with a fair booth.

    “I’m keeping up. I have somebody at the restaurant cooking right now,” said Hyatt, the owner of Irie Express.

    “Everybody loves the Jerk Oxtail,” said Hyatt, who has seemingly overcome Minnesotans’ well known aversion to spice.

    Thousands are taking part in a yearly tradition that Minnesotans can’t seem to avoid.    

    “The Great Minnesota Get-Together, that’s what Minnesotans are known for, we’re all in this together,” said Pavlak.

    Jason Rantala

    Jason Rantala joined WCCO as a reporter in June 2023. He’s a Minnesota native and is thrilled to be telling the stories of those in his hometown.

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    Jason Rantala

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