ConsumerAffairs

Store brands have improved dramatically. Generic medications, pantry staples, frozen produce, and many household essentials often deliver similar quality for a lower price. Shop smarter, not by brand. Compare unit prices and ingredient lists—you may be paying extra for a familiar label rather than a better product. Some categories are still personal. Coffee, cereal, ketchup, and certain snacks may be worth the splurge if you prefer the taste or performance. Private-label products have come a long way.

A large review found that exercise modestly improved smoking quit rates and reduced daily cigarette use. Even a single workout helped reduce cigarette cravings for up to 30 minutes afterward. Researchers say exercise works best as a complement to proven quit-smoking treatments, not a replacement. Trying to quit smoking is rarely easy. Nicotine cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and long-standing habits can make it difficult to stick with a quit attempt, even when someone is highly motivated.

A new analysis projects home prices will rise faster than household incomes in every state by 2031. Several states could require households to dramatically increase their incomes to afford a median-priced home. The findings highlight where homeownership may remain attainable — and where affordability is expected to worsen. For many Americans, buying a home already feels like a stretch.

Children in the U.S. consume far more added sugar than health experts recommend, according to a new policy brief. Researchers argue that reducing sugar intake will require changes to schools, food labeling, marketing, and the food industry — not just individual family efforts. The roadmap outlines six policy recommendations designed to make lower-sugar choices more accessible and easier for parents and children.

Check the label. Many Costco steaks are blade tenderized and recommend cooking to 145°F with a 3-minute rest. There's a reason. Blade tenderizing can move bacteria inside the meat, so these steaks have different cooking guidance than intact cuts. Cook smart. Use a meat thermometer and don't assume every steak is safe to eat rare or medium-rare. If you've ever picked up a package of steaks at Costco, there's a good chance you've overlooked one important line on the label.

U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs in June, a modest gain that kept the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2%. Professional and business services, social assistance and health care accounted for nearly all of the month's hiring, while leisure and hospitality lost 61,000 jobs. The Labor Department also revised April and May job gains lower by a combined 74,000 jobs, suggesting the labor market has cooled more than previously reported.

A new Tufts University review finds growing evidence that artificial and other low-calorie sweeteners may disrupt gut bacteria and impair blood sugar control. Researchers say common sugar substitutes were linked to higher fasting insulin and HbA1c levels in an analysis of 21 randomized clinical trials. Experts stress the findings do not prove sugar substitutes are unsafe but suggest more research is needed into their long-term metabolic effects.

Kroger has agreed to acquire regional grocery chain Giant Eagle in a deal valued at $1.65 billion, marking its largest expansion since its failed merger with Albertsons. The acquisition would give Kroger nearly 200 additional supermarkets and pharmacies across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana. The deal faces regulatory review but is expected to close in 2027, with the companies anticipating only limited store divestitures.

Millions of current and former YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers may qualify for a share of Disney's $50 million antitrust settlement. The settlement covers eligible subscriptions purchased between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, with claims due by Sept. 8, 2026. Payments will vary based on how long customers subscribed and the total number of valid claims filed, with money expected to be distributed after final court approval.

Most items have 90-day returns, but not all. Major appliances get just 48 hours, and several other categories have much shorter deadlines. Make returns easier. Save digital receipts, link purchases to your Home Depot account, and keep the box until you're sure everything works. Know the hidden perks. The Home Depot credit card extends most eligible returns to 365 days, and trees, shrubs, and perennials carry a one-year guarantee.