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- 82% of Americans say grocery prices are hurting more than gas prices
A new survey finds rising food costs are changing shopping habits, with many consumers turning to store brands and discount retailers By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs June 22, 2026 82% of Americans say food and beverage prices are hitting them harder than gas, making groceries the most painful inflation category right now.Rising prices are reshaping shopping habits, with 60% of consumers dropping brand loyalty and many switching to store brands or discount grocers to save money.Experts say simple strategies like meal planning, shopping with a list, and choosing private-label products can help shoppers stretch their grocery budgets.Americans have grown used to paying more for everyday essentials, but many say its the grocery store not the gas station thats putting the biggest strain on their budgets. A new survey from supply chain software company DOSS found that 82% of consumers say food and beverage prices are hitting them harder than fuel costs, prompting many shoppers to rethink what they buy and where they shop. Rising prices are also weakening brand loyalty, with consumers increasingly choosing store brands, discount grocers and cheaper alternatives to stretch their dollars.To break it all down, ConsumerAffairs spoke with David Appel, VP of Marketing at DOSS. Have grocery prices risen as quickly as gas prices?Appel explained that gas prices often grab attention because they can change overnight and are visible on every street corner. Theyre also influenced by everything from crude oil markets to refinery outages and geopolitical events, he said. But grocery inflation is often felt more frequently. Our research found that 82% of Americans say food and beverage prices are among the most painful inflation categories they face today, compared to 76% who say the same about gas. Whether its a full grocery run or a quick stop for essentials, consumers encounter higher food prices several times a week, while gas expenses depend more on how often they drive. Using store brands to your advantageOne of the best ways to stretch your dollar at the grocery store is opting for store brands instead of private-label brands. The perception of private-label quality just isnt what it used to be, and its no longer seen as a compromise, Appel said. When nearly 7 in 10 Americans believe store brands are just as good as name brands, that really emphasizes the shift in consumer perceptions and behavior.Whether its canned goods, frozen veggies, pasta, dairy products, or pantry basics,… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago - Clive Davis, Legendary Executive Who Helped Shape Modern Music, Has Died
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee fostered the careers of icons including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin and Aerosmith. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago - Exposed data leaves consumers vulnerable to scamsA new survey finds nearly three in 10 Americans have faced phishing or identity theft after their personal information appeared online By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs June 22, 2026 Nearly three in 10 consumers say they've been targeted by phishing or identity theft after their personal information was exposed online, according to a new survey from Cloaked.Experts warn that AI tools can make scattered personal information easier to find and use, potentially helping scammers craft more convincing attacks.While completely erasing your digital footprint is difficult, regularly auditing your online presence, removing old accounts, and tightening privacy settings can help reduce your risk.Scammers have always looked for ways to exploit personal information, but new technology and the sheer amount of data available online are making those schemes more sophisticated and harder to avoid. A new survey from privacy company Cloaked found that nearly three in 10 consumers say they have been targeted by phishing attempts or identity theft after their personal information was exposed online.At the same time, many Americans worry that too much of their information is publicly available, while others remain unaware that AI tools can surface details about them with a simple search. ConsumerAffairs spoke with Annmarie Giblin, chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel at Cloaked, who explained that consumers need to understand what information is already out there and take steps to limit their exposure before scammers, employers, or even strangers use it against them.An ongoing processGiblin explained that one of the biggest hurdles to removing personal data from the internet is the tension between the complexity of the data economy and the need to share personal information in order to live in our world. Most people don't know much about the data broker economy nor do they understand how their data is collected, bought, and sold, and how it creates a never ending loop of sharing and selling, she said. This also makes data removal a constant process, because a person can successfully delete their personal information from one broker, only to find the same information republished somewhere else weeks later. Most people expect a single opt-out process; but in reality, its a whack-a-mole type of problem that requires persistence and repeated follow-up. The risks of personal information on the internetCloakeds survey revealed that 47% of consumers don't know they can search themselves on AI tools like ChatGPT. Its important for consumers to understand that… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- A conservative nonprofit group released several AI-generated ads attacking Texas...
How James Talarico’s opponents use AI to boost false claims Source: Politifacts.com [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago - JCPenney and Aéropostale are linking rewards programs — here’s how shop...Why this retail partnership could mean bigger savings By Kyle James of ConsumerAffairs June 22, 2026 One rewards account, two stores. Shoppers can now earn and redeem rewards at both JCPenney and Aropostale, with every 200 points earning a $10 CashPass.Free bonus for joining. New members get a $10 CashPass through JCPenney or a $5 CashPass through Aropostale, plus chances to earn extra rewards through shopping challenges.Good news for families. Combining purchases across both stores can help shoppers earn rewards faster, especially during back-to-school season.Loyalty programs are everywhere these days, but most come with the one major limitation that you can only earn and spend rewards at a single retailer.That's changing for shoppers at JCPenney and Aropostale.Starting Monday, June 22, parent company Catalyst Brands is launching Rewards Access, a new loyalty program that lets customers earn and redeem rewards across both retailers. In other words, purchases at either store can help unlock discounts that can be used at either brand.For families juggling back-to-school shopping, clothing purchases, and home essentials, the new program could make it easier to earn rewards faster.How Rewards Access worksThe program combines rewards earning between JCPenney and Aropostale.Customers earn points when shopping at either retailer, and every 200 points unlocks a $10 CashPass reward that can be redeemed at either store.Catalyst Brands is also adding bonus earning opportunities through shopping challenges. Customers can earn an additional $5 CashPass for completing certain activities, many of which are tied to everyday shopping habits such as:Shopping early for back-to-schoolBuying home essentialsTrying new beauty productsRefreshing seasonal wardrobesNew members can also receive a welcome reward just for signing up.How do shoppers sign-up for the programYou can sign-up online at both JCPenney.com or Aeropostale.com, as well as in-store at both retailers.If you sign-up through JCPenneys website, youll get $10 CashPass for free, and if you sign-up through Aeropostales website, youll receive a $5 CashPass.Why this mattersMost retailer rewards programs keep customers locked into a single brand. The advantage here is increased flexibility.For example, a parent buying school clothes for a teenager at Aropostale could use those purchases to earn rewards that are later redeemed at JCPenney for home goods, shoes, beauty products, or additional apparel.The shared rewards pool may also help occasional shoppers reach reward thresholds faster than they would through a traditional single-store program.Catalyst Brands also owns Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica. It will be interesting to watch if these brands… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- La Crosse Center’s Riverside Terrace open on July 4th
The City of La Crosse is opening up some prime viewing for the July 4th fireworks. They said that they are opening up the La Crosse Center’s Riverside Terrace to the public so they can watch the fireworks that evening that are a Riverfest tradition. The doors to the center open at 5 p.m. and go until after the fireworks show ends. During the event, the city is offering hot dogs, select beer, and dirty sodas for sale to help celebrate. The Chad Erickson Memorial Fireworks Extravaganza for Riverfest is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. The post La Crosse Center’s Riverside Terrace open on July 4th appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
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