Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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Hayward will repair for free, in owners’ homes, 4,600 pool heaters that sold for about $5,600
Hayward will send a technician to inspect and repair, in the owner’s home and at no cost, about 4,600 Universal pool heaters that sold for about $5,600, after identifying a defect that poses a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. The recall, dated Sept. 17, covers heaters sold between March and July 2026. Carbon monoxide has no…
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Target and Nordstrom shoppers get full refunds on 4,000 recalled Love To Dream sleep machines that sold for about $60
Love To Dream will give a full refund to owners of about 4,000 portable sleep machines sold at Target and Nordstrom for about $60, after finding the battery can overheat when paired with an incompatible charger. The recall, announced Sept. 24, covers units sold between February 2025 and September 2026. No injuries have been reported.…
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Char-Broil will send free repair kits for 10,605 Bistro Pro electric grills sold at Lowe’s and Walmart for up to $250
Char-Broil will send a free repair kit to owners of about 10,605 Bistro Pro electric grills sold at Lowe’s, Walmart and other retailers for $150 to $250, after the company found a wiring defect that can cause an electric shock. No injuries have been reported. Owners who complete the repair and submit photo proof can…
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Costco-sold Sauna360 infrared saunas that cost up to $13,000 get free in-home repairs after 67 overheating reports
Sauna360 will send a technician to make a free in-home repair on about 41,580 infrared and hybrid infrared saunas sold at Costco for $6,000 to $13,000, after 67 reports of the units overheating, melting, charring or burning. The recall covers saunas and infrared kits sold under several brand names between May 2013 and July 2026.…
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Car dealers must advertise a price that includes every mandatory fee, the FTC told the industry
The Federal Trade Commission told the auto industry on Sept. 15 that an advertised vehicle price has to be the actual price a customer can walk in and pay, with no mandatory fee left off the sticker. The only charges a dealer can still leave out of that number are ones the government itself requires…
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California used-car buyers who cancel within three days can be charged a restocking fee of $200 to $600
Starting Oct. 1, 2026, a California used-car dealer can charge a buyer a restocking fee of $200 to $600 for canceling a purchase within three days. The fee only applies if the buyer paid for an optional cancellation agreement at the time of sale, since California has no automatic right to return a used car.…
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Fresh vegetable prices are forecast to rise 5.7% this year, USDA says
The produce aisle is forecast to get noticeably pricier this year. Fresh vegetable prices are headed for a 5.7% increase in 2026, according to the Food Price Outlook that USDA’s Economic Research Service released Sept. 25, more than double the 2.4% increase the agency projects for food at home overall. That gap puts fresh vegetables…
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Target Circle 360 members get early access to Target’s October 6-7 sale, with prices up to 40% off
Target is opening its next big sale event to certain shoppers a day early. The retailer’s Sept. 15 announcement sets Target Circle Deal Days for Oct. 6-7, with prices cut by up to 40% off, while members of its paid Circle 360 program get access starting Oct. 5, a full day before the sale opens…
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Electricity rose 3.8% and piped gas 4.4% in a year, outpacing groceries
Two utility bills climbed faster than the grocery bill over the past year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that electricity prices rose 3.8% and piped gas service rose 4.4% over the 12 months ending in August 2026, both ahead of the 2.2% increase for food bought at the grocery store over the same stretch.…
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USDA forecasts coffee and other nonalcoholic drinks costing 4.2% more this year
Coffee drinkers and soda buyers alike are facing a steeper grocery bill in 2026. The Sept. 25 Food Price Outlook from USDA’s Economic Research Service puts nonalcoholic beverages, the category that covers coffee, tea, soda and juice, on track for a 4.2% rise this year. The agency singles out coffee specifically as the fastest-moving item…