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EXPLAINED: The national retail federation - The Real Truth

Your Child May Not Need Everything Teachers Ask for on Day One

The school supply list says three boxes of tissues, four dry-erase markers, two specialty folders, headphones, disinfecting wipes and a particular brand of colored pencils. Does your child really need every one of those items sitting in their backpack on the first morning?

Kids Ain't Cheap

7 School Purchases That Are Usually Cheaper After Classes Begin

Back-to-school shopping can feel like a race to buy everything before the first bell, but rushing may cost families more than necessary. In 2026, families with K-12 students expect to spend an average of $863.86 on school-related purchases, according to the National Retail Federation. Nearly half of shoppers who had…

Kids Ain't Cheap

7 September Expenses That Can Sneak Up on Your Budget

September can feel like a financial reset after summer, but it often brings a surprising collection of bills along with cooler weather and changing routines. Families may be finishing back-to-school shopping, homeowners are preparing for fall, and Labor Day can add one last round of summer spending. These September expenses…

Budget and the Bees

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7 Things Parents Should Stop Buying New Every School Year

Back-to-school shopping can make even a careful parent feel like their wallet has sprung a leak. In 2026, families with K-12 students are expected to spend an average of $863.86 on clothing, shoes, school supplies, and electronics, according to the National Retail Federation. But a new school year does not…

Kids Ain't Cheap

September Is Four Months From Christmas — Here’s What I’d Do With $100 Starting Now

September may feel too early to think about Christmas, but your December budget might disagree. Holiday expenses have a way of arriving all at once, from gifts and groceries to travel, decorations, and last-minute purchases. In 2025, Americans planned to spend an average of about $890 per person on winter…

Budget and the Bees

The Amazon Return Pile Is Trying to Tell You Something About Your Spending

That stack of Amazon boxes by the door may look like a weekend errand, but it could also be a financial warning sign. One return is ordinary; a steady Amazon return pile can reveal that buying has become faster than deciding whether you actually need something. Online shopping removes much…

Budget and the Bees

US law to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks has been delayed for 15 years

Law was set to go into effect in January, months before cyclosporiasis outbreak, but now is set for 2028

The Guardian - US

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Back-to-School Costs Are Climbing Again: Which Expenses Do Parents Forget Until August?

As summer winds down, many families think the biggest back-to-school purchases are already behind them. Then August arrives, and a wave of overlooked expenses begins piling onto the budget. While backpacks, notebooks, and lunchboxes usually make the shopping list, several hidden costs often catch parents off guard. According to the…

Kids Ain't Cheap

9 Back-to-School Expenses Parents May Be Able to Get Covered

Back-to-school shopping can put a serious dent in a family’s budget, especially when supply lists seem to grow every year. According to the National Retail Federation, families collectively spend billions of dollars annually on back-to-school purchases, making it one of the biggest seasonal expenses outside the holidays. The good news…

Kids Ain't Cheap

Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

Deals promoted as some of the best of the holiday season are expected to keep people across the United States glued to their computers and smartphones on Cyber Monday

The Independent UK

Returns in this economy?! How retailers are cracking down on their free return policies ahead of Black Friday

Consumers have gotten used to ‘ordering first and asking questions later’ shopping with so many retailers offering free returns but that trend may be coming to an end as merchants clamp down

The Independent UK

A lighter Santa’s sleigh: Two out of five Americans plan to spend less this holiday season amid economic uncertainty

Around a third of Americans think the US economy will get worse in 2026

The Independent UK

ETF Investors Bet On Retail Revival As Holiday Spending Set To Hit Record High

As the holiday season shifts into high gear, retail investors find a new cause for celebration. This year may prove one of the most lucrative on record for the sector, with the National Retail Federation forecasting that U.S. holiday sales will range from $1.01 trillion to $1.02 trillion. The mix…

Benzinga

Holiday Hiring To Plunge To 15-Year Low, Says NRF: Here's What Jobseekers Need To Know

Retailers are expected to add just 265,000 to 365,000 seasonal jobs this year, the National Retail Federation said on Thursday. The forecast is the lowest holiday hiring tally in at least 15 years, down from 442,000 last year and NRF said, is consistent with a softer labor market.

Benzinga

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The Independent UK

Halloween candy prices have nearly doubled in five years as sticker shock continues to hit America

A 100-count Halloween candy bag now costs $16, over triple inflation, FinanceBuzz reports

Grocery Coupon Guide

12 Holiday Sections That Encourage Wasting Cash

Every holiday season, stores transform into glittering wonderlands designed to loosen your wallet. From endcap displays to “limited-time” deals, retailers rely on emotional triggers that make even the most budget-conscious shopper overspend. According to the National Retail Federation, the average American plans to spend more than $890 during the holidays,…

The Independent UK

Cost of Halloween costumes and candy spooking shoppers this year as Trump’s tariffs could spike prices

Nearly 90 percent of Halloween merchandise includes at least one imported component, according to the Halloween and Costume Association

The Independent UK

Empty store shelves are coming as companies cancel orders from China amid tariff concerns

Number of freight vessels scheduled to arrive at the Port of Los Angeles is on track to be down by 31 percent for the week ending May 10

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The Independent UK

Toy stores could go bust under Trump’s proposed international tariffs

Nearly 80 percent of U.S. toys are manufactured in China, one of the countries the president-elect has threatened to target with immediate charges on imports

Top News

Cyber Monday Sales Surge Expected To Break Records

Cyber Monday sets record online spending, reflecting strong holiday sales trends and consumer shift to e-commerce.

International Business Times

Cyber Monday Blowout Deals On Top Tech; Get Ready To Save Big On Gizmos

The National Retail Federation first saw a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2005, which led to the creation of Cyber Monday, one of the largest online shopping days of the year.

The Independent UK

Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping

Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday

Kiplinger

How Tariffs Will Impact Clothing and Toy Prices in 2025

U.S. toy makers warned customers of fewer toys and higher prices this year.

Latin Times

Trump's Tariff Plan Could Cost American Consumers up to $78 Billion in Annual Spending, Study Reveals

A report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) says the proposed tariffs would mainly impact consumer product categories

The Independent UK

Many retailers offer 'returnless refunds.' Just don't expect them to talk much about it

It’s one of the most under-publicized policies of some of the biggest U.S. retailers: sometimes they give customers full refunds and let them keep unwanted items too

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