affordability

Chipotle CEO says chain is making ‘meaningful progress’ on a major customer concern

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Chipotle CEO says chain is making ‘meaningful progress’ on a major customer concern

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said Wednesday the fast-casual chain is seeing improvement in customers’ perceptions of affordability. Speaking on Chipotle’s second-quarter earnings call, Boatwright said the company’s brand tracking showed improved perceptions of value across “all income groups and age cohorts.” “As it relates to value, I’m happy to report our brand tracker showed really solid progress across all … Read more

RFK Jr. launches ‘real food’ cooking show with healthy recipes under $5

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RFK Jr. launches ‘real food’ cooking show with healthy recipes under

Can healthy eating really cost less than a drive-thru run? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is betting it can with a new government-backed coking show aimed at proving nutritious meals don’t have to break the bank. The new program, “The Real Food Show,” makes “healthy, affordable cooking simple and accessible for every American,” according to the … Read more

Chicken wing prices are down —but your favorite restaurant may not cut costs

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Chicken wing prices are down —but your favorite restaurant may not cut costs

It’s National Chicken Wing Day, and fans of one of America’s most iconic foods have reason to celebrate: Wing prices have fallen after years of soaring costs. Wholesale whole wing prices are down from a year ago. There’s also a steady supply available, according to a July market trend report published by Performance Foodservice. It’s likely chicken … Read more

California medical insurance rates skyrocket — affecting millions of people

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California medical insurance rates skyrocket — affecting millions of people

Californians already struggling to afford day-to-day necessities will be hit even harder next year when a hefty increase in health insurance rates goes into effect. Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, announced this month that its private health plans will see prices rise on average 9.9% in 2027 for the second straight year. This … Read more

Californians hate Gavin Newsom’s gas vehicle ban, poll shows

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Californians hate Gavin Newsom’s gas vehicle ban, poll shows

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently doubled down on his mission to make California a haven where only new electric vehicles are sold, but most Californians — including fellow Democrats — are saying hell no, according to a new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The survey, conducted June 29 to July 6, revealed that … Read more

America’s cheapest city to grab a cheeseburger, fries and soda revealed—and it might surprise you

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America’s cheapest city to grab a cheeseburger, fries and soda revealed—and it might surprise you

A cheeseburger, fries and a soda remain one of America’s classic comfort meals, but what Americans pay for that combo depends heavily on where they live, according to the so-called Cheeseburger Index. A new DoorDash State of Local Commerce report, which compares the average price of a cheeseburger, fries and a soda across US cities, found … Read more

New car payments reach all-time high as affordability challenges persist in US

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New car payments reach all-time high as affordability challenges persist in US

The average new car payment rose to an all-time high in the first quarter as American households continued to face affordability challenges in the economy. A new report by LendingTree citing data from Experian for the first quarter of 2026 found that the average monthly payment for a new vehicle rose 2.9% from a year … Read more

One state has the most expensive pizza in the nation — and it’s not New York: survey

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One state has the most expensive pizza in the nation — and it’s not New York: survey

If summer road trips have you craving pizza, a new report spotlights key places across the country to stop for the most affordable slice. With Americans continuing to watch their spending on dining out, the survey highlights where travelers can stretch their food budgets the furthest while on the road this summer. In its US Pizza … Read more

US veterans are missing out on $28B in unused VA support — find out if you qualify

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US veterans are missing out on B in unused VA support — find out if you qualify

Salute to the loot.  Veterans of the United States military are unwittingly forfeiting billions in untapped financial support from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) across major cities, including NYC, due to lack of awareness and eligibility confusion, per a startling report.  Researchers for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender, determined that … Read more

Border town near California ranked among the most affordable cities for homebuyers

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Border town near California ranked among the most affordable cities for homebuyers

California may be home to some of the country’s priciest real estate, but just across the border, one desert city is quietly becoming a haven for bargain-hunting homebuyers. A new WalletHub study ranking the most affordable US cities for homebuyers found that no California metro cracked the top tier, while Yuma landed at number four … Read more

JFK is one of nation’s most expensive airports as flight prices surge across country: study

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JFK is one of nation’s most expensive airports as flight prices surge across country: study

New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the priciest airports in the country — with average plane tickets topping $400 as a majority of Americans say increasing costs are keeping them out of the air, a new study showed. Average airfares at JFK in 2026 were $404.59 as of May, earning … Read more

Former California meth capital ranked among the best places to raise a family in the US

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Former California meth capital ranked among the best places to raise a family in the US

The city once dubbed America’s meth capital is apparently becoming surprising wholesome. Fresno was once called “The City Addicted to Crystal Meth” in a 2009 BBC documentary — but now, somehow, it’s apparently one of the better places to raise a family in the United States. The much-maligned Central Valley metro — which also recently landed on … Read more

America’s biggest grocery store chain slashes prices on thousands of items as affordability war ramps up

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America’s biggest grocery store chain slashes prices on thousands of items as affordability war ramps up

Call it deflation. One of the country’s largest grocers, Kroger, is slashing prices to lure inflation-ravaged customers from Walmart, Costco and other high-value grocery giants. CEO Greg Foran hopes these proposed price cuts will help give value-conscious customers reeling from surging gas prices, economic uncertainty, and other effects of inflation a bit of a breather … Read more

Top 10 states revealed where a family of 4 spends the most on groceries as prices continue to soar

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Top 10 states revealed where a family of 4 spends the most on groceries as prices continue to soar

Grocery shopping is taking a big bite out of budgets everywhere — but a family of four can get socked significantly more in some states. Hawaii tops the list for grocery outlay in that demographic, spending an estimated $389.66 a week at the supermarket, totaling a staggering $20,262 annually, data from the US Census Bureau … Read more

Prices for 6 grocery store staples are increasing right now as affordability spirals

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Prices for 6 grocery store staples are increasing right now as affordability spirals

The cost of food has been increasingly volatile due to inflation, as evidenced by some cartons of organic pasture-raised eggs costing an offensive $13. And while the sunny side is that egg prices are expected to decline, the USDA is predicting several other grocery items will continue to get pricier this year. Prices of groceries … Read more

New Yorkers go wild for bargain fast-fashion megastore opening — as affordability crisis spirals

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New Yorkers go wild for bargain fast-fashion megastore opening — as affordability crisis spirals

Fast fashion is in its prime. The May 8 grand opening of Primark — the Irish-born multinational retailer known for selling trendy clothing, home goods and beauty products at bargain bin prices — at 150 W. 34 St. brought Manhattan’s penny-pinched shoppers out in the masses. Approximately 3,000 of them, in fact. As the affordability … Read more

Exclusive | NYC parents lay bare the nearly six-figure cost of raising children in the city 

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Exclusive | NYC parents lay bare the nearly six-figure cost of raising children in the city 

Parents in New York City rolled their eyes at a recent survey that claimed it costs $15,447 a year to raise a child in the state, calculated over the course of 18 years. But families across the five boroughs told The Post that their annual bills far eclipse that, ranging from $19,000 to a shocking … Read more

PepsiCo says lower snack prices are bringing customers back to brand

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PepsiCo says lower snack prices are bringing customers back to brand

PepsiCo said Thursday its push to make snacks more affordable is bringing customers back, offering an early sign that consumers are starting to return after pulling back in recent years. The company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with both revenue and profit rising. A notable change came in its North American food business, where demand for … Read more

Married couple saves $12k a year in rent by moving into a hotel room

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Married couple saves k a year in rent by moving into a hotel room

A couple who were fed up with high rent spend $307 a week to live in a hotel room — and save $12k a YEAR. Maranda Bowers, 47, and her husband, John, 40, lived in a two-story, three-bedroom home for $2,300 a month. But in 2023, John had an accident at work where his right … Read more

Can you still eat at McDonald’s for less than $10? How to beat rising prices at 5 top fast-food chains

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Can you still eat at McDonald’s for less than ? How to beat rising prices at 5 top fast-food chains

Fast, no longer cheap, and out of control. Every American knows the cost of a quick burger and fries has skyrocketed in recent years — depending on where you live, your next Whopper could run you a whopping 38% percent more than it did in 2020, according to the latest Consumer Price Index Report. Sure, … Read more