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Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Most Americans Strained Financially From Trump Tariffs, Inflation On Labor Day: Survey
Rising costs due to inflation and President Donald Trump's tariffs are putting a strain on many Labor Day celebrations in the US. WalletHub just released its Labor Day Survey for 2025. The personal finance website also released a list of Labor Day facts based on travel, finances, and ways Americans will celebrate the holiday weekend. According to the survey, 55% of Americans believe Trump's sweeping tariffs and inflation are erasing their hard work. That's up from WalletHub's Fourth of July survey, when about half of respondents said the duties and inflation would affect their Ind…
Waterbury, CT
On Your Side
Claire’s To Close Waterbury Store As Bankruptcy Restructuring Expands
The future of Claire’s in Connecticut is becoming clearer as the jewelry retailer works through bankruptcy and a new ownership deal. A list released in federal court shows that two Claire’s stores in the state will not survive the latest round of closures. Claire's announced this week it would close 290 locations, which include the company's jewelry and fashion store, Icing. The Icing store at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester will shut its doors, though the Claire’s at the same mall will remain open. Claire’s locations at Brass Mill Center & Commons in Waterbury an…
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Americans With Strongest Credit Scores Struggling As Trump Tariffs, Inflation Raise Costs
Americans with the strongest credit scores are falling behind on payments as inflation and President Donald Trump's tariffs drive up household costs throughout 2025, according to new data. Late-stage delinquencies, which are accounts more than 90 days past due, surged 109% year-over-year among superprime borrowers in July, VantageScore said in a report released on Monday, Aug. 25. Those delinquencies rose 47% among prime borrowers. Superprime and prime borrowers are typically considered the most financially secure. "Consumers in the highest VantageScore credit tiers are showing i…
Northampton, MA
On Your Side
Electricity, Gas Bills Surge Nationwide: Here's Why
If your latest utility bill made you do a double take, you are far from alone. Across the country, Americans are seeing their electricity and natural gas costs soar, squeezing household budgets just as summer temperatures peak. Several key factors are fueling these price hikes. Experts say the combination of increased energy demand, supply chain disruptions, and decades of underinvestment that have left the US grid with aging infrastructure are all contributing to the higher bills. In addition, the growing need for power from AI-driven data centers, expanded oil and gas …
Newark, NJ
On Your Side
NJ Spends Least On Hair Care In Nation, New Study Finds
The rising cost of a haircut is hitting wallets harder in some Northeast states than others, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Hair Care on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The personal finance website compared the average price of men's barbershop visits and women's salon services in all 50 states to median household incomes. The study found Pennsylvanians spend about 1.42% of their income on hair care, ranking 11th nationwide. New York followed close behind at 17th (1.34%), while Massachusetts placed 20th (1.31%). …
Manchester, CT
On Your Side
'Never Ending Pasta Bowl' Returns To Olive Garden Despite Soaring Food Prices: Here's When
Despite inflation and President Donald Trump's tariffs, Olive Garden isn't budging on the price of its most popular deal. Olive Garden's fan-favorite "Never Ending Pasta Bowl" will return on Monday, Aug. 25. The deal includes unlimited pasta, soup or salad, and signature breadsticks for the same $13.99 price since 2022. The promotion stands out as menu prices nationwide climb to record highs. "In a time when prices seem to rise with every season, Olive Garden is keeping the price of its most beloved offer exactly the same," the Italian restaurant chain said in a news release. Early a…
National Interest
99-Cent No More? Keasbey Made AriZona Iced Tea May Finally Cave To Trump Tariffs
For the first time in more than 30 years, AriZona iced tea’s sacred 99-cent price tag may be on the chopping block. The company’s Brooklyn-born founder Don Vultaggio told The New York Times that President Donald Trump’s 50% steel and aluminum tariffs, enacted in June, are hitting the brand where it hurts: the can. AriZona’s headquarters sit on Long Island in Woodbury, with a massive production plant, AriZonaLand, in Keasbey, NJ, churning out the iconic tallboys that have stayed the same price since 1997. AriZona burns through more than 100 million pounds of aluminum every year, 20% o…
National Interest
School Lunches Are Costing Families More Than Ever: Here's Why
As the new school year gets closer, parents are preparing to pay more to pack a lunch, with many changing what will be in their kids' lunchboxes to save money. Nearly half of parents and caregivers (48%) expect to pay more for school-day lunches this year than last, according to Deloitte's 2025 Back-to-School Survey. The study also found that grocery prices are 23% higher than they were in 2020. The increase comes as many everyday staples are getting more expensive under President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on imports, which economists say are raising costs on a variety of foods f…
Arlington, VA
On Your Side
Costs Rise While Stubborn Inflation Persists, Trump Tariffs Loom Over Economy
Prices for a wide range of products increased in July, even as inflation held steady, with economists expecting President Donald Trump's tariffs to further raise costs for many Americans. The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.2% in July and reached a yearly rate of 2.7%, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday, Aug. 12. That was barely lower than the 2.8% annual inflation expected in the Dow Jones forecast, CNBC reported. Core inflation, which doesn't include the volatile food and energy categories, jumped by 0.3%, bringing the annual rate to 3.1%. That's the hi…
Saratoga Springs, NY
On Your Side
Rising Costs Rattling Restaurants As Customers Pull Back
From fryer oil to filet mignon, the tab for running a restaurant keeps climbing, and fewer diners are picking up the check. Operators say higher prices for ingredients, wages, and essentials like packaging are colliding with softer customer traffic, making profitability harder to maintain. Supply chain hiccups continue to cause delays and last‑minute substitutions, pushing up costs. Fuel is another pressure point. According to NerdWallet, the average price of a gallon of diesel has risen about 22 percent since 2020. Related story - Beef Prices Keep Climbing T…
White Plains, NY
On Your Side
Beef Prices Keep Climbing To New Record Highs: Here's What's Fueling Soaring Costs
You may want to savor that next steak. It’s not getting cheaper anytime soon. Beef prices have hit an all-time high in the US, driven by a mix of short supply, steady demand, and mounting costs across the cattle industry. According to the American Farm Bureau and industry economists, the national cattle inventory is now the smallest it’s been since 1951. Many ranchers reduced herd sizes — or left the business entirely — after years of drought, inflation, and rising interest rates made farming unsustainable. Add in strong consumer demand and the result is tight supply pushing prices ever h…
Albany, NY
On Your Side
Golden Corral Serving Up All You Can Eat Wings Special
Golden Corral is expanding its dinner buffet to include unlimited bone-in and boneless chicken wings. The promotion is available now at participating restaurants after 4 p.m. on weekdays and during regular weekend dinner hours, although prices and schedules may vary by location. Golden Corral says the promotion is to "close out summer," but did not give a specific end date. The Raleigh, North Carolina-based chain said the seasonal feature brings back its traditional Buffalo-sauced bone-in wings and introduces hand-breaded boneless pieces served plain so diners can add Sweet Chili, Garlic P…
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