Latest news with #JamesMartin
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I Monitor Tariff Impacts Every Day: Here Are My Top Tips to Help You Track Prices
If tariff news has you spooked, these are the tricks I can currently recommend to help you track the prices that matter the most to you. James Martin/CNET Thinking a lot about tariffs lately? You and me both. I've been keeping track of the impacts tariffs might be having on a variety of key products that are both popular and likely to be susceptible to tariffs. However, there's only so much I can keep track of, given that I'm just one guy (I swear) and that CNET is focused on tech products and services. If there's a product or type of product out there that you're concerned about when it comes to tariff inflation, it might be worth doing a little legwork of your own. Given the results of a recent CNET survey, it's fair to say that a lot of you reading this might have concerns about tariff-driven price increases. According to our findings, about 38% of shoppers feel pressure to make certain purchases before tariffs make them more expensive. About 10% say they have already made certain purchases in hopes of getting them in before the price hikes, while 27% said they have delayed purchases for products that cost more than $500. If that sounds like you, then I'd like to share a few tricks I've relied on to keep track of price shifts in the last few months, so that maybe you can keep tabs on the specific things that matter most to you. For all the details, keep reading, and for more, check out CNET's coverage of the court ruling that struck down Trump's tariffs. How to use price trackers on Amazon Amazon is one of the most popular online shopping portals in the world, so it's a great place to keep an eye out for price changes. The company's reach with consumers of all kinds is so vast that even a rumor that it might explicitly show the impacts of tariffs on its prices resulted in a heated response from the White House. If there's an item for sale, odds are you can find it on Amazon -- and there are a number of websites and browser add-ons that can show you the price history of most items listed there. For CNET's daily tracker, I personally use the browser extension Keepa, which came recommended by CNET Senior Editor James Bricknell and which is available for Chrome, Safari, Opera, Edge and Firefox browsers. After you install it, Keepa works by adding a graph to Amazon store pages you visit, showing you the changes in the product's price over time. You can fine-tune this graph as well, changing how far back the price history goes and adding or removing lines for different purchasing options. Another popular option is CamelCamelCamel, which allows you to track Amazon prices either by copy-pasting a link into its search bar, or as a browser extension, available for all the same platforms as Keepa. Unlike Keepa, which adds the chart directly into the product page, this extension -- known as "Camelizer" -- requires you to open the chart from a button added to the browser's menu bar. Besides that, the functionality is almost the same. Both of these options also allow you to set up email alerts for when certain products shift in price on Amazon. How to use price trackers for other shopping sites But maybe you don't exclusively rely on Amazon for your online shopping needs. Maybe you took my advice and canceled your Prime membership recently, or maybe you just prefer doing business elsewhere for certain things. Well, you're not out of luck, because some price-tracking services work with other popular retailers, like Walmart, Target or Best Buy. If those are the sorts of places you're shopping, I'd suggest taking a look at the aptly named site Price Tracker, which says that it can provide price history charts for 88 online retailers. All you have to do is copy-paste your product's URL into the site's search field, and it will generate a graph showing you its price over time, just as Keepa and CamelCamelCamel do. How to set news alerts for specific products and companies Sometimes waiting for prices to change feels like too little, too late. If you want to be informed ahead of time and get an idea about broader changes, you would do well to follow the news surrounding specific companies and product sectors. To do that, I'd recommend you create some Google Alerts related to the products you're most concerned about. Using this service, you can set alerts for certain words or phrases -- perhaps things like "tariffs," "coffee prices," or "Samsung Galaxy price" -- and Google will send you daily emails with news stories based on them. This way, if news stories indicate that a certain grocery item you buy frequently is about to get more expensive, or if a big tech manufacturer announces a price hike for that new gadget you've been anticipating because of "market conditions," you'll be ahead of the curve. For more, find out if you should or shouldn't buy a new phone now.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
James Martin opens up about what he really cooks at home in rare insight
James Martin was joined by singer Louise Redknapp on his ITV show this morning, with the star asking the chef if he really cooks a feast every night Celebrity chef James Martin has given fans a glimpse into his personal culinary habits, revealing that even when he's off the telly, he still enjoys whipping up a meal for himself. While chatting with guest Louise Redknapp on James Martin's Saturday Morning, the conversation turned to what the famous chef cooks when he's not dazzling viewers with his skills on ITV. In today's episode, James was seen preparing an exquisite blackened cod, which had been marinated in miso, sake, and mirin for three days. The dish, featuring the fish roasted over coals accompanied by barbecue leeks and grilled broccolini, certainly tantalised taste buds. Louise, who appeared on the show to promote her new solo album Confessions, was curious about James's dining habits, asking him: "Do you cook dinner for yourself every night? Like, if you're just home alone do you still cook something..." "Absolutely!" James chimed in, confirming his passion for cooking doesn't wane even when the cameras are off. The conversation took a light-hearted turn as Louise confessed to having cereal for dinner the previous night, prompting James to offer: "So hopefully I'm going to cook for you some nice food." Acknowledging the complexity of the day's recipe, James conceded: "I don't cook like this every night. But if you can just cook a nice bit of fish, just pan fry it..." He then drew a parallel between their professions, jokingly asking Louise: "But yeah it's my job! You must sing in the kitchen don't you as you go along?" "I do, actually!" she admitted, which resulted in laughter and James concluding: "There you go! Similar sort of thing." James has previously shared insights into the more 'normal' meals he enjoys preparing on his weekend show, reports the Express. During his show last year, TV chef James Martin revealed some of the dishes he cooks on a typical day at home, starting with: "What do I cook on a regular day at home? Roast chicken. Easy." He elaborated on his culinary routine, saying: "An hour and a quarter in the oven with some nice veg - green beans from the garden, tomatoes from the greenhouse." Expanding on his approach to everyday cooking versus entertaining, James said: "As a chef, it's a funny one; if you're cooking for people at home, yes, you go and do your thing and get into the 'process'." For fuss-free daily meals, James prefers uncomplicated yet tasty options, stating: "But if it's just for everyday meals, most of us go for things like that - something simple but delicious; steak frites, or steak and a jacket potato, or a simple pasta, are my favourites." Regarding pasta, James shared his affection for simplicity, adding: "Just a couple of tins of tomatoes, with garlic and basil, and cook for 30 minutes with some good olive oil. Cooking it for a good time makes the difference." Today, James welcomed guests including singer Louise, chefs Francesco Mazzei and Tom Shepherd, and forager Alysia Vasey to his popular morning programme. The episode also treated viewers to sumptuous meals such as flatbread topped with blue cheese and nettle pesto, and an appetising asparagus tart featuring shallots, cheddar, and a golden shortcrust pastry. Completing the lineup of delectable dishes was James' own creation of lamb chops served with purple sprouting broccoli and a flavoursome harissa dressing. James Martin's Saturday Morning airs from 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
James Martin mocked over four times a week habit sparked by personal struggle
James Martin is one of Britain's best loved chefs and has presented TV cooking shows for over 20 years, however, he's candidly admitted that he frequently gets ridiculed over his weekly routine Celebrity chef James Martin, known for his culinary prowess and hosting ITV's Saturday Morning, has been dealing with dyslexia, a form of neurodivergence. Despite the challenges, at 52, James has recently become more vocal about living with the condition and how he manages daily life. In a candid chat with the Telegraph last year, James disclosed his unique way of unwinding – by mowing his lawn four times a week. He shared with the newspaper in November: "I've got a John Deere sit-down lawn-mower with headlights and people take the mick out of me because I might mow the lawn four times a week." He continued, expressing his frustration when bad weather interferes with his routine: "If we've had non-stop rain and I can't cut the grass, I get p***** off. "But I also think mowing helps me switch off. I can have a crazy day at work, but I'll come home and happily get on my mower at midnight." James further explained the therapeutic nature of gardening, especially for someone with OCD tendencies, which he suggests many chefs may have: "The thing is a garden keeps you busy, which is great if you have OCD – as most chefs probably do." He concluded by highlighting the benefits of multitasking for his thought process: "You complete a task and it's an achievement. Equally, being out there gives me time to think and, being dyslexic, I find it easier to think when I'm doing other things." James has previously opened up about his struggles with dyslexia. During a chat with Kaye Adams on his BBC Radio Scotland show, he admitted that despite his years of cooking and presenting, he still finds it challenging at times. He shared: "Weirdly, I can cook and talk at the same time, but presenting I still find really difficult. I'm severely dyslexic, so reading anything off an autocue is really hard work, so if I'm allowed to cook and chat, that's where I feel at home." James isn't alone in his battle with dyslexia; former The One Show host Matt Baker also lives with the condition. In a conversation with OK!, Matt revealed that his dyslexia leads him to enjoy more hands-on tasks. He said: "I'm very practical because I'm dyslexic. Reading isn't really my thing. I prefer making things and painting. I don't know what it's like to not have dyslexia. When I was younger, I've never been more terrified than I was asked to read aloud. Despite this, 47-year-old Matt wouldn't change his neurodivergent status: "I wouldn't change a thing. Being neurodivergent means you think differently. "You keep telling yourself, 'I'm ready for this. And you can. Dyslexia has taught me you can achieve anything." Fans can catch James Martin once again on James Martin's Saturday Morning from 9.30am on ITV.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC News
As EVs stumble, automakers are bringing back a kind of hybrid that promises long range
Major automakers are set to resurrect a type of hybrid vehicle that seemed dead in the U.S. just a few years ago to meet a changing consumer demand landscape. Extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) are a form of plug-in hybrid that falls midway between traditional hybrids and full EVs. EREV cars and trucks rely on battery powered motors for propulsion (like an EV) but also have a relatively small gas engine to use as a generator to keep the batteries charged up (like a typical hybrid). A key difference between EREVs and other hybrids is the relative size of their batteries and gas engines. Mainstream hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) like the Toyota Prius still rely on combustion engines as their main means of propulsion. Thus, they have proportionately smaller batteries, but substantial gas engines that are directly connected to their drivetrains to help move the car. EREVs are much more focused on the electric side of the equation, so they tend to have bigger batteries than other hybrids, but comparatively small gas engines that solely function as generators to top off the batteries when examples of this type of vehicle — the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma — were introduced to the U.S market in 2011. These were followed by the BMW i3 and Cadillac ELR in 2014. But EREVs (also known as Range Extended Electric Vehicles, or REEVs), never attracted much interest from American consumers. The Volt was the most popular EREV by far, with GM selling 157,000 over nine years, until it ended production in 2019. That may seem impressive, but it's a blip in the overall U.S. new vehicle market, which saw about 16 million sales each year in that timeframe. The last EREV sold domestically was the i3, which BMW discontinued in 2022. While there are no new EREVs for sale in the U.S., several are in the pipeline. This includes an upcoming version of the Ram 1500 pickup truck, set to come to market in early 2026. A Ram spokesman noted that it will have the longest driving range the company has ever offered in a light-duty truck, up to 690 total miles between its gas engine and battery power. An EREV version of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is also under development, according to the company. Volkswagen is planning to begin production of an EREV pickup truck and SUV under the Scout brand name starting in 2027. Hyundai Motors plans to introduce EREV versions of its mid-sized SUVs by the end of 2026, according to a spokesman. The vehicles are expected to have more than 560 miles of range, and be sold under the Hyundai and Genesis brands. In addition, a Nissan spokesman confirmed that the company is considering offering EREV options in its mid-size and larger SUVs. 'They do offer advantages versus 100% EVs when it comes to hauling and towing,' he said, 'allowing greater driving range without the need for a large capacity battery, as well as faster refueling.' James Martin, the director of consulting services at S&P Global Mobility, says one reason manufacturers are turning to EREVs is lower production costs. EREV use of smaller and less expensive batteries than full EVs allows manufacturers to keep their expenses down. EREVs are also less complex than plug-in hybrids, Martin said. PHEVs have two functioning propulsion systems and sophisticated controls to allow them to communicate with each other. Most EREVs, by contrast, are solely propelled by their electric motors. Range anxiety, and cost, still big factors in EV adoption But one of the biggest advantages of EREVs is range. In China, where EREVs are gaining in popularity, the manufacturer BYD offers mid-sized sedans with more than 1,300 miles of claimed range. EREVs also alleviate range anxiety due to the ubiquity of gas stations. Consumers can just fill up with gasoline to charge the battery if a charging port is unavailable. The new EREVs can travel more than 100 miles on batteries alone, then hundreds more using gasoline. 'Range anxiety is still a factor when it comes to choosing an electric vehicle over an internal combustion vehicle,' said K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior vice president of research and chief innovation officer at the Center for Automotive Research. 'EREVs, allay the range anxiety concern,' he said. These hybrids may especially appeal to consumers who frequently travel long distances, and getting more consumers used to plugging in their vehicles might also appeal to manufacturers. 'The actual charging experience of EREVs is very similar to that of BEVs,' Prasad said. 'So, the market adoption of EREVs is likely to be seen as a good ramp to future BEV purchase considerations,' he added. Charging infrastructure is still lagging in many areas of the U.S., according to executive analyst Karl Brauer, which can make a full EV impractical for consumers. EREVs avoid that issue and may also be attractive to consumers who live in apartments or houses that lack charging stations. A recent report from McKinsey noted that EREVs could also combat cost concerns among consumers, noting that the smaller batteries can shave off as much as $6,000 in powertrain production costs, compared to BEVs. Another factor, according to McKinsey, is that both domestic and European manufacturers have seen how EREVs have gained sales momentum in China, a sign the technology may help to increase electrification adoption in their own marketplaces. 'We expect all levels of hybridization to increase production in North America throughout the decade,' said Eric Anderson, the associate director of Americas light vehicle powertrain forecasting for S&P Global Mobility. Hybrids, including EREVs, are a 'relatively affordable way for consumers to move up the electrification ladder without a significant monthly payment increase, he said. While the EV vehicle market continued to grow last year, the pace of growth has slowed considerably. 'The BEV market is in the process of shifting from early adopters to a more price-conscious buyer,' Anderson said. Domestic sales of hybrids grew from 1,175,456 in 2023 to 1,609,035 in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a 37% increase. Plug-in hybrids grew 10% in the same period — from 293,578 to 321,774. By comparison, fully electric EVs saw 7% growth, from 1,164,638 to 1,247,656. While overall sales of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles continues to dominate, its market share has fallen every year since 2015, according to Edmunds. Last year, ICE vehicle sales fell to 80.8% of total U.S. sales, down from 84% in 2023. Another attribute that might make EREVs popular with consumers is resale value. Hybrids — which includes EREVs and more common plug-in hybrids — depreciate less than EVs or traditional gas vehicles. Since depreciation is the most expensive part of car ownership, finding a vehicle that better retains its value can provide consumers with significant savings. By contrast, electric cars and trucks lose value faster than any other vehicle type — dropping by 58.8% after five years, compared to the overall vehicle depreciation average of 45.6% and only 40.7% for hybrids, according to research from iSeeCars. 'Electric vehicle sales have been slowing on both the new and used market, with EVs sitting on dealer lots longer despite falling prices,' Brauer said. 'Consumers are showing increasing appreciation for hybrid vehicles, creating a friendly environment for automakers to introduce more plug-in hybrids as an intermediate step toward full electric vehicles.' Ram 1500 extended range hybrid pickup, set to come to market in early 2026, will have the longest driving range the company has ever offered in a light-duty truck, up to 690 total miles between its gas engine and battery | Stellantis
CNBC
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CNBC
As EVs stumble, automakers are bringing back a kind of hybrid that promises long range
Major automakers are set to resurrect a type of hybrid vehicle that seemed dead in the U.S. just a few years ago to meet a changing consumer demand electric vehicles (EREVs) are a form of plug-in hybrid that falls midway between traditional hybrids and full EVs. EREV cars and trucks rely on battery powered motors for propulsion (like an EV) but also have a relatively small gas engine to use as a generator to keep the batteries charged up (like a typical hybrid). A key difference between EREVs and other hybrids is the relative size of their batteries and gas engines. Mainstream hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) like the Toyota Prius still rely on combustion engines as their main means of propulsion. Thus, they have proportionately smaller batteries, but substantial gas engines that are directly connected to their drivetrains to help move the car. EREVs are much more focused on the electric side of the equation, so they tend to have bigger batteries than other hybrids, but comparatively small gas engines that solely function as generators to top off the batteries when examples of this type of vehicle – the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma – were introduced to the U.S market in 2011. These were followed by the BMW i3 and Cadillac ELR in 2014. But EREVs (also known as Range Extended Electric Vehicles, or REEVs), never attracted much interest from American consumers. The Volt was the most popular EREV by far, with GM selling 157,000 over nine years, until it ended production in 2019. That may seem impressive, but it's a blip in the overall U.S. new vehicle market, which saw about 16 million sales each year in that timeframe. The last EREV sold domestically was the i3, which BMW discontinued in 2022. While there are no new EREVs for sale in the U.S., several are in the pipeline. This includes an upcoming version of the Ram 1500 pickup truck, set to come to market in early 2026. A Ram spokesman noted that it will have the longest driving range the company has ever offered in a light-duty truck, up to 690 total miles between its gas engine and battery power. An EREV version of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is also under development, according to the company. Volkswagen is planning to begin production of an EREV pickup truck and SUV under the Scout brand name starting in 2027. Hyundai Motors plans to introduce EREV versions of its mid-sized SUVs by the end of 2026, according to a spokesman. The vehicles are expected to have more than 560 miles of range, and be sold under the Hyundai and Genesis brands. In addition, a Nissan spokesman confirmed that the company is considering offering EREV options in its mid-size and larger SUVs. "They do offer advantages versus 100% EVs when it comes to hauling and towing," he said, "allowing greater driving range without the need for a large capacity battery, as well as faster refueling." James Martin, the director of consulting services at S&P Global Mobility, says one reason manufacturers are turning to EREVs is lower production costs. EREV use of smaller and less expensive batteries than full EVs allows manufacturers to keep their expenses down. EREVs are also less complex than plug-in hybrids, Martin said. PHEVs have two functioning propulsion systems and sophisticated controls to allow them to communicate with each other. Most EREVs, by contrast, are solely propelled by their electric motors. But one of the biggest advantages of EREVs is range. In China, where EREVs are gaining in popularity, the manufacturer BYD offers mid-sized sedans with more than 1,300 miles of claimed range. EREVs also alleviate range anxiety due to the ubiquity of gas stations. Consumers can just fill up with gasoline to charge the battery if a charging port is unavailable. The new EREVs can travel more than 100 miles on batteries alone, then hundreds more using gasoline. "Range anxiety is still a factor when it comes to choosing an electric vehicle over an internal combustion vehicle," said K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior vice president of research and chief innovation officer at the Center for Automotive Research. "EREVs, allay the range anxiety concern," he said. These hybrids may especially appeal to consumers who frequently travel long distances, and getting more consumers used to plugging in their vehicles might also appeal to manufacturers. "The actual charging experience of EREVs is very similar to that of BEVs," Prasad said. "So, the market adoption of EREVs is likely to be seen as a good ramp to future BEV purchase considerations," he added. Charging infrastructure is still lagging in many areas of the U.S., according to executive analyst Karl Brauer, which can make a full EV impractical for consumers. EREVs avoid that issue and may also be attractive to consumers who live in apartments or houses that lack charging stations. A recent report from McKinsey noted that EREVs could also combat cost concerns among consumers, noting that the smaller batteries can shave off as much as $6,000 in powertrain production costs, compared to BEVs. Another factor, according to McKinsey, is that both domestic and European manufacturers have seen how EREVs have gained sales momentum in China, a sign the technology may help to increase electrification adoption in their own marketplaces. "We expect all levels of hybridization to increase production in North America throughout the decade," said Eric Anderson, the associate director of Americas light vehicle powertrain forecasting for S&P Global Mobility. Hybrids, including EREVs, are a "relatively affordable way for consumers to move up the electrification ladder without a significant monthly payment increase, he said. While the EV vehicle market continued to grow last year, the pace of growth has slowed considerably. "The BEV market is in the process of shifting from early adopters to a more price-conscious buyer," Anderson said. Domestic sales of hybrids grew from 1,175,456 in 2023 to 1,609,035 in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a 37% increase. Plug-in hybrids grew 10% in the same period — from 293,578 to 321,774. By comparison, fully electric EVs saw 7% growth, from 1,164,638 to 1,247,656. While overall sales of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles continues to dominate, its market share has fallen every year since 2015, according to Edmunds. Last year, ICE vehicle sales fell to 80.8% of total U.S. sales, down from 84% in 2023. Another attribute that might make EREVs popular with consumers is resale value. Hybrids - which includes EREVs and more common plug-in hybrids - depreciate less than EVs or traditional gas vehicles. Since depreciation is the most expensive part of car ownership, finding a vehicle that better retains its value can provide consumers with significant savings. By contrast, electric cars and trucks lose value faster than any other vehicle type – dropping by 58.8% after five years, compared to the overall vehicle depreciation average of 45.6% and only 40.7% for hybrids, according to research from iSeeCars. "Electric vehicle sales have been slowing on both the new and used market, with EVs sitting on dealer lots longer despite falling prices," Brauer said. "Consumers are showing increasing appreciation for hybrid vehicles, creating a friendly environment for automakers to introduce more plug-in hybrids as an intermediate step toward full electric vehicles."
