Latest news with #householdappliances
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here are 5 things that will likely get more expensive in 2025
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Imported household appliances that are made with steel parts — like washing machines, refrigerators and stoves — will be subject to President Trump's expanded tariffs starting June 23, according to the Commerce Department. This marks one of the first times that the administration has targeted everyday household products, and could mean higher prices for the average American household. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how The administration increased tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to 50% from 25% on June 4. This is in addition to a baseline 10% tariff on imported goods from most countries, along with a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars and auto parts. Many fear costs will continue to rise. Experts say that, regardless of any further actions from Trump, the prices of certain products and services are expected to rise significantly this year. Here are five you should watch out for. U.S. homeowners' insurers have hiked premium rates by double digits over the past two years. Premiums increased by 10.4% in 2024, following a rise of 12.7% in the previous year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. If you're worried about affording your insurance policy, it's a good idea to shop around for rates when your plan is set to renew. takes the hassle out of shopping for home insurance. In just under 2 minutes, you can explore competitive rates from top insurance providers, all in one place. OfficialHomeInsurance makes it easy to find the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget. The side-by-side comparison is helping homeowners save an average of $482 on their home insurance policies. Home insurance premiums aren't the only thing coming out of homeowners' pockets. If you own a car, you have another cost to deal with. Car insurance rates rose an average of 16.5% in 2024 according to ValuePenguin. Shopping around and bundling your auto and homeowners' insurance can lead to substantial savings. lets you compare quotes from trusted brands, including Progressive, Allstate and GEICO, to make sure you're getting the best deal. The matching system takes into account your location, vehicle details, and driving history to find you the lowest rate possible. You can find deals starting at just $29 per month and switch over your policy in just a few minutes. And if you have a furry friend, consider getting pet insurance to avoid expensive vet bills. With only 2% of pets insured across the U.S., pet owners typically spend up to $186 on average for a routine veterinary checkup, and anywhere between $374 and $1,285 for an emergency visit. BestMoney lets you compare pet insurance policies offered by reputed providers like Spot Pet Insurance, ASPCA, Pet Best and more. You can compare the coverage benefits, deductibles (if any), geographical availability and reviews — all in their online marketplace. Find offers starting at just $10 per month. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — Eggs are a staple item in many people's fridges. But in 2025, egg prices are expected to rise due largely to a wave of avian flu, plus the effects of Trump's tariffs. The impact is already being felt. While costs may vary depending on your location, the consumer price index reported that the price of a dozen large eggs reached $4.95 nationwide in January, up from $4.15 in December. Just a year ago, the average price was only $2.52 per dozen. If your household uses eggs regularly, buying in bulk could be a potential way to save. Alternatively, check out local farms to see if they offer fresh eggs at a lower price compared to your nearby supermarket. If you're someone who can't function without your morning dose of caffeine, here's some bad news: The price of coffee rose more than 80% in 2024, according to The Wall Street Journal, surpassing a record set in 1977. And with concerns brewing about a weak 2025 harvest in Brazil, plus Trump's tariff threats to Mexico, prices could easily follow a similar pattern this year. A 2024 survey by Drive Research found that 73% of Americans drink coffee every day, and 51% purchase coffee outside the home at least once a week. Little luxuries like café treats are often worth their extra cost if they boost your mood — but to keep them in your budget, you should look for ways to make your money work harder for you, so you can grow your nest egg. You can easily compare multiple online banks offering high-yield savings accounts with 4% or more in annual interest in a matter of minutes. Many options now offer $0 monthly fees and don't require a minimum balance to earn their high APY. The cost of streaming services is increasing in 2025. YouTube TV raised its monthly rate to $82.99 from $72.99 in January. Netflix also followed suit by announcing price increases across all plans at the same time. Most budgeting experts recommend an annual content audit to make sure you're not paying for platforms you rarely use. According to a study by Bango, one-third of Americans pay for a subscription they don't use. Another practical and long-lasting way to save is by keeping track of where your money is going. However, budgeting can be challenging, especially when trying to track multiple accounts and daily expenses simultaneously. Monarch Money's expense tracking system simplifies the process. The platform seamlessly connects all your accounts in one place, giving you a clear view of where you're overspending. It also helps you monitor your expenses and payments in real-time. Whether you're looking to save, invest, or simply control your spending, Monarch Money offers the tools to help you succeed. For a limited time, you can get 50% off your first year with the code NEWYEAR2025. Travel is a luxury that a lot of people are willing to prioritize. But in 2025, it might cost you more to get away. American Express Global Business Travel predicts prices on most routes involving U.S. airports will increase modestly, with domestic flights facing the biggest hikes. Some of America's top travel destinations are also introducing additional fees, as more countries in 2025 will require Electronic Travel Authorizations. These are permits travelers must pay for to enter visa-free countries, and they are linked to your passport. To save on travel, aim to book your vacation at an off-peak time, which may depend on your destination. Travel booking site Kayak found that the cheapest month to travel in 2024 was February. You can also save money by using the credit card that offers the most travel rewards and cash back. The challenge, however, is that searching for the right credit card can be overwhelming. With the process is quick, easy and personalized. Whether you're looking for cash back, travel rewards, a low APR or zero annual fees, their CardFinder tool matches you with the best offers from top providers. The process is simple: First, share a few details about your preferences and credit profile. Next, a soft credit check is performed, which won't affect your credit score. Finally, you can instantly compare and choose from a curated list of cards, complete with overviews of rewards, fees, and benefits. will help you find the perfect match and recommend a travel reward card that maximizes savings and benefits — all tailored to you. Here are the 6 levels of wealth for retirement-age Americans — are you near the top or bottom of the pyramid? This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Car insurance in America could climb to a stunning $2,502/year on average — but here's how 2 minutes can save you more than $600 in 2025 Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Making Dishwashers Great Again?
President Trump has complained that toilets these days require him to flush '10 or 15 times.' He has said that the drip from modern shower fixtures leaves him 'standing there five times longer' and gets in the way of coifing his 'perfect' hair. LED lightbulbs, he says, make him look orange. The president's disdain for modern-day household appliances, which he says have been ruined by energy- and water-efficiency regulations, is about to have far-reaching consequences. Even as his tariffs have shaken up the global economy, Trump has taken time to sign an executive order aimed at maintaining acceptable water pressure in shower heads. And he has directed the Energy Department to use 'all lawful authority to rescind' or weaken water and energy efficiency regulations for faucets, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and more. On Monday, the Department of Energy said it was starting its repeal of a long list of energy and water standards, adding dehumidifiers, microwaves and more to the list. His administration also plans to eliminate Energy Star, the popular energy efficiency certification for dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers and other home appliances. Many of those rollbacks, experts say, would be unlawful, violating an anti-backsliding provision in underlying statutes. And as Lisa Friedman and I reported, experts also say this would cost consumers money. The government's own scientists say the water and efficiency rules saved U.S. households an average of $576 on their utility bills in 2024 while cutting the nation's annual energy consumption by 6.5 percent and public water use by 12 percent. Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a coalition of environmental and consumer groups, utilities and government agencies, said already-stressed water supplies in many parts of the country would be further strained if the rules were eliminated. 'This is a campaign to undo what has been an incredible American success story,' he said. The White House declined to comment and the Energy Department did not immediately respond. Tucked away in the White House's policy documents is a plan to recommend to Congress that it repeal or amend the 1992 Energy Policy Act, as well as other statutes that help underpin the federal government's regulation of efficiency standards. Trump's move to repeal the standards elevates a longstanding campaign by libertarian and free market groups to push back against what they see as prime examples of government overreach, intrusion into daily lives, and infringement on personal choice, even toilet choices. It also dovetails with a nostalgia, whether accurate or not, for a simpler past of sturdy, longer-lasting appliances and gushing showers that were subject to few environmental regulations. The free market groups have piled onto Trump's bandwagon. 'Federal limits on water and energy use have made appliances slower and less effective, frustrating consumers and limiting their choices,' said Devin Watkins, an attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free-market think tank that has since led the cause against the rules, petitioning the Energy Department for a new, more water-intensive class of faster dishwashers. The appliance industry has been less outspoken. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which represents 150 manufacturers behind 95 percent of the household appliances shipped for sale in the United States, says that the standards have 'helped achieve decades of successful improvements in appliance efficiency.' But the group also notes that 'with most appliances operating near peak efficiency, additional meaningful savings are unlikely for some products' without some loss of performance. The debate over something as innocuous as household appliances reaches back to at least the Reagan era. President Reagan vetoed a bill that would have established appliance energy standards, saying it 'intrudes unduly on the free market' and 'limits the freedom of choice available.' But backed by strong bipartisan support and a public increasingly concerned about water and energy conservation, a version of the measure passed in 1987. It was another Republican, the first President George Bush, who signed the first bill establishing maximum water usage levels for toilets, shower heads and other plumbing fixtures. (That led to some early pushback from consumers who complained that their toilets were clogging, and reports surfaced of Americans traveling to Canada to purchase smoother-flowing, black market commodes. Shower heads from this time were lampooned in a Seinfeld episode featuring low-flow showers with comically weak water pressure.) But after decades of innovation, manufacturers now far more easily meet efficiency standards and claims of poor performance tend to be exaggerated, said Ashlynn Stillwell, an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Moreover, Stillwell's own research indicates that the energy and water saved through higher efficiency products more than pays back over its lifetime. That's one reason the total amount of energy and water used by American households has not grown nearly as fast as the population has, she said. 'It might seem small on the individual scale,' she said, 'but it has moved the needle.' A clean energy boom was just starting. Now, a Republican bill aims to end it. Sprawling wind farms in Wyoming. A huge solar factory expansion in Georgia. Lithium mines in Nevada. Vacuums that suck carbon from the air in Louisiana. Over the past three years, companies have made plans to invest more than $843 billion across the United States in projects aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions, driven by lucrative tax credits for clean energy provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. But only about $321 billion of that money has actually been spent, with many projects still on the drawing board, according to data made public on Tuesday by the Clean Investment Monitor, a joint project of the Rhodium Group and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Now, much of the rest, about $522 billion, will depend on action playing out on Capitol Hill. A draft bill issued on Monday by Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee would effectively end most of the Inflation Reduction Act's tax incentives. — Brad Plumer and Harry Stevens Read more. Farmers sued over deleted climate data. So the government will put it back. The Agriculture Department will restore information about climate change that was scrubbed from its website when President Trump took office, according to court documents filed on Monday in a lawsuit over the deletion. The deleted data included pages on federal funding and loans, forest conservation and rural clean energy projects. It also included sections of the U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service sites, and the U.S. Forest Service's 'Climate Risk Viewer,' which included detailed maps showing how climate change might affect national forests and grasslands. The lawsuit, filed in February, said the purge denied farmers information to make time-sensitive decisions while facing business risks linked to climate change, such as heat waves, droughts, floods and wildfires. — Karen Zraick Read more. Thanks for being a subscriber. Read past editions of the newsletter here. If you're enjoying what you're reading, please consider recommending it to others. They can sign up here. Browse all of our subscriber-only newsletters here. And follow The New York Times on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok at @nytimes. Reach us at climateforward@ We read every message, and reply to many!
