Latest news with #shoppers
CNET
6 hours 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.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Tesco shoppers go wild for never-before-seen Kinder bar on shelves as fans say they are ‘amazingly good'
TESCO shoppers have gone wild for a never-before-seen Kinder bar after it appeared on shelves. The new bar is made of milk and cocoa cream layered with a crispy cereal shell. 1 And the sought-after treat was posted to the popular New F oods UK Facebook group when it was spotted in Tesco. One savvy shopper spotted the Kinder bar and let other chocolate-lovers know about the product. The post quickly received likes and comments from sweet fans eager to get their hands on the new flavour. Viewers were quick to weigh in with their opinions in the comment section. One wrote: "These are amazingly good." While another said: "Need these." Others quickly tagged their friends and family to let them know about the tasty new bar. The sweet treat is described as a "deliciously light yet indulgent snack" combining Kinder's signature creamy milk and cocoa layers with a crunchy cereal coating. Each bar comes individually wrapped so it is great for taking it on-the-go. Save with secret codes It's a fan favourite as it offers the perfect texture contrast in every bite. Tesco regularly gives shoppers a chance to pick up discounted food through yellow label stickers. These are typically food items that are due to expire and then marked down in price at the end of the day. Recently, the grocery giant has begun giving away some of these discounted products for free at selected stores. It began introducing the freebies across selected Express stores as part of a trial earlier this month. Food marked "CS" is given away for nothing from 9:30pm onwards. Therefore, the free products will only be made available to shoppers who visit these branches after this time. The supermarket giant said it will continue giving some of the end-of-life products to charity as it currently does. Staff will also get priority for the free products reduced earlier in the day. However, any food leftover at this point will be free for shoppers to take home and enjoy. How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds. "Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. Tesco is not the only retailer to give away discounted food through yellow sticker bargains. Rather than red or yellow, Lidl puts orange stickers on its reduced products, so make sure you don't miss any in your closest store. One former worker for the supermarket revealed when shoppers can find the stickers and get up to 60% off. And Sainsbury's said when staff add yellow stickers to products varies from store to store. As for Aldi, the chain uses red stickers to mark down items in its shops.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Big discount chains launches new camping and festival range ideal for summer and prices start from just 75p
WITH summer just around the corner, one bargain retailer is getting ready with an exciting range of budget-friendly camping gear. B&M's Outdoor Adventure has everything you need for sleeping under the stars, with prices starting as little as 75p. 4 It's not just perfect for camping, there are also must-have bits and bobs for festivals and picnics. One money-smart shopper spotted the selection in her local store and shared snaps to UK Supermarket Offers and Deals This Week. She wrote: "If you love camping, then take a look at the NEW Camping range at B&M." On offer are 5M Light Up Camping Bunting for just £4 - perfect for those late night nature wees! For just £8, B&M is selling a mesh fire pit that is fully suspended from the ground to avoid burning the grass. Picnic blankets, stackable jug and cups, and inflatable chairs are all up for grabs. And it wouldn't be the great British summer without a spot of rain, so shoppers can also stock up on ponchos for just 75p to stay dry. For just £2, happy campers can pick up a 10L collapsible water carrier - a necessity for those long, hot days. Camping pull lights will set you back just £1.50, while an expanding lantern costs £4. For those who prioritise comfort, there are inflatable chairs for just £12. B&M launches their children's outdoor range which is perfect for summer - there's a £2 bargain that'll easily keep the kids entertained Shoppers flocked to the comment section to share their thoughts on the range of camping kit. "Looks like glamping to me! Not exactly what my grandad had in mind when he took us camping," one laughed. "On my way," one joked. Others tagged friends and family to spread the love. "Think you might be needing a B&M trip soon," another wrote. "Need some of these," a third added with a heart-eyed emoji. Like B&M, Lidl has a camping range - Crivit - which launched this summer, and it boasts equally impressive offers. Festival fans can unwind in between favourite DJ sets with the Crivit Self-Inflating Camping Mat and Pillow (£19.99) and Car Air Mattress (£14.99). Campers can also give their home away from home a lux upgrade with the Camping Living Area Tent (£79.99) - perfect for avoiding those inevitable summertime showers. Planning on cooking up a storm at the campsite? Take advantage of the Folding Camping Chair (£7.99) and the Low Folding Camping Table (£9.99). Thanks to the range's cool bag selection, sipping warm tinnies is a thing of the past. From the Electric Cool Box (£49.99) to the Cool Bag Assortment (£9.99) and the Cool Bag Backpack (£7.99), there's a chillingly good choice for every price point. Three camping tips from an expert David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly. When visiting any campsite this summer it's important to make sure you're not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday. Check your tent David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you're due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts. He told Sun Online Travel: 'You'd be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents." Test the ground Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider. One of those should be the condition of the ground you're putting your tent on top of, according to David. He said: 'Once you've found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough." Don't nap in your tent It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it's done at the wrong time of the day. David explained: "If the sun's shining and it's hot inside your tent - don't do it! "One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke." Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated. 4 4 4
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers rush to major supermarket get their hands on a 99p mirror
SHOPPERS are flocking to a major supermarket to get their hands on a stylish mirror for less than £1. The absolute steal was found in the middle aisle at Aldi, and the price was almost too good to be true. 3 The egg-shaped mirror sits inside a thick white frame and measures at 40 x 38 x 2.5 cm - making it the perfect bathroom or bedroom accessory. Sharing the discovery on Extreme Couponing and Bargains, the delighted customer said: "Found in the middle aisle!" She added that she'd found the Pebble Mirror in the Stowmarket store. Other shoppers couldn't believe the price and rushed to the comment section. "You can't beat that. Fab 99p", one said. "I've got this mirror in my bathroom, I should have waited and got it for 99p, mine was the original price," wrote a second. Another asked if there were many left. The mirror is no longer available on Aldi's website, so it may only be specific stores that sell the piece as part of a clearance. It's worth keeping in mind that not all stores stock the same items, or have the same prices. Some products may be on sale or reduced due to damage. Aldi has a store finder on its website and app so you can check on stock before making a trip. And remember that the middle aisle changes every week, so you better hurry! This comes after the German grocer announced its expansion plans, splashing out £650million on 10 brand new stores this year. Over the next 14 weeks, ten brand new branches will open across the UK and they'll bring with them around 400 new jobs. Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts IF you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock. Aldi now has more than 1,050 stores across Britain and has set its sights on 1,500 as part of its long-term plan. Each of the 10 new sites will create around 40 jobs, with staff earning at least £12.75 an hour, and even more inside the M25 at £14.05. That's before a planned pay bump this September that'll push starting pay up again. All Aldi staff also get paid breaks, worth around £1,370 a year to the average store colleague. Alongside the new sites, Aldi will also give 30 of its existing stores a fresh new look. These will include popular locations in Manchester, Liverpool, Kent, Dorset and Scotland. The chain's managing director of national real estate, Jonathan Neale, revealed why the company was expanding rapidly, in a statement released today. He said: "We strongly believe that everyone in Britain should have access to high quality food at our unbeatable Aldi prices. "But we know that there are still thousands of shoppers in the capital that don't yet have access to an Aldi nearby." The budget chain has tossed £55million at its capital city stores alone, with four of the new branches being in London. These include the Wimbledon, Fulham Broadway, Orpington and Caterham (Surrey) branches. Aldi also wants to open another 100 stores in London, which would mean 3,500 new jobs in the capital. Jonathan said: "There are still thousands of shoppers – especially in London - who don't yet have an Aldi nearby. "That's not fair, and we're working hard to change that.' So if there's not an Aldi near you now, chances are there will be soon and your weekly shop might just get a whole lot cheaper. 3 3
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ulta Beats Estimates as Beauty Demand Bucks Consumer Pullback
Ulta Beauty Inc. 's first-quarter results topped Wall Street estimates, signaling that shoppers are keeping up with non-essential beauty purchases despite growing economic concerns. Profit last quarter was $6.70 a share, the company said Thursday after markets closed, beating analyst expectations for $5.80. Comparable sales were also higher than expected. The company boosted its full-year outlook for sales and profit.
