CONSUMER NEWS
6 easy power-saving tips that can save you big bucks on your energy bill
Read full article: 6 easy power-saving tips that can save you big bucks on your energy billThe average energy bill for someone living in Florida runs anywhere between $150 and $250 a month, but there are some simple things you can do right now that can easily make a difference.
News4JAX joins Northeast Florida News Partners Collaborative to tackle issue of housing costs
Read full article: News4JAX joins Northeast Florida News Partners Collaborative to tackle issue of housing costsSince last May, News4JAX has been tackling the tough topic of affordable housing from every angle. Now, we’re taking our efforts a step further by joining a coalition of Northeast Florida news organizations – including digital, broadcast, and print media – to tackle the issue of housing costs as a shared editorial project in 2026.
Break up with your nonstick pans: Consumer Reports offers tips to find safer options
Read full article: Break up with your nonstick pans: Consumer Reports offers tips to find safer optionsBefore you cook your next meal, take a closer look at that nonstick pan. Some coatings may contain chemicals that raise concerns for you, your family, and the environment. Consumer Reports reveals which pans you may want to replace with tips to find safer options.
Consumer Reports tested 5 chocolate protein powders. Here’s what it found
Read full article: Consumer Reports tested 5 chocolate protein powders. Here’s what it foundConsumer Reports tested five reader-requested chocolate protein powders: Clean Simple Eats, Equate from Walmart, Premier Protein, Ritual, and Truvani. This time, the results were notably different.
Kick the cold: Consumer Reports shares effective ways to ease symptoms, recover more comfortably
Read full article: Kick the cold: Consumer Reports shares effective ways to ease symptoms, recover more comfortablyA runny nose, scratchy throat, and deep cough can make even simple daily tasks feel miserable. While there’s no instant cure for the common cold, Consumer Reports says there are several effective ways to ease symptoms and recover more comfortably at home.
Don’t overpay: Price match vs. price adjustment
Read full article: Don’t overpay: Price match vs. price adjustmentWith after-Christmas sales underway and President’s Day deals just around the corner, it’s easy to buy something only to see it advertised for less a day or two later. It can feel frustrating, but Consumer Reports says you may not be stuck paying the higher price.
Northeast Florida unemployment surges to 5.1% in November as national numbers trend down, data show
Read full article: Northeast Florida unemployment surges to 5.1% in November as national numbers trend down, data showUnemployment is rising in Florida, including in Jacksonville and nearby counties in Northeast Florida. The latest report from the Florida Department of Commerce comes just after CSX, a large employer in Jacksonville, announced layoffs of more than 160 workers.
How to buy or lease a car in this economy
Read full article: How to buy or lease a car in this economyPrices remain high, interest rates haven’t come down much, and more families are struggling to keep up with car payments. That makes staying on budget more important than ever. Consumer Reports says a little preparation and patience can go a long way in protecting your finances.
Simple maintenance tips to keep your humidifier clean all winter
Read full article: Simple maintenance tips to keep your humidifier clean all winterWith dry winter air plus cold and flu season in full swing, a humidifier can be essential to better skin, sleep, and overall health. However, humidifiers can get gross, potentially spreading bacteria and other germs. Consumer Reports reveals some simple and super-effective maintenance tips to keep you and your humidifier in tip-top shape all winter.
What to buy in January 2026: Consumer Reports breaks down the best deals you can expect this month
Read full article: What to buy in January 2026: Consumer Reports breaks down the best deals you can expect this monthIf you’re feeling a little sticker shock after the holidays, you’re not alone. January is usually a quieter month for sales but there are still smart ways to save if you know where to look. Consumer Reports breaks down the best deals you can expect this month.
Need to make it a ‘Thriftmas’ this year? Consumer Reports experts share advice for second-hand gifts
Read full article: Need to make it a ‘Thriftmas’ this year? Consumer Reports experts share advice for second-hand giftsConsumer Reports’ experts share tips on thrifting for the best deals on home goods and electronics, and the inside scoop on which used items to skip.
Important advice for safety and protection while last-minute holiday shopping and after returning home
Read full article: Important advice for safety and protection while last-minute holiday shopping and after returning homeWhile in the rush, you want to keep yourself and your newly purchased items safe from people who might be looking to ruin your holiday experience.
Jacksonville family says insurance-managed roof repair failed, leaving home torn apart for holidays
Read full article: Jacksonville family says insurance-managed roof repair failed, leaving home torn apart for holidaysA Jacksonville family says they are spending the holidays in a home ripped apart after discovering that a roof installed through their insurance company years ago was allegedly never done correctly.
Break up with your nonstick pans: Consumer Reports offers tips to find safer options
Read full article: Break up with your nonstick pans: Consumer Reports offers tips to find safer optionsBefore you cook your next meal, take a closer look at that nonstick pan. Some coatings may contain chemicals that raise concerns for you, your family, and the environment. Consumer Reports reveals which pans you may want to replace with tips to find safer options.
Consumer Reports tested 5 chocolate protein powders. Here’s what it found
Read full article: Consumer Reports tested 5 chocolate protein powders. Here’s what it foundConsumer Reports tested five reader-requested chocolate protein powders: Clean Simple Eats, Equate from Walmart, Premier Protein, Ritual, and Truvani. This time, the results were notably different.
Kick the cold: Consumer Reports shares effective ways to ease symptoms, recover more comfortably
Read full article: Kick the cold: Consumer Reports shares effective ways to ease symptoms, recover more comfortablyA runny nose, scratchy throat, and deep cough can make even simple daily tasks feel miserable. While there’s no instant cure for the common cold, Consumer Reports says there are several effective ways to ease symptoms and recover more comfortably at home.
MORE CONSUMER HEADLINES
Consumer Reports investigation: What parents need to know about squishy gel fidget toys
Read full article: Consumer Reports investigation: What parents need to know about squishy gel fidget toysA new Consumer Reports investigation found that some squishy fidget toys can break open, and what’s inside may irritate kids’ skin, or even cause chemical burns.
Buying the newest smart device or trendy gadget this holiday season? Beware of ongoing fees, subscriptions
Read full article: Buying the newest smart device or trendy gadget this holiday season? Beware of ongoing fees, subscriptionsConsumer Reports says many popular tech gifts from smartwatches to smart-home devices offer basic features for free but may keep their most useful tools behind paid plans. That’s why it’s worth considering if you’re you giving them a cool gift that’ll cost them later, and are you willing to cover those subscription fees, and if so for how long?
Dangerous misinformation about infant sleep
Read full article: Dangerous misinformation about infant sleepNew parents are bombarded with misleading posts and images about what’s safe when it comes to infant sleep. That’s according to a new investigation by Consumer Reports. Information shared by social media influencers, AI chatbots, and even retailers may be confusing parents and putting babies at risk.
Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill, Consumer Reports finds
Read full article: Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill, Consumer Reports findsInstacart shoppers may be paying very different prices for the exact same groceries — even when they live in the same neighborhood. A new Consumer Reports investigation found that the company has been running AI-assisted pricing experiments across several major grocery chains, and in some cases, the discrepancies were significant.
5 text messages you should ignore to avoid scammers who are trying to trick you
Read full article: 5 text messages you should ignore to avoid scammers who are trying to trick youDetective Bobby Fultz with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office joined News4JAX anchor Jennifer Waugh on our new streaming show at 10 a.m. to detail five text scams that are circulating in our area.
Looking to buy a new car? Consumer Reports reveals list of most reliable car brands
Read full article: Looking to buy a new car? Consumer Reports reveals list of most reliable car brandsBuying a new car isn’t cheap these days. Prices and interest rates are both high, so making the right choice matters. – Consumer Reports tests every car it rates and reviews to determine which ones give you the best value for your money. Today they’re out with their year list of the most reliable brands!
Why ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ loans can quickly snowball into debt and how to avoid it
Read full article: Why ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ loans can quickly snowball into debt and how to avoid itAs the holiday shopping rush ramps up, many people are turning to “Buy Now, Pay Later” to help cover gifts, especially if money is tight. But Consumer Reports says these plans, while convenient, can quickly snowball into debt and now they may show up on credit reports. Consumer Reports explains what to watch out for and how to use them safely.
Study: Typical Florida household needs 17 years to save for 10% home down payment. How long has your family been saving?
Read full article: Study: Typical Florida household needs 17 years to save for 10% home down payment. How long has your family been saving?As home prices continue to climb across Florida, a new analysis suggests it could take the typical household nearly a generation to save for a modest down payment.
How to choose the right charity for holiday giving
Read full article: How to choose the right charity for holiday givingAfter the rush of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, a day to give back. But before you open your wallet, how can you be sure your money is really helping those in need? Consumer Reports shows you how to find charities that truly make a difference and avoid the ones that don’t.
Is your baby’s pacifier safe? Consumer Reports tested 20 pacifiers and here’s what it found
Read full article: Is your baby’s pacifier safe? Consumer Reports tested 20 pacifiers and here’s what it foundFor many parents, pacifiers are a baby essential, helping their little ones calm down, self-soothe, and sleep better. But have you ever wondered how safe they really are? Consumer Reports tested twenty pacifiers and spoke with safety experts to find out what parents should and shouldn’t buy.
Holiday sales expected to top $1 trillion as retailers face rising crime, online scams
Read full article: Holiday sales expected to top $1 trillion as retailers face rising crime, online scamsThe National Retail Federation projects holiday sales will exceed $1 trillion for the first time in 2025, even as retailers combat rising theft and consumers face mounting financial pressures.
New survey finds texting and messaging scams have jumped 50% in the past year. Here are some tips to protect your money
Read full article: New survey finds texting and messaging scams have jumped 50% in the past year. Here are some tips to protect your moneyYou’re in the middle of something when your phone pings — a text from an unknown number. Is it real, or another scam? A new Consumer Reports survey finds texting and messaging scams have jumped 50 percent in the past year, and it might surprise you that Gen Z is getting hit the hardest. Consumer Reports reveals some smart tips to help you stop those messages and protect your money.
Going Black Friday shopping? Here are strategies for getting the best deals
Read full article: Going Black Friday shopping? Here are strategies for getting the best dealsRemember when Black Friday meant lining up outside your favorite store at midnight? Those days are gone. Now, as Consumer Reports shows, the best deals are often online, and the sales have already started.
Toy guide: Tips to find safe, fun toys for your little ones this holiday season
Read full article: Toy guide: Tips to find safe, fun toys for your little ones this holiday seasonToy season is upon us… and the gift-giving excitement can sometimes overshadow the importance of quality and safety, especially when it comes to toys for children.
The top-tested kitchen appliances to make baking easier, faster and fun this holiday season
Read full article: The top-tested kitchen appliances to make baking easier, faster and fun this holiday seasonThe holiday baking season is in full swing. Before you plug in that mixer or preheat the toaster oven, Consumer Reports reveals its list of top-tested kitchen helpers that make baking easier, faster, and a lot more fun.
St. Johns County incentives aim to entice developers to build affordable housing for essential workers
Read full article: St. Johns County incentives aim to entice developers to build affordable housing for essential workersEssential workers in St. Johns County can’t afford to live there -- even if they’re combining incomes. But county leaders want to change that.
Consumers are cutting back on holiday spending this year. An analyst explains why
Read full article: Consumers are cutting back on holiday spending this year. An analyst explains whyJustin Begley, an economic analyst for Moody’s, joined News4JAX Anchor Bruce Hamilton on The Morning Show. They discussed the things that have people keeping a tighter grip on their wallets and focusing on affording necessities rather than buying gifts.
Your oven’s big day is coming up! Consumer Reports shares easy tips to clean it safely
Read full article: Your oven’s big day is coming up! Consumer Reports shares easy tips to clean it safelyTurkey, stuffing, pies — your oven’s big day is coming up. But if it’s covered in last year’s drips and splatters, you might be in for more smoke than sizzle. Consumer Reports reveals the easy ways to clean it safely, and why that self-clean cycle may not always be the hero you expect.
Your home builder’s tax estimate might be off by hundreds of dollars. Here’s how to verify it yourself
Read full article: Your home builder’s tax estimate might be off by hundreds of dollars. Here’s how to verify it yourselfA growing number of Florida homeowners say their mortgage payments jumped by hundreds, even more than a thousand dollars, within their first year of owning a new construction home, and many believe they were never warned it could happen.
They signed the papers to their dream homes. Then learned their taxes were triple what the builder told them
Read full article: They signed the papers to their dream homes. Then learned their taxes were triple what the builder told themDozens of Northeast Florida families say they were blindsided by steep increases in their monthly mortgage payments after buying new construction homes from D.R. Horton, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
Recreational marijuana amendment headed toward review by Florida Supreme Court
Read full article: Recreational marijuana amendment headed toward review by Florida Supreme CourtState elections officials on Monday sent a proposed recreational-marijuana constitutional amendment to Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office, effectively putting an end to a lawsuit that backers of the measure filed to try to trigger a Florida Supreme Court review of the proposal.
Customers report Kroger ending delivery service in Jacksonville area as automated fulfillment centers close
Read full article: Customers report Kroger ending delivery service in Jacksonville area as automated fulfillment centers closeAccording to messages sent to multiple customers that were shared with News4JAX, Kroger will no longer be offering delivery service in the Jacksonville area, beginning in January.
Tired of spending a fortune on cleaning products? Here’s how to save money on cleaning supplies
Read full article: Tired of spending a fortune on cleaning products? Here’s how to save money on cleaning suppliesTired of spending a fortune on products that promise to make kitchen cleanup a breeze—only to be disappointed again? With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Consumer Reports tips for saving money on cleaning products that really work couldn’t come at a better time!
Holiday online shopping: How to spot a good deal and ensure you’re getting a safe product
Read full article: Holiday online shopping: How to spot a good deal and ensure you’re getting a safe productHoliday shopping is in full swing, and a lot of us are turning to online stores because it’s quick and convenient. But Consumer Reports says there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you’re getting a good deal and a safe product. Here’s what to watch for when you shop.
Holiday Money Hunt: How to search Florida’s unclaimed property database to see if you’re owed extra cash
Read full article: Holiday Money Hunt: How to search Florida’s unclaimed property database to see if you’re owed extra cashA state database could hold the key to a little extra cash for your wallet, during the holiday season.
Are you prepared for an emergency? Consumer Reports has 5 tips to make things easier during a crisis
Read full article: Are you prepared for an emergency? Consumer Reports has 5 tips to make things easier during a crisisIt’s not pleasant to think about death or a medical emergency, but one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones is being prepared for those situations. You might be familiar with traditional estate planning, but there’s also what’s called digital estate planning. Consumer Reports has five things to do right now to make things easier in a crisis.
From kitchen appliances to TVs: Here are some of the best November deals
Read full article: From kitchen appliances to TVs: Here are some of the best November dealsShoppers, listen up: November is a great month for deals, as retailers compete for your holiday shopping dollars by offering lower prices. Experts from Consumer Reports test labs are here to help you find this month’s best bargains.
