Many Granite Staters are starting to plan for holiday meals - and when it comes to food prices, the news is mixed.

According to consumer experts, grocery inflation has eased, with prices rising just 1.3% over the past year - but food prices also remain much higher than before the pandemic.

Michigan State University Food Economist, Professor David Ortega, said families will see some relief when buying the Thanksgiving turkey.

"The industry has been struggling with the bird flu outbreak over the past couple of years, but producers are better prepared now," said Ortega. "So you can expect to find turkeys anywhere between 2% to 10% lower in price."

Ortega said any price increases this holiday season stem from a combination of lingering pandemic-related supply-chain disruptions, corporate profiteering, and avian flu - which has driven up the price of eggs.

Households looking to save on costs are advised to simplify their holiday menu and focus on a few favorite dishes, which can cut down on waste.

Limiting spending on decorations or even holding a potluck meal with family and friends can also relieve some financial pressure.

Ortega said Granite Staters should also take advantage of grocery store loyalty programs or apps, which can unlock significant discounts - or consider new brands with greater savings.

"Look for store brands or private labels," said Ortega. "They're a great way to cut costs and oftentimes, you're not really compromising on quality. And I suggest that you make a detailed shopping list, and that you stick to it."

Ortega added that as shoppers become more budget-conscious, stores are offering more promotions and loyalty programs.

He said retailers are working to keep holiday meals affordable, with some even matching pre-pandemic prices.

Aldi, Target and Walmart have already lowered the cost of some holiday-related items to win back inflation-weary shoppers.





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The Environmental Protection Agency this week banned a toxic chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and other consumer products.

Trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene have been used for decades and are known to affect the liver, brain, kidney and immune and nervous systems. Research shows dry-cleaning and laundry workers are at increased risk of dying from cancer.

Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former principal deputy assistant administrator for science at the EPA Office of Research and Development, said businesses will be required to use alternatives and employees will be safer at work, adding the changes also affect surrounding communities.

"If you happen to live near a dry-cleaning facility, you know there would be the potential for the ground to be contaminated and for these chemicals to get into the water supply," Orme-Zavaleta pointed out.

California has been ahead of the curve. In 2007, the state banned installations of new perchloroethylene dry-cleaning machines, required existing ones be shut down by 2010, and required a complete ban of use of the chemical by 2023.

Orme-Zavaleta noted many environmental statutes are aimed at cleaning up hazardous chemicals. While recent legislation has enabled the EPA to more effectively reduce exposures or prevent them from happening in the first place, she stressed the effort takes time and resources.

"The agency's been playing a lot of catch up," Orme-Zavaleta acknowledged. "They need to keep going, but they also need to be looking to the future, especially looking at some of the new chemicals coming into commerce."

According to the advocacy group Heal the Planet, the dry-cleaning industry uses hundreds of millions of gallons of solvents such as perchloroethylene every year, the chemical's airborne particles are difficult to detect in the air and can linger for weeks.


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Kentucky residents are being notified about their lead water pipes that could be posing a health danger. According to an EPA report, around 40,000 service lines in the Commonwealth contain lead, and earlier this year the agency announced a new rule requiring drinking water utilities in all states to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years.

Dr. Leah Werner, family physician and assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, said the federal change increases water sampling and transparency about lead between communities and local governments, and added that there are actions residents can take, too.

"People can also test their own water, and really the best way to do that is to look at your either your city government website, and beyond that, the government is mandated to help you with testing kits, but Home Depot and places like that also sell lead testing kits," she explained.

The mailed notices from utilities will confirm whether or not a home relies on lead water lines, or if the piping materials is unknown, and if any pipes need to be replaced.

Werner added that if a family is concerned that they and their children may be exposed to lead, it's important to visit a primary-care physician as soon as possible, who can also be a guide through the process of testing and treatment for lead exposure.

"Lead crosses the placenta, so that is really dooming a fetus before even being born, to the same sort of cognitive impairments and behavioral issues that children who are exposed to lead suffer," Werner continued.

According to the CDC, exposure to lead can reduce IQ in children and be a primary driver to learning disabilities and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, permanently damage the brain and nervous system, and cause speech and hearing problems.


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If your holiday shopping list is far from complete, consumer advocates in Nebraska hope you don't ignore warning signs of scams in the rush to buy gifts.

In a digital world, there are always new things to pay attention to.

Over the past few years, shoppers have been warned about avoiding gift card scams, or not falling prey to phony texts about a shipment delay.

Jina Ragland - associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Nebraska - said the emergence of cryptocurrency in the online trading world presents another challenge, including during the holiday shopping crunch.

"Scammers and fraudsters are using the same types of scams that they've used in the past," said Ragland, "but they're now soliciting people to pay them through the cryptocurrency ATMs, using things such as bitcoins and that."

AARP says if you're directed to send someone money by converting cash to cryptocurrency at a convenience store kiosk, it's a scam.

As for other tips, experts note scammers can tamper with gift cards on store racks and steal the funds when the card is activated.

They say it's best to ask for a gift card sold behind the counter. They also advise regularly updating software on your electronic devices for additional fraud protection.

Ragland said if you get a call from someone initiating a scam about a purchase you never made, asking for a call-back number will quickly get their attention.

"Typically, you will find if you do ask for a call-back number, they're going to hang up on you immediately," said Ragland, "because they've not gotten what they need and they want it, and they know you're on to them. "

Overall, Ragland said a key thing to remember is, if you see an online ad for something that appears too good to be true in terms of price, it's usually a fishy deal.

Shoppers are also encouraged to take advantage of tracking information and other shipping supplier services, and to schedule deliveries for when you or someone you trust is present to receive them.