Buying things takes less time these days — you can have your week’s groceries, a new outfit and a used car headed to your front door in a matter of hours, thanks to technology. But this convenience comes with a price.

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals fewer people are shopping on any given day than they were 20 years ago, and those who do are spending less time on the task. However, we’re spending more money, likely because we no longer have to even open our wallets, let alone leave the house, to buy all of the things we need or desire.

While our efforts have eased, online shopping has helped drive a dramatic increase in retail spending over the past few decades. Whether it’s your groceries or wardrobe, you’ve likely succumbed to more impulse buys because it’s just so darned easy.

We’re spending less time shopping

From 2003 to 2023, the share of people shopping on any given day fell from about 46% to just under 40%, according to the American Time Use Survey, an annual release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that examines how we spend our hours.

Further, when we do shop, we’re being a little quicker about it. The amount of time spent by those shopping on a given day fell by about six minutes during the 20-year period.

One way of looking at this, in terms of efficiency, is that we’re getting better at shopping — we can do what we need to in less time, on a fewer number of days. However, efficiency implies we’re getting greater returns on our efforts. In this case, it may only be a little time back, because we’re actually buying more.

Our efficiency is costing us; online shopping likely to blame

Retail sales data, a measure that gets close to the definition of shopping (though it doesn’t include shopping for services, which the time use survey does) indicates a 37% increase — from $437 billion per month in the first quarter of 2003 to $597 billion 20 years later, after adjusting for inflation. And one category within this data has seen far more dramatic growth.

Over the past two decades, we’ve seen online shopping go from novelty to commonplace. Spending on “electronic shopping and mail order houses” — the quaint-sounding U.S. Census Bureau category that applies to your late-night, couch-side shopping sprees — has grown from about $17 billion to $99 billion since 2003, after adjusting for inflation. That’s an increase of about 470%. And the inflation adjustment means we’re not just spending more, we’re buying more “stuff.” Turns out, when you don’t have to leave the house or even get dressed to go find a new hat, or three, you’re more likely to buy them.

Slowing down the shopping process

Personally, as I prepare to take a vacation, I know for a fact I’m purchasing more items for my trip simply because it’s convenient. I’m ordering two scarves to compare and keep the one I want; blister balm and a few kinds of bandages for the inevitable foot pain I’ll encounter walking around; travel-size everything to ensure I don’t have to check a bag; and a few new outfits to break in while abroad. Twenty years ago, this would have likely required multiple trips to multiple stores, and I wouldn’t have made all of these purchases. But I do now because I can. And it’s this frictionless shopping experience that makes it easy to overspend.

It’s one thing to shop within your means for the things you need, and another to be hit with pangs of guilt when the packages pile up outside your door. If you find you’re buying more stuff than you’d like, introducing speed bumps to the otherwise seamless process could help:

Shop with intent. Browsing with no purpose in mind can lead to purchases of things you don’t really need. Before you navigate to your favorite retailer just to “see what’s new,” ask yourself what you’re really looking for. If there’s no pressing need for new pants or yet another basic white tee, maybe you wait until there is a definitive need or reason to shop before placing yourself in the center of your favorite virtual stores.

Set shopping times, and avoid impulse buys. Limit the days or times of day when you allow yourself to shop. While it’s not the same as having to leave the house, find parking and contend with crowds, limiting yourself to certain shopping periods can help focus your objectives. Not to mention, it builds in a waiting period when impulses hit.

Instate a holding period, when possible. Filled your cart? Great, now walk away. Take a timeout between the selection and buying processes. This pause can help you gain perspective on potential purchases, and you may delete a few things before checking out. Some retailers are onto this tactic, however, and give you a limited amount of time before they empty your cart for you. Don’t let their timer rush a buying decision you aren’t absolutely certain about.

Review your purchases on a regular basis. Once a week or once a month, sit down and look at your shopping from the prior period. What did you buy? What did you end up returning? What should you have returned but didn’t? Reflecting on your most recent purchases can help you spot patterns or spending categories that you may be able to work on.

Elizabeth Renter writes for NerdWallet. Email: elizabeth@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @elizabethrenter.

The article Data: Americans Spending Less Time, More Money on Shopping originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Back then, he baked a maximum of about 13 dozen a day, but the business soon expanded, with the first Jeff’s Bagel Run store opening in Ocoee in 2021 and other locations following, the most recent in Clermont earlier this month. That Lake County store baked 142 dozen bagels on its opening day.

Jeff’s Bagel Run now has seven locations, eight others in development — including stores in North Carolina and Texas — and recently inked a deal to add 30 more locations across South Florida. The first of of those shops will debut in Boca Raton, Coconut Creek, and Pembroke Pines later this year.

Despite the growth, the company is still committed to selling top-notch bagels with flavors ranging from garlic bread and cinnamon sugar to salted caramel and white pizza, said Catriona Harris, the store’s vice president of marketing.

“The biggest thing is continuing our same commitment to quality,” she said. “Jeff and his wife Danielle are still in the stores every day rolling bagels, teaching people how to make bagels, doing the cream cheese and more so that we continue that same quality as we continue to grow, which is the number one most important thing.”

The new, 30-store deal is with VHP Retail Holdings, which manages a portfolio of car washes and uBreakiFix stores in South Florida.

CEO Enzo Potolicchio said he wanted to expand into the food industry and saw Jeff’s Bagel Run as good fit.

“When I heard the founding story and tasted the bagels, I was immediately sold,” Potolicchio said in a statement. “As a family-run business ourselves, I wanted a product that I would feed my own family. These are the freshest bagels I’ve ever tasted, and I’m confident the community will agree.”

Harris said the plan is to open 10 South Florida locations in each of the next three years. Typically, it takes about eight to 12 weeks from lease signing to construction completion for a location to open its doors, she added.

When a new location opens, Harris said it typically attracts both new customers and those who’d purchased bagels at Jeff’s other shops. That was true when the Celebration shop in Osceola County opened in April.

“When we opened, it was a mix of customers who had been coming to us for years and customers who said ‘I tried you and I heard of you, but now that you’re on my side of town, it’s awesome’,” Harris said. “I feel that at every opening, which is really fun to see.”

Jeff’s Bagel Run earned national acclaim last year when it was named one of America’s Best Bagels at the New York BagelFest.

But many businesses get most excited about the annual tax holidays on back-to-school items.

Florida Retail Federation President and CEO Scott Shalley said Thursday the 14-day back-to-school holiday, which will start Monday, July 29, closely resembles the end-of-the-year shopping season in its impact for many businesses.

“It’s the proverbial win-win-win in terms of getting our kids ready to go back to school, saving a little money on taxes and providing a little boost for retailers,” Shalley said.

During the back-to-school discount period, which will run through Aug. 11, shoppers will avoid paying sales taxes on clothes, shoes and book bags that cost $100 or less; school supplies that cost $50 or less, learning aids that cost $30 or less; and personal computers that cost $1,500 or less.

The back-to-school holiday was included in a broad tax package (HB 7073) that lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved this year. During an appearance Thursday at Mo’s Bagels & Deli in Aventura, DeSantis said the tax holiday is among several parts of the package “that are going to make a difference for folks.”

“I think it is important that we are able to provide relief for Florida families, particularly given how things have gone up so much (in prices) over the last 3 ½ years,” DeSantis said.

Related: Back-to-school countdown: Free supplies, fun activities & donation drives in South Florida

Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris said during the event at Mo’s that the 14 days provides time for parents to plan back-to-school buying.

“Between work schedules, kids’ activities and other responsibilities, it would be more challenging to take advantage of this if we were limited to just one weekend,” Harris said.

Florida has held back-to-school tax holidays since the late 1990s.

“It’s a legacy holiday. People look forward to it. They take advantage of it. They really take the opportunity to save,” Shalley said. “Our retailers are dialed into it. Our retailers are ready and prepared to have supplemental offerings to generate activity.”

Meanwhile, another tax holiday, what is known as the “Freedom Month” holiday, will end Wednesday. During that holiday, sales taxes aren’t collected on such things as supplies for boating, fishing and camping and tickets purchased for live music events, sporting events, fairs, festivals, theater performances and movies.

Shalley said retailers have reported “varying levels of engagement” on Freedom Month deals, but he said it will take “a little while” to determine the overall impacts.

The back-to-school holiday is projected to save shoppers $97.2 million. Freedom Month carries an estimated $91.8 million savings.

The state also will hold a tax holiday on disaster-preparedness supplies for 14 days starting Aug. 24 and a tax holiday on tools and other work equipment for seven days at the start of September.

A similar holiday on disaster-preparedness supplies was held during the first two weeks of June, around the start of hurricane season.

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s summertime, and the bargains seem easy at a time when many consumer prices are high.

July sales events have become a seasonal revenue driver for the retail industry since Amazon launched its first Prime Day back in 2015. While consumers may be enticed by the advertised can’t-miss savings on some products, personal finance experts say shoppers should be careful not to fall for potentially misleading marketing or give in to impulse buys.

Amazon has drummed up expectations in recent weeks for its 10th Prime Day event, which will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday and is open only to customers who pay $14.99 per month, or $139 per year, to receive free shipping and other perks as Prime members.

Rival retailers tried in the past to capture some of the Prime Day excitement by offering their own discounts during the two-day event. This year, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and newcomers TikTok Shop and Temu launched summer promotions ahead of Amazon, hoping to siphon off some of the e-commerce giant’s savings-hungry shoppers. Meanwhile, Macy’s will be rolling out what it calls its “best summer deals” during an eight-day discount event that begins on Tuesday.

Why are retailers offering so many summer discounts?

July sales help retailers attract customers who are looking to get a head start on back-to-school shopping, which is the industry’s second-most important shopping season behind the winter holiday period. The markdowns also pull in some discretionary spending from shoppers who’ve had their eyes on gadgets, household products and seasonal items, such as a bikini or a new summer dress.

Discounts can help retailers combat “a summer lull in retail spending” as consumers shift their spending to summer vacations and services, like going out to eat at restaurants, according to John Mercer, the head of global research at Coresight Research.

“It drives a bit of excitement in that mid-year period,” when retailers may otherwise struggle to generate more revenue, Mercer said. Companies also have relied on discounts to drive consumer spending during the recent period of inflation and high interest rates, he said.

Amazon doesn’t disclose how much revenue it pulls in from Prime Day, but it has given some indications of its success. The company said last year’s event resulted in the “single largest sales day” in the company’s history, with customers purchasing more than 375 million items.

An estimate from market research firm Emarketer indicated Amazon’s global sales on Prime Day went up to $12.5 billion in 2023. The firm forecasts sales to jump roughly 7% this year.

Are the prices on offer really deals or something else?

It depends on who you ask.

Retailers hype up their promotions to pull people in. But the New York Times-owned product review website Wirecutter published an article this month saying most of Amazon’s early deals this year so far “stink.”

Santa Clara University business professor Kirthi Kalyanam, who is writing a book about Amazon, said Prime Day offers have been good, historically. That’s because the company was able to source discounts from well-known brands such as Apple and to incentivize third-party sellers to lower their prices by promising to feature them prominently on the Amazon website, according to Kalyanam.

But Prime Day discounts may matter less these days because customers are getting accustomed to the ultra-cheap products sold by Amazon competitors Shein and Temu, which were both founded in China.

“Many of (the) deals may not be as competitive compared to Temu and Shein,” Kalyanam said.

At the same time, he noted rival retailers will most likely be looking at Amazon’s prices and trying to match them overnight. Last week, he said he saw Best Buy discount two products after Amazon revealed some of its early deals.

Consumer data company Numerator reported that a majority of the roughly 5,000 Prime Day shoppers it surveyed after last year’s event saw product discounts of up to 40%. Survey respondents said they saw a quarter of items selling at a discount of 60% or more.

Some shopping experts have said that some past Prime discounts were not as big as they appeared.

What are some bargain-hunting and budgeting tips?

If you’re watching your budget, personal finance experts say you should exercise caution before you buy.

“Avoid the false sense of urgency of manufactured holidays,” advises Mark Elliot, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The idea that ‘The more you spend, the more you save’ — that’s just definitionally not true.”

Dan Egan, a vice president at financial advising and investment company Betterment, says shoppers should make a list of what they need before the sales begin to be intentional about purchases. He also encourages consumers to avoid shopping late at night or out of boredom.

“Once you have a list, it’s less likely you’ll get distracted by things you don’t need,” Egan said. “If that list contains almost nothing, I would say to delete the (retailers’) apps off your phone for the next week or two. Or you’re going to get lots of notifications.”

Any shopper already carrying a credit card balance should keep in mind that the interest paid on that balance could end up cancelling out any perceived savings from a summer sale purchase, he added.

“A deal is not a deal if you have to pay interest on it,” Egan said.

While it may make sense for shoppers to try out free or temporary memberships to qualify for the best deals during the summer sales, those programs typically charge a fee to the customer’s credit card on file after a short period of time, noted Erin Witte, the Consumer Federation of America’s director of consumer protection.

“Set a calendar reminder to cancel if you don’t want to go through with that subscription,” Witte said. “Think about it right at the beginning. And remember that these companies design this product to make it easy to sign up, but more difficult to cancel.”

Consumer Reports also offers a few tips: Download Amazon’s app, sign-up for invite-only deals available for a select group of shoppers, and join the waitlist on limited-time offers that are already sold out.

Don’t forget to shop around

Filling up an online Amazon cart is tempting for Prime members since they are paying for access to Prime Day deals. But it’s always a smart idea to compare prices across multiple websites before completing a purchase.

Unlike Prime Day offers, Walmart’s discount event this month was open to everyone. However, the company sweetened the deal for its Walmart+ members by offering them early access.

Target only offered discounts to shoppers enrolled in its Target Circle loyalty program and used the weeklong event to promote a new membership program that aims to rejuvenate sales and traffic.

TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of the popular video-sharing app, opened its summer sales event to everyone. The event started on July 9 and runs until Wednesday.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

Average grocery prices rose slightly last month, according to the latest consumer price index, reversing a months-long trend of steady or falling prices.

Overall, food prices — which includes both food at home (groceries) and restaurant purchases — increased 0.2% from May to June, according to the CPI report released July 11 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI, which serves as a proxy for inflation, measures changes in average costs of items in a given period.

The report shows food prices are 2.2% higher than they were 12 months ago. By comparison, prices rose 5.7% over the previous one-year period in 2023. While inflation isn’t rising as fast as it once was, food still feels expensive. In fact, food prices have risen 26% since the start of 2020.

Here are the broad strokes on food prices found in the latest report:

Groceries: The index for food at home is 1.1% higher year-over-year. From May to June, grocery costs increased 0.1%.

Dining out: Restaurant patrons are still paying more (4.1%) for food than they did a year ago. And the price index rose 0.4% from May to June. Specifically:

• Limited service meals (takeout only) cost 0.2% more in June and 4.3% more compared to the same time last year.
• Full-service meals (at sit-down restaurants) cost 0.6% more in June and 3.9% more year-over-year.

How inflation is hitting your grocery bill

Though grocery prices ticked up slightly in June, they continue to be a bright spot in the CPI. On the whole, they haven’t changed for three out of the past four months. In April, they declined slightly. That’s having a direct impact on people’s wallets: In May, several major retailers like Target and Walgreens touted summer discounts on pantry staples, seasonal favorites and other items.

But grocery prices don’t move uniformly. While they might be falling in one category or food group, they’re likely rising in another. This month was no different.

In June, average prices rose for eggs, baby food and formula, fats and oils and milk. They fell for fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and pork.

Egg prices have experienced huge swings since 2022, due to an avian flu. After two months of falling prices, the egg index rose 3.5% in June — the most of all the food categories analyzed by NerdWallet. Egg prices are 10.2% higher than they were a year ago.

The latest CPI release shows beef prices are on the rise again. In June, beef and veal cost 0.1% more than the previous month. That’s after prices fell 0.3% from April to May. Beef prices are 5.1% higher than they were a year ago.

Taryn Phaneuf writes for NerdWallet. Email: tphaneuf@nerdwallet.com.

The article Grocery Prices Tick Back Up in Latest Inflation Report originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Black Friday used to happen only in November. But even as we’ve been getting used to the idea of those sales creeping into October, retailers have also been conditioning us to associate a third month with big deals — July.

This month has sales scheduled from Amazon (Prime Day, anyone?), Target, Walmart and other big retailers.

“Consumers are being trained,” says Ayalla Ruvio, associate professor of marketing at Michigan State University. “Right now, it’s almost like tradition. Once you train consumers, they’re expecting it. They’re getting ready for it.”

But labeling a sale as “Prime Day” or “Black Friday” doesn’t necessarily make it a bargain. Protect your wallet this month by steering clear of these four shopping mistakes.

1. Letting time-sensitive deals decide your spending

The hallmark of these July sales is urgency. They don’t last forever. And that could push you into a transaction without thinking twice.

On one hand, the pressure is real. Products like clothing, shoes and cosmetics that were marked down with deep discounts have sold out in prior years, Ruvio points out.

“Consumers that think a product will be there, that may be the most common mistake, because things are being sold fairly quickly,” she says.

If you see a price drop on an item you’ve been wanting for a while, it’s a good idea to grab it while you can.

On the other hand, for deals you happen across while browsing and never intended to buy, step away from the laptop, at least for a little while, to weigh the purchase. Try removing items from your cart or saving them for later.

“It feels great to get a deal,” says Adam Craig, associate professor of marketing at the University of Kentucky. But sometimes that good feeling leads to impulse purchases you may regret later.

2. Falling into prolonged spending

Compounding the time-sensitive element is the confusion when so many sales happen at different retailers. The catch? The sales won’t all happen at the same time.

Amazon Prime Day is July 16-17 this year. Target Circle Week happens earlier and runs for longer — July 7-13. Walmart’s “Deals” event overlaps Target’s sale, running July 8-11.

Why are retailers spreading out their sales? It’s a strategy, says Craig. If retailers get out ahead of Prime Day, they think they can take some of the shopping dollars from Amazon. Keep a budget in mind before you shop the first sale — a budget that will cover the second and third sales too.

But that’s not all. Retailers are also banking on making you a customer for longer than these sales. “A lot of these events may not just be about getting revenue during the summer,” Craig says. “It might also be about getting consumers hooked into the retailer and part of their ecosystem.”

Access to Amazon’s big sale is limited to people with an Amazon Prime membership, for example. Target’s Circle Week promises deep discounts and personalized bonuses to members of its free loyalty program.

“If there are promotions that get me to log in and create those accounts, now that retailer has my data,” Craig says. “Now they can more effectively target me and get me shopping with them more often.”

3. Getting distracted by the discount percentage

Products included in July sales are likely also discounted at other times of the year. Keep that perspective when deciding which deals are worthwhile.

“Even if it looks like it’s a good sale on Amazon or one of these other sites, I try to see if I can find anything about the price history,” Craig says. He uses price-tracking websites like camelcamelcamel and Keepa to look back at the Amazon price patterns of a product over the past year or more.

“You can see, hey this product is something that goes on a 20% sale every two months,” Craig says. “Yes, it’s on sale for 20% now, and it’ll be on sale for 20% in a couple more months, so I don’t have to buy it right now. If I do see a product that’s on a great sale relative to its price history, I’d be more tempted to pull the trigger.”

4. Forgetting about Prime Day after it’s over

After you’ve successfully snagged big savings, your work isn’t done. Don’t forget about Prime Day after the last Amazon box has been delivered. While it’s important to track your expenses all year, take an even closer look at your spending after a higher-than-usual shopping month.

Come August, look back and see how much you spent on Prime Day (and competing sales) compared to how much you set out to spend. Then adjust future budgeting allocations accordingly, says Chris Woods, founder of Silvis Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Say your budget allows $50 of gift spending a month. “Maybe you have your next three months of gift-spending that happens in July,” Woods says. “If you know that, you say to yourself, ‘OK, I’m not going to spend on gifts the next few months because I have exhausted that budget in the month of July.’”

Woods also recommends looking at your credit card statements for all of the generic “Amazon” charges. Since Amazon purchases can run the gamut from electronics to household essentials, break down your charges in more detail in your personal budget to see spending in different categories.

If you follow the 50/30/20 budget, for example, 50% of your take-home pay goes to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment beyond the minimums. Some of your July spending may come from your “needs” allocation, while other items may belong in your “wants” category.

Whether you shop, browse or skip the July sales entirely, perhaps the best advice is the most simple. This won’t be your last shot at savings. “Please remember, there’s always the next sale,” says Ruvio.

Courtney Neidel writes for NerdWallet. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @CourtneyNerd.

The article Avoid These 4 Prime Day Pitfalls originally appeared on NerdWallet.

The Issaquah, Washington, company disclosed the forthcoming 8% increase in the fee to gain entry into its more than 700 warehouses in the U.S. and Canada as part of a monthly sales report Wednesday.

The new fees, set to take effect Sept. 1, will boost the price of Costco’s basic Gold Star membership from $60 to $65 annually, while the cost for the premium Executive membership will rise from $120 to $130. The annual fee had remained the same since 2017, despite several years of unusually high inflation rates that finally have been cooling down in recent months.

With inflationary pressures squeezing household budgets, Costco’s commitment to offering low prices on a wide range of food and other merchandise has helped make its warehouse an even more popular shopping destination. That phenomenon, in turn, has help boost its profits, making its stock a hot commodity among investors. Costco’s shares have nearly doubled during the last 18 months, increasing the company’s market value by about $180 billion during that span.

Costco’s shares rose by more than 2% after news of the fee increase and its latest sales gains came out. If the stock behaves similarly in Thursday’s regular trading session, the shares will hit a new peak.

Besides the fee increase, Costco disclosed its sales for the five-week period ending July 7 rose by 7% from the same time last year to $24.48 billion.

NEW YORK (AP) — The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has signed a deal to buy upscale rival Neiman Marcus Group, which owns Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores, for $2.65 billion, with online behemoth Amazon holding a minority stake.

The new entity will be called Saks Global, creating a luxury powerhouse at a time when the arena has become increasingly fragmented with different players, from online marketplaces that sell luxury goods to upscale fashion and accessories brands opening up their own stores.

The new organization will comprise the Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH brands, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as the real estate assets of Neiman Marcus Group and HBC, a holding company that purchased Saks in 2013.

The stores will continue to operate under their own brand names.

HBC has secured $1.15 billion in financing from investment funds and accounts managed by affiliates of Apollo, and a $2 billion fully committed revolving asset based loan facility from Bank of America, which is the lead underwriter, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets, and Wells Fargo.

The deal was announced Thursday after the two department store chains had been in negotiations for about a year. But the twist is Amazon’s minority stake, which adds “a bit of spice” to an otherwise anticipated pact, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, a research firm. Amazon will be working with Saks Global to offer its expertise in logistics and personalization technology. Salesforce, a cloud-based software powerhouse, will also become an investor at closing.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the impending deal Wednesday.

“For years, many in the industry have anticipated this transaction and the benefits it would drive for customers, partners and employees,” said Richard Baker, HBC executive chairman and CEO in a statement. “This is an exciting time in luxury retail, with technological advancements creating new opportunities to redefine the customer experience, and we look forward to unlocking significant value for our customers, brand partners and employees.”

Marc Metrick, who is CEO of Saks’ e-commerce business, will become CEO of Saks Global. He told The Associated Press on Thursday during a phone interview that consumers are increasingly demanding more access to designer product, easier ways to shop and more personalized experiences.

“This type of combination was the next move to make in order to put Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman where they need to be for the consumer, ” he said.

Both Saks and Neiman Marcus have struggled as shoppers have been pulling back on buying high-end goods and shifting their spending toward experiences, like travel and upscale restaurants. The two iconic luxury purveyors have also faced stiffer competition from luxury brands, which are increasingly opening their own stores.

The deal should help reduce operating costs and create more negotiating power with vendors. The new entity will also give shoppers better access to more designers, particularly up-and-coming ones as it will have more financial flexibility. Shoppers will also see their experiences more personalized through improved use of artificial intelligence, Metrick said.

Saks Fifth Avenue currently operates 39 stores in the U.S., including its Manhattan flagship. In early 2021, Saks spun off its website into a separate company, with the hopes of expanding that business at a time when more people were shopping online.

Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020 during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic but emerged in September of that year. Like many of its peers, the privately held department store chain was forced to temporarily close its stores for several months.

Meanwhile, other department stores are under pressure to keep increasing sales.

Storied Lord & Taylor announced in late August 2020 it was closing all its stores after filing for bankruptcy earlier that month. It’s operating online. Macy’s announced in February of this year that it will close 150 unproductive namesake stores over the next three years including 50 by year-end.

Consumers have proven resilient and willing to shop even after a bout of inflation, though behaviors have shifted, with some Americans trading down to lower-priced goods.

A deal between the two luxury retailers does not resolve all the issues, especially when high-end shoppers are looking to buy luxury goods online or at luxury brands’ own stores, Saunders said.

“As a larger entity, negotiating power will be a little better with the brands, but even a combined chain would not match the heft and power of the global luxury conglomerates, which would still hold most of the cards,” Saunders said. “As such, there is a risk that the deal might end up creating an even bigger headache for Saks.”

Saunders noted that Amazon’s stake in the business makes sense, as it has ambitions to play more heavily in the luxury arena. Saunders said Amazon could use its ability to streamline logistics and e-commerce and create an advantage for the new entity in a market where online shopping has become more important to shoppers — especially younger ones, which both chains need to do more to attract, he said.

Saks Global will also include HBC’s U.S. real estate assets and Neiman Marcus Group’s real estate assets, creating a $7 billion portfolio of retail real estate assets in top-tier luxury shopping destinations. Ian Putnam, currently president and CEO of HBC Properties and Investments, will become CEO of Saks Global Properties and Investments, which will manage the company’s portfolio of assets.

Both Metrick and Putnam will report to Baker, who will serve as executive chairman of Saks Global.

Amazon Prime Day is July 16-17. It’s like Black Friday, but in July and with less burden to buy for others.

Some people may already have holiday gift-buying in mind, but most are likely shopping for themselves, says Jane Boyd Thomas, a professor of marketing at Winthrop University.

More emphasis from retailers on summer deals has shifted trends on Google. “In recent years, searches for ‘deals’ have spiked in mid-July, even surpassing search interest in ‘vacation,’” said Sean Scott, vice president and general manager of consumer shopping at Google, in a blog announcing Google’s enhanced shopping tools. Its updated “deals destination” is intended to make it easier to shop for deals across retailers in one place.

Whether you start on Amazon or Google, the key is to nab deals on planned purchases over impulse buys. Keep this list in mind as you decide what to buy (or skip) on Prime Day.

Buy: Electronics

Thomas says electronics will be the best category for Prime Day deals, which will likely include Apple products. She chuckled when mentioning an Apple Pencil she recently paid full price for ($129.99), only to hear later that it’ll likely be cheaper on Prime Day. In fact, it is $79 on Amazon at the time of this writing, before Prime Day. AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) ear buds were down to $189.99 in late June (Apple’s price is $249, but Amazon regularly sells them for $199), and could go lower during the sale.

Select models of TVs, soundbars, speakers and other headphones should see deep discounts too. Amazon is already touting an invite-only deal of up to 40% off Sony wireless headphones. But be mindful that limited quantities on the hottest products could mean you have to act quickly.

My experience: I dropped the “bar” last Prime Day. I had coveted a particular model of Sony soundbar that normally sells for about $300 all year long. I saved it and waited for the price to drop. On Prime Day, it went down $100. But instead of getting it, I hesitated for a few hours, and when I decided to buy it, it was not only out of stock on Amazon but also at other retailers. I settled for a similarly priced but inferior model.

This year’s sale starts promptly at 12:01 a.m. PDT on July 16 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on July 17. The specific start and end times motivate people to buy on whim for fear of missing out, says Thomas.

But you can prep for Prime Day now, by making a list and checking your budget, to avoid overspending at crunch time.

Buy: Car seats and strollers

Prime Day is likely to bring good deals on baby gear. NerdWallet monitored prices on a handful of popular products during every major sale of 2023. The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat we tracked went on sale often, but hit its lowest observed price during last year’s July Prime Day, coming in at $139.99. It’s $199.99 on Amazon at the time of this writing.

Thomas, a new grandmother, needs to get equipped to drive her granddaughter around.

The car seat base she needs typically goes for around $160, she says. “I’m going to put it in my wish list and set alerts, which you can do with Amazon, to let me know when it goes on sale,” she adds.

Strollers, cribs, pack-and-plays and other typically pricey baby products could hit lows during Prime Day. Last year, for example, the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 All-Terrain Stroller was 40% off during Amazon’s sale.

Buy or skip: Amazon devices

Buying an Amazon device during Amazon’s biggest sale of the year is a no-brainer, but only if you’re in the market for one. Fire tablets and TV sticks, Kindles and Echo devices are all likely to be discounted. And many of the gadgets Amazon makes are pretty well-reviewed.

Of course, you can also wait. The next big Prime sale, which should come in October, is all but certain to bring similar prices on Amazon’s own tech.

My experience. I skipped both the July Prime Day and October Prime Big Deal Days last year and still got a great deal on the latest Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) smart display device, which wasn’t released until late in the year. I ordered mine on Dec. 28, 2023, for $60 off the normal price. It’s a good reminder that products are often refreshed and prices are constantly in flux.

Buy: Toys

If you are prepared enough to put a gift list together in July and have kids to buy for, sensory-type creative toys can be a good way to go. One of the best Prime Day deals NerdWallet spotted last year was on the Magna-Tiles Classic 100-Piece Set. Kids love them, and the set went down to $82.99 on Prime Day. The same set is $119.50 on Amazon at the time of this writing.

Thomas says Amazon is inclined to mark down already hot sellers to draw people in.

“I would look at things like gifts for children, scooters, Lego sets because those are things that are pretty steady sellers year-round for them,” she says.

Buy or skip: Small appliances

Kitchen gadgets are fair game for deals on Prime Day, but NerdWallet’s research shows Cyber Monday is better for deals on small appliances like air fryers, mixers and coffee makers. And for these items especially, don’t let Amazon be your only stop. Target, Walmart, Best Buy and other retailers will compete.

You could also wait and stumble upon a deal later, if you’re not quite ready to buy.

My experience: While at a friend’s house for dinner late last year, I couldn’t help but notice the side-by-side Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart XL Air Fryers they were using to cook the meal. The food was good, and the stainless look was slick. I got home, opened Amazon and saw the same model going for $74.15, about $55 off the normal price. I nabbed it on Nov. 5, 2023, a random Sunday. Moral of the story: good sales happen throughout the year if you’re not ready to buy now.

Nerdy reminders about online shopping

Doing the necessary product and price research should be second nature by now, but here’s a refresher on how to e-shop smartly.

Know the going rate: If you’re shopping on Amazon, it’s quick and easy to use a price-tracking site like camelcamelcamel to check the price history over time. Paste the Amazon URL in the camelcamelcamel search bar to view lowest-ever, highest-ever, current and average price.

Set your pounce price: Once you know the lowest price and how often the item is discounted, you can use your budget to set a price threshold. Once the price drops below that line, you’ve given yourself permission to buy.

Save it for later and set alerts: Set alerts to take the effort out of tracking prices. In the Amazon app, you can set deal alerts for items of interest by going to the account section, scrolling down to “message center” and tapping deal alerts.

Google it before you get it, or search “shop deals”: Amazon may be the loudest, but other retailers will quietly compete with Prime Day. A quick Google search of the specific product you’re after will let you compare prices, but you can go deeper with Google’s new “deals destination.” Type the words “shop deals” into the search bar to view a carousel of products with recent price drops from across the web. Click on the product to view its typical price range based on averages over the past 90 days.

Shopping online is easier than ever, and there are tricks and tools that can definitely help you save. But there’s also a time-consuming and inescapable nature of online shopping. As we hit the peak of summer, don’t let chasing the best deal keep you from things that matter most. Those things are probably free anyway.

Tommy Tindall writes for NerdWallet. Email: ttindall@nerdwallet.com.

The article What to Buy (and Skip) on Amazon Prime Day 2024 originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Would you tip a robot? That’s essentially what I was asked to do when a self-checkout machine at Newark Liberty International Airport prompted me for a tip. I picked a premade sandwich out of a refrigerator, scanned it at a self-service kiosk and was presented with an on-screen tip prompt.

I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt hitting the “no tip” button, but this is the sort of thing that’s giving tipping a bad name. Another outrageous example was when I was asked to tip while making a reservation at a pick-your-own strawberry farm. Situations like this are often considered part of “tip creep.”

What is tip creep and why is it growing?

Tip creep refers to being asked to tip in unconventional places. The most widespread example that has caught on in recent years is at coffee shops, but self-checkout machines and pick-your-own strawberry farms fit the bill as well.

There’s a fun “what’s the weirdest place you’ve been prompted to tip?” forum on Reddit. A dermatologist’s office, a car mechanic shop and a movie theater ticket counter are three of my favorites. Those all feel pretty excessive. Doctors, in particular, are highly paid professionals bound by strict regulations and ethical codes. They should not be soliciting tips under any circumstances.

The proliferation of tip prompts has hit counter-service transactions the hardest. In these settings, you used to have to go out of your way to tip (dropping bills or coins into an old-fashioned tip jar). Now you have to go out of your way not to tip at many coffee shops and other businesses.

That’s particularly true when you pay with a credit or debit card and the cashier flips the payment terminal around with suggested tip amounts of 15, 20 and 25%. Sometimes it’s awkward not to tip in these settings, which leads to “guilt tipping” – hitting one of those buttons yet wishing you hadn’t.

Is inflation to blame?

Inflation is a key contributor to why consumers are annoyed about these interactions. Many people feel like they’re already paying a lot for the product or service and grumble about forking over even more dough.

But inflation also helps explain why businesses have their digital hands out. They’re looking for ways to supplement their employees’ wages without having to foot the bill. Tipping has become a hidden surcharge.

About six in 10 Americans have at least one negative opinion about tipping, according to Bankrate’s 2024 Tipping Culture survey. The most common complaint is that businesses should pay their employees better rather than relying so much on tips (37%). More than a third (35%) say tipping culture has gotten out of control, and a similar number (34%) are annoyed about pre-entered tip screens.

Who we should always tip

It’s important to distinguish between a quick food pickup and a sit-down dining experience. We should tip for service at a full-service restaurant. Unfortunately, our survey revealed that 33% of diners skip the tip at least some of the time, including a whopping 65% of Gen Zers (ages 18-27) and 44% of millennials (ages 28-43). That’s shocking, and it’s taking money out of servers’ pockets.

The federal tipped minimum wage is just $2.13 per hour. It hasn’t changed since 1991. The typical waiter or waitress literally depends on tips to make a living. Yet tips have steadily eroded in recent years.

In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bankrate found that 77% of sit-down restaurant-goers always tipped the waitstaff. That stepped down to 75% in 2021 and 73% in 2022, according to an earlier Bankrate survey. Last year, tipping really fell off as inflation took a big bite out of consumers’ wallets. Just 65% of diners always tipped in 2023. We saw a slight increase this year, to 67%.

It has been a similar story for hair stylists, barbers, food delivery workers and taxi/rideshare drivers. At present, only 55% of Americans always tip their hair stylist or barber, compared with 63% in 2019. Just 51% always tip for food delivery (versus 63% in 2019) and 41% always tip a taxi or rideshare driver (eight percentage points lower than the 49% who did so in 2019).

We should tip in all of these situations – ideally 20% of the bill. Maybe a little less for food delivery or a ride, but at least 10 to 15%. The workers’ livelihood depends on it. In America, it’s part of the social contract at sit-down restaurants, hair salons and when you utilize gig economy services such as food delivery and rideshares. These drivers are typically independent contractors who pay for their own gas and car insurance and earn a sizable percentage of their income from tips.

When it’s okay to skip the tip

Etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who goes by the tagline “Mister Manners,” told Inside Edition that simple counter-service orders do not typically warrant tips – unless the barista truly goes above and beyond.

“Perhaps you’re at your favorite coffee shop and they know your order and the barista spends 15 minutes getting it exactly the [right] way, they know your name, those employees definitely deserve a tip,” Farley added.

Farley also says that most home repairs don’t require a gratuity. “For service professionals like plumbers, my feeling is that unless there are extenuating circumstances and they came out in the wee hours of the morning, there’s no expectation to tip,” he explained to CNBC. “You’re probably paying on an hourly basis, most likely a very high amount.”

The bottom line

Tipping can be annoying, confusing and controversial, but it’s here to stay. In our most recent survey, only 14% of Americans said they would be willing to pay higher prices in order to do away with tipping. And technology has made it easier than ever for businesses to embed tip prompts into the point-of-sale process.

While you may be frustrated the next time you’re asked to tip for a simple takeout order, remember that it’s okay to hit the no-tip button sometimes. But please make sure to tip at places like sit-down restaurants where tips make up the vast majority of employees’ wages.

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Have a question about credit cards? E-mail me at ted.rossman@bankrate.com and I’d be happy to help.

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(Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com.)

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