John Matarese

1 week ago | wcpo.com | John Matarese |Bonnie J. Murphy

Thinking of shopping in June? Think dads, and grads, and the great outdoors. June is a great month to shop for gifts and outdoor equipment, with retailers offering deals on items for Father's Day, graduations and summer adventures. At Benchmark Outdoor Outfitters, the shelves are stocked with summer outdoor gear, from backpacks to camping chairs and popular coolers. "We have the Yeti Tundra, their most classic cooler," Max Artbauer, a salesman at Benchmark, said.

1 week ago | wcpo.com | John Matarese

CINCINNATI — Duke Energy is raising its electric rates for Ohio customers just as summer weather begins to hit the Cincinnnati area. The company will increase its standard default plan to 10.445 cents per kilowatt hour on June 1, 2025. That's a jump of more than 25% in the electric portion of customers' bills, according to the Ohio Consumer's Counsel. The delivery fee, the other portion, is not increasing.

1 week ago | wdrb.com | John Matarese

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Food delivery is so convenient, especially after a long day and you don't want to cook. Millions of Americans use it now, but some are starting to wonder if it's still worthwhile with the big costs that come with it. Meal delivery exploded in recent years and during that time, drivers were discovering that they were barely making ends meet. As a result, prices went up and up and up. Delivery fees can now double the price of a small order.

1 week ago | abc27.com | John Matarese

(WHTM) — Tariffs are starting to affect the price of imports, so it may be time to buy sooner rather than later. Walmart has finally said what a lot of what many stores have been hedging about: Ot’s about to start raising prices because of tariffs, but it turns out some retailers are already doing just that. Some of the first people to notice price hikes in the recent weeks were Temu and Shein shoppers, like Brenda Buschle. “I buy a lot of stuff for my business,” said Buschle.

1 week ago | wmar2news.com | John Matarese |Bonnie J. Murphy

Experience gift cards or certificates are a modern twist on the traditional store gift card. They allow the recipient to enjoy an activity like skydiving or a day at the spa. Yet, there are things consumers should keep in mind, as one woman just learned. Terri Baston said she lost more than $500 after the helicopter company she bought a gift card from apparently went out of business. "We were looking for a helicopter ride for my husband," she said.