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Inflation is drifting down in fits and starts , and so are restaurant menu prices. Consumer prices were 2.6% higher in October than the same time a year ago, according to federal data released Wednesday, up slightly from September’s 2.4% annual rate. But while the “last mile” in the fight against inflation has proved slow going, dining out costs are moving in a more affordable direction. The prices of food purchased away from home rose just 0.2% from September to October, down from 0.3% the previous two months, as restaurants ease up on price hikes. About 34% of operators told Toast that they’ve still raised prices over the past year, compared with 42% last year, the point-of-sale software provider found in a survey it released late last month. “If you think back to ...

They say good things come in small packages, and when it comes to blind boxes, I absolutely agree. Blind boxes contain collectible merch, usually figurines, that remain unknown to the recipient until they open it. Not only are they fun to collect, they’re also great gifts — each box has a surprise inside, making what might be a stressful gifting process enjoyable for everyone involved. Below, I compiled a range of options that’ll delight anyone in your life, whether they’re a dedicated collector or a total blind box newbie. SKIP AHEAD The best blind box gifts for in 2024 | Why trust NBC Select? Selected. Our top picks Best overall blind box Sonny Angel Vegetable Series $undefined ...

Aside from my phone, my laptop is my most important device. I use it for everything: working on articles for NBC Select, watching the latest movies on Netflix, editing videos, planning travel and so much more. Which is why the thought of replacing it stresses me out, especially when it can be difficult to understand what laptop tech specs mean. But upgrading your laptop can lead to a faster, lighter and more enjoyable experience for any task. That’s why we spoke with experts on what to look for when shopping for a new laptop, and rounded up top-rated and staff favorite options. SKIP AHEAD Best laptops in 2024 | How to shop for a laptop Selected. Our top picks Best for most people Apple MacBook Air (M2) ...

Jose and Kitty Menendez were living the American dream. The perfect home in Beverly Hills. A beautiful family complete with two sons, Lyle and Erik. From the outside, the Menendez family seemed picture-perfect. That all changed in August of 1989. Jose and Kitty were murdered. Six months later, Lyle and Erik were arrested. Their trials caused a media frenzy around the country. In 1996, after two trials, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for their parents’ murders. Over the years, the brothers tried many times to appeal their convictions. And every time, they failed. But now, after more than three decades behind bars, the Menendez brothers are back in the news. And the sensational story we thought was over may have a new ending. And this time, freed...

Although Black Friday is still weeks away, Walmart shoppers can get started early on their holiday shopping. From now until Nov. 17, the retailer is hosting its early Black Friday Deals event, where you can shop deals of up to 70% off across categories including tech, beauty and skincare, home and kitchen products and more. For a limited time, you can also get a Walmart Plus membership for 50% off. As an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, I’ve been covering sale events at Walmart for over a year. I combed through discounts to find the best early Walmart Black Friday deals actually worth shopping. Each one I recommend below is highly rated and at least 20% off. I’ll also continue to update this list throughout the event with new deals as they arrive. SKIP A...

The blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may help people cut back on drinking , new research published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry suggests. In a study of around 228,000 people in Sweden who had alcohol use disorder, researchers found that people who were taking a GLP-1 drug like semaglutide were less likely to be hospitalized for alcohol-related issues. Just over 28 million adults in the U.S. have alcohol addiction, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism . Only three medicines, however, are approved to treat it. “The pharmacological treatments available for AUD are not very good, and relapse is really common,” said Alex DiFeliceantonio, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. The stud...

The bodies of two young brothers who went missing in floods that struck Spain’s eastern Valencia region two weeks ago have been found, the Civil Guard confirmed on Wednesday. Ruben and Izan Matias Calatayud, aged 3 and 5, were found in separate locations near Catarroja, almost 6 miles downstream from their home in Torrent, a suburb of Valencia city, where they went missing when the floods hit on Oct. 29, a Civil Guard spokesperson said. Their aunt Barbara Sastre told Spain’s state TVE last week that the boys’ mother was working in Valencia and their father was with them at the family home when the flood hit at 6:30 p.m. The sound of the water running through the streets had frightened the children and their father moved them to the living room to calm them down when the wat...

Choosing a piece of luggage or a travel bag can be a highly personal thing. The style you choose (duffel, spinner, backpack, etc.), the material it’s made out of and the color all come down to an individual’s preferences. But there are some things that are universal — wherever you are going, you need a durable bag that will transport your stuff from point A to point B. Below, we’ve compiled 15 different pieces of luggage sold on Amazon. They have different features, but are all highly-rated and under $100. SKIP AHEAD How we picked top-rated luggage and travel bags | Top-rated luggage and travel bags | Why trust NBC Select? Selected. Our top picks Best overall Ibfun Weekender 3-...

Bidders interested in acquiring the media company founded by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones will battle it out at a bankruptcy auction Wednesday, potentially silencing his Infowars broadcasting platform for good. But identities of potential buyers are undisclosed as they had to agree to nondisclosure agreements in order to receive bid materials. Jones says his fate and the future of his company, Free Speech Systems, depends on who is successful: the entities who either support him or the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims . On his show Monday, amid pleas for listeners to buy subscriptions and the nutritional supplements he sells, Jones painted a picture of his potential buyers, describing one group of anonymous bidders as friendly backers who ...

Price growth ticked higher in October as voters began casting ballots in a presidential election in which economic concerns played a big role. The consumer price index climbed to 2.6% last month since the same time last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. That's a bit hotter than the 2.4% annual rate in September , which was the slowest pace since President Joe Biden’s first full month in office. “Core” inflation, a measure that excludes volatile food and energy prices, held at 3.3% over the 12 months ending in October, the same level notched in the previous month. The data met Wall Street expectations, and markets responded favorably Wednesday morning. Stock futures turned higher, while traders bid up the price of government bonds. Yet there ...