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The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fri Jan 23 2026

Betty Lin-Fisher | Consumer reporter

@blinfisher

Good morning and Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused edition of The Daily Money.

If you're in a part of the country bracing for this huge winter storm this weekend, you may either be thinking about heading to the grocery store to "panic-buy" or you're shaking your head and ticked off when looking at empty shelves because you just needed your one loaf of bread and there are none to be found.

Panic-buying isn't a new phenomenon, reports USA TODAY colleague Mary Walrath-Holdridge. Toilet paper is always a big one that people panic-buy and also gas, in addition to food staples.

So why do people panic-buy?

Bananas and other fresh produce were in short supply at the Whole Foods grocery store on Broadway in the downtown Nashville area around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Middle Tennessee residents were preparing for a major winter storm to slam the region beginning on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.

Molly Davis / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here are winter driving and air travel tips

As you are prepping for this big storm, here are some winter driving tips and the latest information on how airlines are handling the storm and how it will affect travel. Our USA TODAY Travel reporters have lots of information to help you through this.

•	Some airlines are canceling flights and offering waivers to help customers avoid flight disruptions.
•	Travel reporter Eve Chen has information to help air travelers know their rights.

Health care company pledges Obamacare rebates

The CEO of UnitedHealth Group, Stephen Hemsley, is vowing to rebate company profits from the Affordable Care Act to its customers in 2026, colleague Ken Alltucker reports.

That gesture comes as a House committee is meeting to investigate insurance affordability. The recent expiration of COVID-era tax credits sent Obamacare premiums soaring.

📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰

•	Medicare's telehealth coverage could end on Jan. 31, Woman's World reports.
•	GM will move production of a Buick SUV to the U.S. avoid tariffs.
•	Lululemon pulls "Get Low" leggings after complaints.
•	Atlanta isn't the busiest airport in the U.S. anymore.
•	Here's some good news for student loan borrowers in default.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.