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More than 8 in 10 American homes now contain smart tech — including refrigerators, doorbells, and robot vacuums, according to a OnePoll survey of 5,000 American homeowners conducted from Oct. 1 to 6.

The research found they’ve spent, on average, more than $2,000 on gadgets and appliances that connect to the internet during the past five years.

Fifty-five percent are keen to add to what they already have during the next 12 months.

As many as 58 percent have smart TVs, while 35 percent have doorbells that inform them of visitors, and 14 percent have fridges that notify them when supplies are low.

Smart speakers (36 percent), robot vacuum cleaners (22 percent), and smart locks (15 percent) are also common.

The research, commissioned by Vivint, found that 18 percent can’t imagine a world without their favorite tech.

And 1 in 10 upgrade or replace their smart home tech annually, with 37 percent doing so every two to five years.

Real-time alerts or notifications (38 percent), battery backup or power-fail safety (36 percent), and voice or app control from anywhere (33 percent) are the top things they want from their devices.

Twenty-two percent feel there is room for more convenience, customization, and personalization in their current smart device setup.

A similar number (21 percent) said more devices designed around these factors, as well as protection, would significantly improve their day-to-day lives.

The study found that of those who own smart tech, 17 percent are early adopters of new products on the market — purchasing such devices early in their release cycle.

However, 52 percent prefer to purchase smart home gadgets once they already have a proven track record.

And of those intending to invest further during the next 12 months or so, smart lighting (22 percent) is at the top of their list.

Door locks or keyless entry (17 percent), indoor and outdoor security cameras (14 percent and 20 percent), and water leak or flood sensors (eight percent) are also on wish lists.

The study identified the biggest barriers to acquiring smart home devices — either for the first time or as additional purchases.

Cost (53 percent) is the most significant hurdle, followed by privacy and security concerns (33 percent), and how susceptible a gadget might be to glitches (23 percent).

And with 60 percent reporting their utility bills have increased during the past year, 32 percent of smart tech owners cited energy efficiency, monitoring, or reporting as one of their biggest considerations when purchasing such goods.

Sixty-four percent took energy efficiency and the potential financial benefits of this into account, specifically when considering the expense of new devices.

But it’s not just smart tech adopters who value energy efficiency in their electricals.

Four in 10 (40 percent) of those who don’t own any smart tech said energy efficiency w

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To run for Congress, candidates must satisfy three constitutional qualifications: Meet the minimum age requirement, be a U.S. citizen and reside in the state they seek to represent.

But, heading into the 2026 cycle, it is clear there is one additional, unofficial requirement: They must be able to raise several million dollars.

The total cost of congressional races in 2024 was $9.5 billion, including spending by outside groups, according to OpenSecrets data. And that high cost of a political campaign comes at a cost to constituents — who can see their lawmaker become beholden to wealthy donors outside the district. It also results in fewer candidates, particularly among the middle class, women and underrepresented communities.

“The price of campaigning is just a very tough barrier for everyday people to overcome,” said Marina Pino, an expert on money and politics at the Brennan Center for Justice. “2014 was the first time in the country’s history that the majority of Congress were millionaires. And its members from the working class backgrounds comprise only 2% of Congress.”

A June 2021 study from OpenSecrets found that “white men running for office consistently dominate in fundraising. Whatever fundraising advantages may help women seem to primarily help white women, and whatever fundraising advantages may help people of color seem to primarily help men.”

Senate contests are often costlier than House races due to their statewide scope. Still, winning a House seat can require raising millions.

Consider Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt, who represents an Alabama district considered one of the safest in the nation. It has fewer than a million people, per the 2020 census, and is in the rural, northern part of the state. He still raised $1.5 million in 2024 to win another term in office.

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown raised $100 million last year for re-election to his Ohio seat.

And he lost.

Republican candidate Bernie Moreno raised $26.6 million to defeat Brown. But outside spending — the money spent by groups that are not formally connected to a candidate or their campaign — was a huge factor in the race. OpenSecrets found a total of $296 million was spent to support or oppose the candidates.

The contest ended up being one of the most expensive nonpresidential races in history.

Several House races hit the eight-figure mark, including in Virginia’s 7th district, where the Democratic candidate, Lt. Col. Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, raised nearly $18 million to win the election.

It was one of the

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For those who vowed to be healthier in 2025, there’s reason to celebrate, according to the results of a recent Hims study. The survey asked Americans how healthy they consider themselves to be, and 64 percent answered that they felt “healthy” (a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale), up from 58 percent at the start of the year. Furthermore, “healthy” is now the number-two word Americans use to describe themselves, up from number six in January.

Notably, the word “healthy” increased two to three times more than other words that also saw an uptick. For example, “attractive” gained three percentage points, and “happy” gained two percentage points, as compared to “healthy,” which gained six percentage points.

The Top Words Americans Use to Describe Themselves in 2025

In January of 2025, the survey asked Americans how accurately 25 words — including “happy,” “patriotic,” “lonely,” and more — described them. In August, Hims checked back in. “Healthy” was one of the few words that saw a significant uptick at the end of the eight-month testing period.

Below, check out the top 10 words Americans say describe them in January versus August.

Q: On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “Not at all me,” and 5 is “Very much me,” how much do you feel each of the following words describes you, personally?

Results reflect the percentage of people who answered either 4 (describes me) or 5 (very much describes me) on a 5-point scale.

Hims

Americans Are Prioritizing Mental Health And Sleep

While it’s difficult to say exactly what has bolstered Americans’ perceptions of their own health, some answers may lie in their health priorities. For example, 30 percent of Americans say they are focusing on their mental health — up from 23 percent in January — making it the country’s top health priority. This heightened focus on mental health not only includes therapy and prescription medications but also participating in hobbies that alleviate stress. To that end, 69 percent of respondents report they’ve taken up a new hobby this year to improve their mental health or alleviate stress. Top stress-reducing hobbies, according to survey results, include listening to music (41 percent), walking (37 percent), cooking (28 percent), gaming (24 percent), and reading (23 percent).

Americans are also prioritizing more and better sleep. For 27 percent of respondents in the latter half of 2025, it was a goal to “sleep more,” compared to 17 percent who indicated the same at the start of the year. “Sleeping more” also ranked as the number three way Americans believe they can increase their lifespan, according t

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How would you sum up your vendor negotiations today? Are these negotiations bringing you added value, or are they leaving untapped potential on the table? Asking these critical questions can define your company’s competitive edge in an era where vendor management mastery is paramount.

Despite the clear link between negotiation prowess and financial performance, a concerning trend persists. Many organizations continue to view vendor negotiations through an outdated, adversarial lens, fixating on price reductions at the expense of broader value creation. This myopic approach not only leaves money on the table but also squanders opportunities for innovation, quality improvements, and strategic partnerships.

So, what distinguishes the elite vendor negotiators from the rank and file? How can you elevate your strategies from merely effective to truly transformative? And how do you flip a well-negotiated contract into a dynamic, mutually beneficial relationship that drives ongoing success?

In this article, Brex explores these questions and more, offering a comprehensive guide to the art and science of vendor negotiation. From laying a strong foundation and employing advanced negotiation tactics to managing post-negotiation relationships and overcoming common hurdles, these insights can elevate your vendor management strategy. Whether you’re a procurement veteran or new to the field, prepare to challenge your assumptions and adjust how you negotiate with vendors.

What is vendor negotiation?

Vendor negotiation is the process of discussing and reaching agreements with suppliers to establish mutually beneficial business relationships. It goes beyond just price haggling; it’s a strategic process that helps establish terms, conditions, and expectations for products or services. Effective vendor negotiation requires thorough preparation, clear communication, and a calculated approach to demonstrate value as a client. The goal is to transform potentially transactional encounters into collaborative problem-solving sessions, creating partnerships that can lead to favorable contract terms, improved service quality, and long-term business advantages.

The importance of a strong start in vendor negotiation

You really never get a second chance to make a first impression. In the intricate dance of business relationships, the opening moves often set the tone for the rest of the performance. Getting off to a strong start in your vendor negotiations isn’t just beneficial, it’s critical. But what does a “strong start” really mean in this context, and why does it matter so much? It’s about establishing a foundation of mutual respect and understanding from the opening bell. It’s about demonstrating early and often that you’re not just another client, but a potential partner who brings value to their business as well. This approach can shift the dynamics of your negotiations, heading off any potentially adversarial encounters and setting the stage for more of a collaborative problem-solving session.

A strong start in vendor negotiation is fundamentally about

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CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in the U.S. using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 22.

U.S. by the numbers
– Gas current price: $2.85
– Week change: -$0.05 (-1.8%)
– Year change: -$0.19 (-6.1%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $5.02 (6/14/22)

– Diesel current price: $3.59
– Week change: -$0.04 (-1.2%)
– Year change: +$0.08 (+2.3%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.82 (6/19/22)

Metros with the least expensive gas
#1. Amarillo, TX: $2.15
#2. Lubbock, TX: $2.16
#3. Casper, WY: $2.16

Read on to see which metros have the most expensive gas prices.

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#5. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.48

Daniel Avram // Shutterstock

#4. San Diego, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.51

Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock

#3. Napa, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.51

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#2. Hilo, HI

– Regular gas price: $4.63

Christian Mueller // Shutterstock

#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI

– Regular gas price: $4.96

This story was produced by CheapInsurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The post How gas prices have changed in the U.S. in the last week Dec. 22, 2025 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.