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Waffle House drops egg surcharge: Are egg prices going down? What to know in Alabama

Waffle House drops egg surcharge: Are egg prices going down? What to know in Alabama

Yahoo3 days ago
The Waffle House Index may be a useful indicator for more than extreme weather.
The diner chain announced on July 1 that its dropping an egg surcharge put in place four months ago, signaling a decline in egg prices from the all-time highs seen earlier this year.
"Egg-cellent news…as of June 2, the egg surcharge is officially off the menu," said the post. "Thanks for understanding!"
USA TODAY reached out to Waffle House to confirm the change.
Waffle House has dozens of locations in Alabama, including 15 in the Montgomery area, eight in the Tuscaloosa area, and four in the Gadsden area. Click here to find a store near you.
Why was Waffle House charging extra for eggs?
A 50-cent per egg surcharge was implemented at Waffle House's roughly 2,100 locations across the U.S. in early February to offset higher-than-usual prices resulting from a "continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu)," the company said at the time.
Waffle House serves around 272 million eggs per year, according to its website, well surpassing even its titular waffles, of which it sells just 124 million. The temporary charge was employed to avoid increasing prices across other menu items, it said.
Are egg prices are down?
Egg prices reached a high of roughly $6.22 per dozen on average in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The stage for this uptick was set when the current bird flu outbreak began in the U.S. in 2022 and the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, killed off egg-laying poultry en masse, leaving fewer chickens behind to maintain the supply.
By Feb. 3, when Waffle House implemented its surcharge, the virus had infected roughly 150 million poultry across all 50 states since January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because of the spread, infected birds have been selectively slaughtered across the U.S., including sometimes millions of birds at a single location.
Why are egg prices falling? Here's what we know.
Egg prices have begun to ease from the highs earlier this year, but their overall prices are still 40% higher than last year, according to the May Consumer Price Index.
"Families are seeing relief with egg prices driving food deflation," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a June 26 statement about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) response to bird flu. "While we are proud that over 900 biosecurity assessments have been conducted to date, resources remain available, and we are urging poultry farmers of all sizes to get your assessments done today before a potentially challenging fall.'
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Waffle House drops egg surcharge: Are prices down? What to know in AL
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Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives
Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives

Miami Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives

Support for Donald Trump among conservative voters has seen a steady decline over the past three months, according to new polling from YouGov/The Economist. In May, Trump held a commanding approval rating of 88 percent among conservatives, with just 11 percent disapproving — a net approval of +77. But that margin has narrowed each month since. By June, approval slipped to 83 percent, with disapproval rising to 15 percent, bringing his net rating down to +68. The downward trend continued into July, with Trump's conservative approval dropping to 81 percent and disapproval climbing to 17 percent — a net approval rating of just +64, the lowest in months. Conservative voters have long been the foundation of Donald Trump's political strength — especially in primaries and battleground states where even small shifts can have outsized effects. The steady erosion of his approval among conservatives, as captured by YouGov/The Economist polling, signals potential cracks in that foundation heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond. The polling shows that economic issues are at the heart of the dip. Among conservatives, approval of Trump's handling of the economy has held steady at 81 percent in both June and July — down slightly from 85 percent in May. But perceptions of where the economy is heading have darkened. In May, 59 percent of conservatives said the economy was getting better, compared to just 14 percent who said it was getting worse. That optimism fell to 50/15 in June and 53/17 in July. Approval of Trump's handling of inflation has dropped more sharply. In May, conservatives backed his approach by a margin of 84 to 14. By June, support had fallen to 74/22, and by July 18, it was down to 66/25 — a significant net drop of 29 points in just two months. The souring sentiment comes as inflation ticked up nationally: annual inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, up from 2.4 percent in May, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Meanwhile, Americans now face an average tariff rate of 18.7 percent, the highest since 1933, according to the Yale Budget Lab — a direct result of Trump's expansive tariff policies. Trump's signature legislative package — known as the "Big Beautiful Bill" — is also starting to lose ground among conservatives. In June, 73 percent of conservatives supported the bill, while 18 percent opposed it. Although still a majority, this level of support masks unease about its contents: critics argue that the bill prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting safety-net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP. Adding further strain is the backlash surrounding Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Approval among conservatives on the issue sits at just 44 percent, with 32 percent disapproving — unusually high for his base. Notably, 55 percent of conservatives believe the government is covering up evidence in the case, and 77 percent say all documents should be released. The discontent intensified after a Justice Department memo last week confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that the government does not possess a "client list" — directly contradicting conspiracy theories promoted by some Trump-aligned figures. Trump reportedly lashed out at his own supporters, calling them "weaklings" for being "duped" by what he called a "hoax" pushed by Democrats. He later walked back the comments and directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing grand jury materials related to Epstein. But there is one topic where Trump fares slightly better among conservatives, with the president's numbers having only seen a marginal decline since May. In July, 85 percent of conservatives approved of Trump's job performance on immigration — down slightly from 88 percent in May and up from 83 percent in June, suggesting his aggressive second-term agenda, including mass deportation operations, expanded detention facilities, and record-low border crossings, continues to resonate with much of his base. Throughout his second term, Trump has aggressively expanded immigration enforcement—launching mass deportation operations, increasing raids in sanctuary cities, and reviving thousands of old deportation cases. Meanwhile, crossings at the southern border hit a historic low last month, and he has secured billions in additional funding for border security and expanded enforcement operations. His administration has also dramatically scaled up detention capacity, allocating $45 billion to expand ICE facilities and construct large-scale temporary camps, including a tent facility in Florida nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." 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First-time buyers can now get a 3.76% mortgage
First-time buyers can now get a 3.76% mortgage

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

First-time buyers can now get a 3.76% mortgage

Lenders have left their mortgage rates unchanged from last week ahead of the Bank of England's interest rate decision, but first-time buyers can still get a deal as low as 3.76%, depending on the size of their deposit. The average rate for a two-year fixed mortgage stands at 4.80%, while five-year fixed deals average 5.01%, according to data from Uswitch. The Bank of England has kept interest rates at 4.25% amid inflation fears, delivering a blow to homeowners who were expecting a relief in their mortgage. The primary inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.6% in the 12 months to June, well above the BoE's 2% target. However, it is widely expected to cut interest rates to 4% at its next meeting, on August 7. Shop Top Mortgage Rates Personalized rates in minutes A quicker path to financial freedom Your Path to Homeownership Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced new plans, under which renters who have a good track record of monthly payments will be able to use this to prove to lenders how much they can afford to borrow, sometimes without the need for a deposit. Homeowners are set to benefit from simplified mortgage rules, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirms changes designed to make remortgaging or reducing loan terms easier. A key part of the reform involves the FCA removing existing guidance that it deems to have "served its purpose," a move intended to reduce the regulatory burden on financial firms. This adjustment means borrowers could find it simpler to shorten their mortgage term, potentially lowering the total cost of borrowing and mitigating the risk of repayments extending into retirement. Crucially, the requirement for a full affordability assessment will be lifted when a borrower seeks to reduce their mortgage term. Consumers could see their choice improved by allowing for simpler affordability assessments, where a proposed remortgage is on similar terms to an existing contract, but more affordable than a new deal indicated by a customer's existing lender. Paul Matthews, senior director of risk at financial services consultancy Broadstone, said: 'The FCA is taking significant steps to make it easier for consumers to make changes to their mortgages and get better support on their available options. 'The easing of regulation will allow lenders greater flexibility to innovate in the market.' Reeves will also launch a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme to help more people get on the housing ladder. The BoE also loosened its lending rules. Until now, just under 10% of new mortgages issued are for valuations exceeding 4.5 times a borrower's income. That is now set to rise to 15% across the industry, with some building societies and banks now able to offer an even higher number of new mortgages at that level. Read more: First-time buyers on £30k salary now able to apply for mortgage BoE estimates suggest 36,000 extra mortgages with higher loan-to-income ratios could be handed out each year as a result of the change. Nationwide (NBS.L), Britain's biggest building society, has also cut the salary requirements for first-time buyers from £35,000 to £30,000, in a move it hopes will enable 10,000 more people to become homeowners. HSBC mortgage deals HSBC (HSBA.L) has a 3.94% rate for a five-year deal, unchanged from last week. For those with a Premier Standard account with the lender, this rate is 3.91%. Looking at the two-year options, the lowest rate is 3.82% with a £999 fee, the same as before. Both cases assume a 60% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage, meaning buyers need to have at least 40% for a deposit. HSBC offers 95% LTV deals, meaning you only need to save for a 5% deposit. However, the rates are much higher, with a two-year fix at 4.99% or 4.79% for a five-year fix. This is because their financial situation and deposit size determine the rate someone can get. The larger the deposit, the lower the LTV, allowing buyers to access better deals because lenders consider them less risky. NatWest mortgage deals NatWest's (NWG.L) five-year deal is 3.90% with a £1,495 fee, unchanged from last week. The cheapest two-year fixed deal is 3.81%, again untouched from the previous week's deal. In both cases, you'll need at least a 40% deposit to qualify for the rates. Santander mortgage deals At Santander (BNC.L), a five-year fix comes in at 4.01% for first-time buyers, which is unchanged from the previous week. It has a £999 fee, assuming a 40% deposit. Read more: Buy-to-let rents bringing in 7% returns to landlords For a two-year deal, customers can secure a 3.84% offer, with the same £999 fee, again the same as before. Barclays mortgage deals Barclays (BARC.L) was the first among major lenders to bring back under-4% deals and has since pushed deeper into under-4% territory,. Its five-year fix this week stands at 3.91%, unchanged from before The lowest for two-year mortgage deals is 3.76% or 3.75% if you have a Premier exclusive account. Either way, the deals are deep into sub-4% territory. Other rates at the lender include: 3.76% 2 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.03% 2 Yr Fixed £0 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 3.92%Premier 2 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 3.93% 2 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.15% 2 Yr Fixed £0 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.02% 3 Yr Fixed £0 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.07% 3 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 3.90% Premier 5 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 3.91% 5 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 3.99% 5 Yr Fixed £0 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.03% 5 Yr Fixed £899 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m 4.14% 5 Yr Fixed £0 product fee, 75% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m Barclays recently launched a mortgage proposition to help new and existing customers access larger loans when purchasing a home. The initiative, known as Mortgage Boost, enables family members or friends to effectively "boost" the amount that can be borrowed toward a property without needing to lend or gift money directly or provide a larger deposit. Under the scheme, a borrower's eligibility for a mortgage can increase significantly by including a family member or friend on the application. For example, an individual with a £37,500 annual income and a £30,000 deposit might traditionally be able to borrow up to £168,375, enabling them to purchase a home priced at around £198,375. However, with Mortgage Boost, the total borrowing potential can rise substantially if a second person, such as a parent, joins the application. In this case, if the second applicant also earns £37,500 a year, the combined income could push the borrowing limit to £270,000, enabling the buyer to afford a home worth up to £300,000. Nationwide mortgage deals Nationwide's (NBS.L) lowest mortgage rate for first-time buyers is 4.14% for a five-year fix. First-time buyers are looking at 3.94% for a two-year fix. Both deals rare unchanged from the previous week, require a 40% deposit and come with a £1,499 fee. Eligible first-time buyers can apply for a mortgage with a £30,000 salary, down from £35,000, and joint applicants with a £50,000 combined salary, down from £55,000. This is expected to support an additional 10,000 first-time buyers each year. Nationwide, which lent to more first-time buyers in 2024 than any other lender, has confirmed it has applied to the Prudential Regulation Authority to increase its high loan-to-income lending capacity. The vast majority of Nationwide's high LTI lending is done through its Helping Hand, which allows eligible first-time buyers to borrow up to six times income. This enables borrowing of up to 33% more than standard lending. Helping Hand has helped around 60,000 first-time buyers since launching in 2021. Read more: Best credit card deals of the week The lender has also adjusted its mortgage affordability calculation by reducing stress rates by 0.75 and 1.25 percentage points, helping applicants borrow more, whether buying a first home, moving, or remortgaging. Applicants can borrow, on average, £28,000 more; however, in some remortgage cases, customers could borrow up to £42,600 more. Nationwide also reduced its standard stress rate and the rate applied to eligible first-time buyers and home movers fixing their deal for at least five years. Halifax mortgage deals Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, offers a five-year rate of 3.94% (also 60% LTV), lower than last week's 3.97%. The lender, owned by Lloyds (LLOY.L), offers a two-year fixed rate deal at 3.79%, with a £999 fee for first-time buyers, lower than the previous 3.84%. It also offers a 10-year deal with a mortgage rate of 4.78%. Halifax has enhanced its five-year fixed mortgage products by increasing borrowing capacity. This improvement allows borrowers to access up to £38,000 more, enabling them to secure larger mortgages based on individual incomes. Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: "The flourishing choice of low-deposit mortgages will no doubt be welcomed by borrowers looking to remortgage or are a first-time buyer. "The government has been clear that it wants lenders to do more to boost UK growth, and so a rise in product availability for aspiring homeowners is a healthy step in the right direction." Cheapest mortgage deal on the market Barclays has some of the lowest rates on the market, with a two-year fix coming in at 3.76%. NatWest takes the crown for a five-year fix with its 3.90% deal. However both require a hefty 40% deposit. The average UK house price is £297,781, so a 40% deposit equals about £120,000. A growing number of homeowners in the UK are opting for 35-year or longer mortgage terms, with a significant rise in older borrowers stretching their repayment periods well into their 70s. Read more: Average UK house asking price drops by almost £5,000 Lender April Mortgages offers buyers the chance to borrow up to six times their income on loans fixed for five to 15 years, from a deposit of 5%. Both those buying alone and those buying with others can apply for the mortgage. As part of the independent Dutch asset manager DMFCO, the company offers interest rates starting at 5.20% and an application fee of £195. Skipton Building Society has also said it would allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 5.5 times their income to help more borrowers get on the housing ladder. Leeds Building Society is increasing the maximum amount that first-time buyers can potentially borrow as a multiple of their earnings with the launch of a new mortgage range. Aspiring homeowners with a minimum household income of £40,000 may now be able to borrow up to 5.5 times their earnings. Mortgage holders and borrowers have faced record-high repayments in recent years, as the Bank of England's base rate has been passed on by banks and building societies. According to UK Finance, 1.3 million fixed mortgage deals are set to end in 2025. Many homeowners will hope the Bank of England acts quickly to cut rates more aggressively. At the same time, savers will likely root for rates to remain at or near their current in to access your portfolio

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives
Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives

Newsweek

time7 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives With Conservatives

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Support for Donald Trump among conservative voters has seen a steady decline over the past three months, according to new polling from YouGov/The Economist. In May, Trump held a commanding approval rating of 88 percent among conservatives, with just 11 percent disapproving — a net approval of +77. But that margin has narrowed each month since. By June, approval slipped to 83 percent, with disapproval rising to 15 percent, bringing his net rating down to +68. The downward trend continued into July, with Trump's conservative approval dropping to 81 percent and disapproval climbing to 17 percent — a net approval rating of just +64, the lowest in months. Why It Matters Conservative voters have long been the foundation of Donald Trump's political strength — especially in primaries and battleground states where even small shifts can have outsized effects. The steady erosion of his approval among conservatives, as captured by YouGov/The Economist polling, signals potential cracks in that foundation heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond. President Donald Trump speaks during a reception for Republican members of Congress in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump speaks during a reception for Republican members of Congress in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Economic Strains Driving the Decline The polling shows that economic issues are at the heart of the dip. Among conservatives, approval of Trump's handling of the economy has held steady at 81 percent in both June and July — down slightly from 85 percent in May. But perceptions of where the economy is heading have darkened. In May, 59 percent of conservatives said the economy was getting better, compared to just 14 percent who said it was getting worse. That optimism fell to 50/15 in June and 53/17 in July. Approval of Trump's handling of inflation has dropped more sharply. In May, conservatives backed his approach by a margin of 84 to 14. By June, support had fallen to 74/22, and by July 18, it was down to 66/25 — a significant net drop of 29 points in just two months. The souring sentiment comes as inflation ticked up nationally: annual inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, up from 2.4 percent in May, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Meanwhile, Americans now face an average tariff rate of 18.7 percent, the highest since 1933, according to the Yale Budget Lab — a direct result of Trump's expansive tariff policies. "Big Beautiful Bill" and Epstein Fallout Add to Conservative Frustration Trump's signature legislative package — known as the "Big Beautiful Bill" — is also starting to lose ground among conservatives. In June, 73 percent of conservatives supported the bill, while 18 percent opposed it. Although still a majority, this level of support masks unease about its contents: critics argue that the bill prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting safety-net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP. Adding further strain is the backlash surrounding Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Approval among conservatives on the issue sits at just 44 percent, with 32 percent disapproving — unusually high for his base. Notably, 55 percent of conservatives believe the government is covering up evidence in the case, and 77 percent say all documents should be released. The discontent intensified after a Justice Department memo last week confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that the government does not possess a "client list" — directly contradicting conspiracy theories promoted by some Trump-aligned figures. Trump reportedly lashed out at his own supporters, calling them "weaklings" for being "duped" by what he called a "hoax" pushed by Democrats. He later walked back the comments and directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing grand jury materials related to Epstein. Immigration Still a Relative Strong Point — But Slipping But there is one topic where Trump fares slightly better among conservatives, with the president's numbers having only seen a marginal decline since May. In July, 85 percent of conservatives approved of Trump's job performance on immigration — down slightly from 88 percent in May and up from 83 percent in June, suggesting his aggressive second-term agenda, including mass deportation operations, expanded detention facilities, and record-low border crossings, continues to resonate with much of his base. Throughout his second term, Trump has aggressively expanded immigration enforcement—launching mass deportation operations, increasing raids in sanctuary cities, and reviving thousands of old deportation cases. Meanwhile, crossings at the southern border hit a historic low last month, and he has secured billions in additional funding for border security and expanded enforcement operations. His administration has also dramatically scaled up detention capacity, allocating $45 billion to expand ICE facilities and construct large-scale temporary camps, including a tent facility in Florida nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." Broader Sentiment On The Decline Nonetheless, broader sentiment is cooling. The latest YouGov/Economist polling shows that 69 percent of conservatives now say the U.S. is on the right track, down from 75 percent in May. It comes as Trump has seen his approval ratings dip to a second-term low nationwide. That includes the most recent Big Data Poll survey, conducted July 12 to 14, which showed 48 percent of voters approving of Trump's performance, while 49 percent disapproved. The downward trend contrasts with earlier in the year. In May, Big Data Poll had Trump narrowly above water, with 48 percent of respondents approving and 47 percent disapproving. That figure was already a notable drop from January, shortly after Trump returned to office, when the pollster recorded one of his strongest ratings: 56 percent approval and 37 percent disapproval, a net positive of 19 percentage points. That broader decline is mirrored in other major polling. Newsweek's approval tracker currently places Trump at a net minus 10 rating, with 44 percent of Americans approving and 54 percent disapproving. It is one of his lowest net approval scores in recent weeks. The latest Atlas Intel survey, conducted between July 13 and 18 among 1,935 respondents, paints a similar picture: Trump's approval rating has dipped to 44 percent, down from 45 percent last month, while disapproval has ticked up to 55 percent. That results in a net rating of minus 11—his worst showing of the term in that poll. The sharpest drop comes from YouGov/CBS News polling conducted between July 16 and 18, which shows Trump's approval at just 42 percent, with 58 percent disapproving—a net rating of minus 16. That figure represents the president's lowest approval level recorded in any national poll so far in his second term.

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