Consumer Corner

European river cruises and exotic locales, such as Cuba and Myanmar, that were not so long ago off-limits to U.S. visitors top the list of expected travel trends for 2014, travel experts say.

Local sourcing of meat and seafood tops the list of predicted trends for 2014, according to U.S. chefs.

U.S. shoppers say they're being cautious with their holiday spending this year despite recent signs of economic growth.

"Webrooming" -- researching a product online before going to the store to make the actual purchase -- appears to be the shopping trend to watch this season, according to retail analysts who say brick-and-mortar retailers are finally getting the hang of e-commerce.

Here's hoping Santa gets a big Christmas bonus this year to cover the cost of the tech toys that are topping holiday wish lists this year.

Food traceability is a growing concern for both businesses and consumers who want to know exactly where their food is coming from, but the path of the global food supply is a winding one and the increasing complexity of the world's food system can make it difficult to trace products back to their source.

CHICAGO, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- While low prices for hamburgers and fries at U.S. fast food restaurants may appear to be good for consumer wallets, the low wages paid to fast-food workers means taxpayers end up paying billions of dollars to cover workers' basic needs, researchers say.

CHICAGO, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The social media-savvy of today's 20- and 30-somethings is driving changes at major hotel brands and shaping the way hotels approach their design and develop guest amenities, travel experts say.

CHICAGO, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Hold on before dumping that gallon milk down the sink; just because it's past the "sell-by" date doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be thrown out.

CHICAGO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to making smart financial decisions, and taking time before pulling out the wallet can make acquisitions feel worth the wait, University of Chicago researchers say.

Bacon -- by itself, mixed with chocolate or any other concoction -- is still a force with which to be reckoned in the foodie world, but specialty foodmakers are betting their spin on healthier products such as kale, chia seeds and seaweed will take grocery stores by storm in the next year.

CHICAGO, May 26 (UPI) -- Hotels in hip, culturally diverse neighborhoods and stylish cabins in rustic locales offer travelers this summer the opportunity to approach popular tourist destinations from a different perspective.

CHICAGO, May 19 (UPI) -- Choosing a restaurant used to be a simple decision: fancy or casual; Italian, Chinese or American; kids or no kids; friends or alone; pile into the car; go.

Spring has gotten off to a shaky start, what with April floods and May snowstorms, but travel experts say it's time to put away the snow shovel and start getting serious about summer vacation planning.

CHICAGO, May 5 (UPI) -- I always seem to be on a diet -- some days more than others, admittedly. But I've always been stymied when it comes to how many calories I can consume without getting depressed at the next morning's weigh in.

Business travelers get their morning lattes from Starbucks, their lunch from Subway and their dinner meal deals from McDonald's, a report by Certify, a provider of expense management and travel booking software, indicates.