*By Carlo Versano*
If you're eyeing the coming year for that big vacation you've been meaning to take, gird yourself for higher prices.
Flight and hotel prices are edging up around three percent on average, according to Mark Ellwood of Condé Nast Traveler, due in part to higher fuel and labor costs, more long-haul trips, and good old-fashioned supply and demand.
"When you're booking that big bucket-list trip, you gotta plan ahead," Ellwood told Cheddar.
To save money on flights, Ellwood stands by his favorite booking sites: Airfarewatchdog.comand Scottscheapflights.com, which allow users to plug in routes and timeframes and sit back and wait for alerts about sales. This year, he's also adding nextvacay.com to his recommendations, a relatively new member-only site that allows users to put in their home airport and gets deals to far-flung places.
Those big-ticket vacations are becoming more popular among millennials, who tend to spend money on experiences over products.
When booking hotels, Ellwood said the industry is paying more attention to personalized service ー remembering that you like a room far from the elevator, for instance. That's why he always recommends guests sign up for hotel loyalty programs, even if they don't know if they will ever stay at that hotel again. "It indicates to them that you might be a long-term loyalist, and they'll start learning what you like."
Business research group The Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index increased two months in a row.
Grant Buckholt, financial adviser with Northwestern Mutual, joined Cheddar News to discuss what exactly a holiday bonus entails and provided tips on how to budget it.
New car sales in the U.S. are forecasted to grow next year.
Many of us will look to chart a path to tackling finances as the New Year arrives. Jamila Souffrant, author of "Your Journey to Financial Freedom," joined Cheddar News to discuss steps on what to take if you're looking to take control of your life for financial freedom.
If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment system, Vizio may have you covered, especially this holiday season. Phil Schneider, head of device sales with Vizio, spoke with Cheddar News about what's currently in demand.
There are reports that Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount have held talks to join forces. Cheddar News breaks it down to discuss what this could mean for the media landscape and for viewers.
Thursday kicks off the busiest holiday travel period of the year.
SiriusXM is facing a new lawsuit for allegedly trapping customers into subscription plans.
IKEA says it expects shipping delays and other product availability issues due to ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
There are multiple reports that talks are underway for a potential merger of Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount Global.
