Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.

There will be 3.4 percent fewer airline seats this holiday season compared to last year and that's beginning to push fares sharply higher.

If air travelers feel like they're being nickel & dimed to death, they are.

For consumers who don't want hefty credit card bills, retailers are now rolling out programs once popular years ago, like layaway and Christmas clubs.