By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Yesterday, new crib standards went into effect that will help protect children from injuries and death. All importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers must offer only cribs that meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's new full-size and non-full-size crib standards. Among the new rules... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has received many reports of fraudulent e-mails that say they’re from the FDIC. The e-mails appear to be sent from various "@fdic.gov" e-mail addresses, such as "[email protected]," "[email protected]," or “[email protected].” They have subject lines that read: "FDIC: Your Business... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist About 460,000 Pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL Gel Fuel bottles and jugs distributed by Napa Home & Garden are being recalled. The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Getting a new roof A number of times I’ve written about my two failed metal... Read more →

By Susan Devaney, CEO, Moving Mavins Guest Blogger Downsizing isn’t just about the stuff. It’s about the emotions and fears of becoming invisible as the trappings of a life are moved out into the larger world, or worse, into a dumpster or big black trash bag. So keep these tips... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Calphalon Corp. is recalling about 217,000 Calphalon Contemporary Cutlery Knife Sets in the United States and 300 in Canada. The tips of the 8- inch slicing knife and/or the 8-inch bread knife can protrude through the bottom slot row on the wooden block holder,... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Good seats on Delta Airlines For my recent trip to Madrid, I got lucky. I... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist I’m thinking about my dad Minor H. Slingsby today on Father’s Day. He died in 1990 at age 80 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is linked to pesticide exposure. He was a farmer. My dad had a great influence on my life. It was important... Read more →

This year is the 101st anniversary of Fathers Day, and most of America’s 70.1 million fathers will be marking the day in some way. If you still need inspiration for Father’s Day, here’s my pick for the 10 best Father’s Day stories this year. “Conversations About My Father: Celebrity Chef... Read more →

By Richard Barrington, Money-Rates Columnist Guest Blogger Baby boomers and retirement. They thought that day would never come – and unfortunately, many of them saved money as if it never would. If you are in that situation, there is still time to improve your retirement savings – but only if... Read more →