It’s been quite the year for consumers. Here are the stories that were the most popular among my readers this year: “15 Financial Resolutions for the New Year” “Toxic Chemicals Found in Many Seasonal Holiday Products, Study Shows” “FDA Should Ban Retail Sale of Pure Caffeine Powder, Consumer Group Says”... Read more →
While consumer news often doesn’t get much coverage, it made big headlines this year. Here’s my list of the top consumer stories of the year: 1. Auto recalls More than 60 million vehicles have been recalled in the United States, twice as much as the previous annual record in 2004.... Read more →
Credit card debt is rising, and consumers are expected to increase their credit card debt by more than $60 billion in 2015. With credit easier to get and the economic recovery continuing, consumers need to take advantage of New Year’s resolutions to improve their credit habits in 2015. CardHub, a... Read more →
By Amy Hebert, Consumer Education Specialist, Federal Trade Commission What’s worse than losing all the photos and important files on your computer? Knowing you could have prevented it. Maybe you just got a new computer over the holidays, or you’re seeing how long your old one will last. Either way,... Read more →
About 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions each January, with many of their pledges involving finances. To help consumers improve their money management in the New Year, WalletHub announced its 15 Financial Resolutions for 2015 Monday. Its resolutions, which are based in part on conversations with a panel... Read more →
Keurig Green Mountain is recalling about 6.6 million of its Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System in the United States and 564,000 Canada Water can overheat during brewing, spray out, and burn consumers, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Keurig has received about 200 reports of hot liquid... Read more →
When patients go to the hospital, they should communication openly with their caregivers and expect to be treated with respect and dignity. In a survey, Consumer Reports found a link between respectful treatment in hospitals and preventable medical errors. The survey of 1,200 people, who were recently hospitalized, found those... Read more →
By Amy Hebert, Consumer Education Specialist, Federal Trade Commission A “solar-powered” lotion that transforms UV rays into red light to give you the same anti-aging results you’d get from laser treatment in a doctor’s office, or from an FDA-approved at-home red light device? An eye lotion that works as well... Read more →
Merry Christmas, if Christmas is a day that you and your loved ones celebrate. I'm lucky. I'm sharing the holiday with my daughter and her family. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. This morning we opened an array presents. I got the kids, who love Legos, a Space Needle... Read more →
By Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, Federal Trade Commission So, a frog hops into a bar and says, “Hey, did you hear the one about DermaTend?” Apparently, explained the frog, ads said this product removed moles, skin tags and warts — fast and permanently. Better yet, it was supposedly doctor-recommended... Read more →