Consumer News & Alerts

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Consumer News & Alerts | May 27, 2012
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Gas Prices Still Falling As Holiday Weekend Begins

At the start of the Memorial Day weekend, motorists will find gasoline prices that are steadily moving lower and 15 cents a gallon less than they were at the start of last year's holiday weekend that marks the start of summer driving season.

The national average price of self-serve regular today is $3.666 per gallon, down from $3.713 last Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey. Fuel prices are nearly 18 cents a gallon lower than they were a month ago.

For the first time in m...

Higher MPG Standards - Good for Consumers? Or Bad? Consumer advocates endorse the 54.5 mpg standard; auto dealers aren't so enthused

Auto Affordablity Declined in First Quarter But car sales continue to climb

BMW 'Most Valuable Brand,' Displacing Toyota, Study Finds Other German automakers also see their brand value increasing

Company Releases New Talking Service For Your Car Dragon Drive says it can reduce, not increase, distracted driving hazards

The Self-Driving Car Comes Closer to Being On California Roads

First Nevada, now California. This week a bill passed in the California Senate that would permit self-driving cars to be tested within the Golden State. The bill is now on its way to the State Assembly to potentially become law. Self-driving cars recently became legal in Nevada and are being considered in Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Hawaii.

While totally autonomous vehicles may not become widespread quickly, there's growing support for using technology to improve traffic safety...

Cell Phones

Cable Giants Lash Their Wi-Fi Networks Together Combined networks will be branded as "CableWiFi"

Verizon Offers New Video Service and Global Roaming to Its Users Now you can watch dumb movies on your smartphone

Satellite Communicator Now Accessible Through iPhone App connects iPhone data to two-way satellite

Class Actions

Groupon Settles for $8.5 Million For Not Listing Its Deal Restrictions Class action suits charged the company deceived users by creating "sense of urgency"

Social Media

Google+ a Ghost Town? Advertisers Flee to Pinterest Too many male geeks, not enough real folk on G+, advertisers sniff

Facebook Increasingly Used to Solicit Kidney Donors Requests appear to be more powerful when they go viral

Electronics

Inventor of TV Remote Control Dies at 96 1955 device intended as early commercial zapper

Employment

Survey: Companies Want To Hire 2012 College Graduates Web design, graphic arts among the most-sought skills

Tattoo Removal Procedures Surge 32 Percent in One Year In a down economy, tattoo removal practices growing by leaps and bounds

Entertainment

Couldn't Make It to Cannes Film Festival? There's an App for That Go Social Film Magazine brings short films to your iPad

Survey Shows 3D TV Sales are Growing but They're Still Unpopular There's just not much consumer interest in the technology yet

Finance

Feds Propose Prepaid Card Rules

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is previewing proposed rules to protect consumers in the fast-growing prepaid card market. The agency is seeking input on how to ensure that consumers’ funds on prepaid cards are safe and that card terms and fees are transparent.

“The people who use prepaid cards are, in many instances, the most vulnerable among us,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “All consumers need, and deserve, products which are ...

New Yorkers Need to Make Over $100K Yearly to Live Comfortably The nation's most expensive city is really expensive

Facebook's Wall Street Disaster Just Gets Worse Be glad you missed the IPO. Be very glad.

Are You Getting Interest On Your Checking Account? Some banks and credit unions offer very attractive rates if you can meet certain requirements

Report Shows Consumers Getting a Better Handle On Debt Bad-debt write-offs down 52% over three years

Consumer Confidence Back at Pre-Recession Levels Favorable job and wage prospects leading the recovery

Will We Soon Go Over the Fiscal Cliff?

A big adjustment in tax rates is headed your way at the end of the year, along with huge cuts in government spending that could impact the overall economy.

It's going to happen unless Congress acts. Given Congress' recent history, that's like saying it's probably going to happen.

Last year, when Democrats and Republicans in Congress were once again at an impasse on raising the U.S. government debt ceiling, agreement was reached only after the two sides tacked on another provision:...

Health

No Additional Cases of Mad Cow Disease Found, USDA Reports Investigation into California incident has found no additional cases or infected feed

Benefits and Risks of Lung CT Scans Studied Long-term effects of screening not yet determined

Researchers Say It's OK For Pregnant Women to Diet Maintaining body weight during pregnancy found to benefit both mother and child

Boomers Urged to Get Tested For Hepatitis C 30 percent of boomers may be infected

A New Pill Bottle For the Blind Container features hinged top and audio label

The Makers of Pom Wonderful Used Deceptive Advertising, Says Judge Consumers may be starting to question the juice-makers claims as well

20-Year Study Finds Sigmoidoscopy Effective in Reducing Colorectal Cancer Deaths Flexible sigmoidoscopy is less invasive, has fewer side effects than colonoscopy

Study: Calcium Pills Double Heart Attack Risk Researchers suggest consumers meet their calcium needs through diet alone

PBS Should Stop Pushing Fast Food, Consumer Advocates Argue Groups want PBS to end its ties to Chick-fil-A

Get This One: A New Cigarette That Doesn't Have Tobacco But Vitamin B It's the latest twist in the e-cigarette trend: no nicotine, only vitamins

Obesity and Kidney Stones Linked Another reason to throw down that donut and take up running

Whole Grains Will Make Your Diet Healthier Whole grains provide more nutrients and promote weight control

Online Shopping for Health Care: Is It Right For You? Picking the best procedure and physician may not be the ideal online pursuit

Homeowners

Report: Despite the Bleak Housing Market, Consumers Still Want to Own 84% of younger renters still aspire to owning their own home

Some Oreck Customers to Get Refunds Federal Trade Commission begins distributing money from settlement

Encouraging Housing Trends Continue April home sales were higher and so were prices

EPA OKs Two New Bed Bug Killers New preparations contain oil from the Neem tree

16 Million Homeowners Still 'Under Water' In First Quarter But behind the numbers, story might not be that bleak

Internet

RealNetworks' Not-So-Free Trials Will Cost It $2.4 Million "Deceptive pre-checked boxes and fine print" cited by prosecutors

Shopping

Be Careful With Daily Deal Websites

A tough economy and an increasingly mobile, interconnected consumer universe has made daily deal websites like Groupon a hot commodity. Consumers like them and so do businesses.

But they may not be such a good deal for either consumers or businesses. For consumers,they may lead to more impulse buys.

"I would advise users to use discretion," said Esther Swilley, assistant professor of marketing at Kansas State University. "Make sure it's something you really need or want, and you'r...

Retailers Want You to Buy Your Sofa Online It's a little hard to feel the leather when you're online

7-Eleven Implements New System to Reduce Illegal Alcohol, Tobacco Sales In New York, you'll have to do more than show ID, you'll have to have it scanned

More Consumers Using Smartphones to Download Coupons New poll shows 40 percent of smartphone users have downloaded coupon

Family Dollar Draws Fire For Planned Tobacco Sales Chain says it's simply responding to consumer demand

Doctors Say Wearing Skinny Jeans Is a Health Risk In fact, all tight clothing can cause problems, not to mention those stiletto heels

Track Shoes are the New Air Jordans for Younger Consumers They're more stylish and comfortable, and a lot more affordable

You Take a Chance When You Pay In Advance Ask plenty of questions when a business requires you to pay upfront

Target Partners With Shopkick For All of Its U.S. Locations Big retailer fights back against "showrooming" trend

Supermarkets

Giant Food Named Favorite Grocery Store in Consumer Poll ShopRite, Walmart close behind in Market Force survey

Sustainability

California's Solar Users Get Financial Credit For Cutting Back on Energy Not everyone is happy with the decision, most notably the utility companies

Family, Parenting

Study: 85 Percent of Grads Will Move Back Home Today, it's becoming the norm, researcher says

Study: Rock Concerts Taking Toll On Teen Hearing Study shows just one concert can result in hearing loss

Travel

Timeshares Can Be Burdens Even After You Die What to do if you inherit a timeshare you don't want

Southwest Taxis Closer to Launching Latin America Flights From Houston Mayor announces her support of Southwest's plan while United seethes

Survey Slams Econo Lodge, America's Best Value Inn Microtel, Suites by Wyndham get top ranking

Weight Loss

Survey: Americans Confused About What's Healthy Food Consumers say they would like more information about what they should eat

Safety Recalls

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