Current Events in March 2013

For decades, chewing gum was just, well, chewing gum. About the most you could expect to get out of it was a bubble now and then.

Nicorette changed all that; suddenly chewing gum became a delivery vehicle for nicotine, supposedly helping smokers kick the habit. Oddly, not much else happened -- no vitamin-enriched, antibacterial, gluten-free gums.

Ah, but now there's caffeinated gum, courtesy of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., longtime makers of such household names as Juicy Fruit and Doublemint. Instead of just doubling your fun, Wrigley's new Alert Energy Caffeine Gum promises to give you an energy jolt without the bother of glugging liquid from a bottle or gulping down pills.

But there's a lot to chew on when you get into the energy-boost market. Just ask the makers of AMP, Monster Energy Drinks and 5-hour Energy. They're facing scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration as well as city and state regulators concerned about caffeine overdoses in younger users.

No brand extension

Hoping to avoid similar problems, Wrigley says Alert Energy is being targeted at the 25-and-up market and will not be associated with existing brands like Doublemint.

And while this may be a good idea, it's not actually a new one. Wrigley has been producing caffeinated gum for years. In 1998, it came up with a cinnamon-flavored caffeine gum intended for the military, the idea being to give combat troops a highly portable source of caffeine.

Congress funded a study on the gum's effectiveness and the results were encouraging, according to published accounts from long ago.

Among the advantages: caffeine from gum is absorbed quickly, delivering 85 percent of its dose in five minutes, compared to 45 to 90 minutes for a cup of coffee to take effect. That's because chewed nicotine is absorbed through the tissues of the mouth instead of having to travel through the digestive system. 

Among the disadvantages: the taste. Caffeine is bitter and while the cinnamon covered up some of the taste, it didn't obliterate it entirely.

A competitor, Jolt, emerged and stole some of Wrigley's thunder and was promptly sued by Wrigley for patent infringement. Meanwhile, Red Bull and similar energy drinks became popular among troops, stealing some of the gum's thunder. But both Wrigley and Jolt have continued producing more potent caffeinated gum for the military for years.

A little bitter 

In its latest attempt to get everyday Americans chewing their caffeine, Wrigley is being upfront about the taste, admitting that, although Alert comes in fruit and mint flavors, it still has a bitter, medicinal taste. But then, so do most energy drinks.  

Wrigley officials are hoping the slightly bitter taste is a reminder to customers that Alert is a gum with a purpose, not a sweet treat. No doubt the company is also hoping the taste discourages teens from abusing the gum.  

The company said a pack of Alert will sell for about $2.99 and will contain eight pieces, each packing about 40 milligrams of caffeine. That's about half the amount in an eight-ounce cup of coffee.

For homeowners who want to put their homes on the market, the news seems to get better by the day. Sales are up and so are prices. The number of homes for sale continues to decline, meaning more buyers may be looking at your home.

But it is far from a seller's market and to make your home stand out, and reduce the number of days it sits on the market, you should consider some home improvement projects that will make it more appealing. At the same time, you should avoid expensive projects because it's money you won't get back in a sale.

After consulting with a number of home improvement and real estate experts over the years, we've come up with five inexpensive projects that will not only make your home sell faster, but might get you closer to your asking price.

A clean look

Let's start with something basic; soap and water, along with a fresh coat of paint. Maybe you've gotten used to the dirty smudges on woodwork and faded paint but it's going to be jarring to a prospective buyer walking into your home for the first time. It's going to plant the thought in their minds that the home hasn't been cared for.

You can change that perception with a thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint, on both walls and woodwork. If you have the time, patience and proper tools this can be an easy do-it-yourself job. Paint is inexpensive but don't be tempted by buy the cheapest brand. Using a quality paint might mean the difference in having to apply one coat or two. Before starting, repair any holes or scars in the walls so you have a nice, smooth surface.

Curb appeal

Don't neglect the outside of your home. Trim and siding may need a fresh coat of paint. If you have vinyl or aluminum siding, consider renting a power washer and cleaning it. If bushes next to the house have gotten too large, cut them back and accent them with a fresh mulch bed.

Look for ways to make the front of your home more appealing from the street. When someone drives by and sees the sign in the yard, what they see should make them want to stop and see more. This is one of the least expensive projects you can take on, yet can yield the greatest results – especially if it gets a prospective buyer in the door.

Flooring

Once a prospective buyer crosses the threshold, chances are their eyes are going to dip to the floor. You want to make sure that what they see isn't a turnoff. Replacing flooring is the most costly of the five projects we'll cover, but it can be the most important if your carpet is old, worn and dirty.

At the very least you should consider shampooing all carpets. If any flooring is to be replaced, the flooring in the main entryway should be the top priority. It might not be necessary to replace flooring throughout the house but the first flooring a prospective buyer sees should be pleasing to the eye.

If you are considering replacing old carpet, check into the cost of replacing it with hardwood flooring instead. The difference in price might not be that much more. If you already have hardwood, consider using some type of brightener product to restore their luster. Again, it's a small investment.

Kitchen improvements

There is no doubt that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your house when it comes to closing a sale, but don't go overboard. It's easy to spend a lot of money on a kitchen, but unless yours is a total wreck, it's not necessary.

Because kitchens are often a matter of individual taste, the buyer will eventually redo the kitchen, in all likelihood. You just want to make sure yours isn't a total turnoff.

If your cabinets are old and out of date, consider refacing them with new doors and hardware. It can provide a clean, modern look for not a lot of money.

Consider updating the plumbing and light fixtures. Try to avoid replacing major appliances – again, these are highly personal choices – making those a bargaining chip.

Hardware 

If you have an older home, chances are previous owners have painted over door hinges and light switch plates at some point. To give your home a fresh, new look throughout, replace hinges and switch plates with new ones.

At the same time, replace heating and air conditioning vent covers. It costs very little but yields dramatic results.

Tired of winter? Well, hang around a few years and spring will start a bit earlier, according to a new study which finds that by 2100, "budburst" may  come five weeks earlier in the Northeast, but only a week or so earlier in the South, giving Southern states something new to complain about.

The term "budburst" refers to the time when buds leaf out and Nature basically shakes itself awake after its long winter's nap, rather than to the "official" start of spring, which coincides with the March 20 equinox.

The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, used data from the USA National Phenology Network and simulated how climate change would impact the budburst date of trees in different areas.

Researchers say that spring is already coming about three days earlier than it did a few deacades ago. They say that fall could start coming later as well, creating a longer summer in much of the nation.

While a longer summer is good for growing crops, it can cause problems like drought and extended heat waves. Longer summers also increase the risk of skin cancer, already a major  health problem in the U.S. 

Longer summer 

Spring is already coming about three days earlier than it did between 1951 and 1980, on March 17 instead of March 20. Fall could even start coming later, as well, extending the summer and the growing season, though there will also be more frequent and more intense drought and heat waves.

The changing conditions will affect the behavior of migratory birds and animals and are expected to upset the existing order of things in the animal kingdom, stressing some species while energizing others.

While no one can really predict all the consequences of climate change, the authors of the report say that, in general, “the North is going to become more South-like.”

Chances are the accents won't change though.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is wonderful thing. For example, it means a lot of us will arrive home from work before it's dark. But it also means it's time for a little simple maintenance that could literally save your life.

If you have working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home it's time to change the batteries. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. In fact, there are more than 366,000 home fires every year and more than 2,300 people die in them, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) latest Residential Fire Loss Estimates report.

Change your clocks -- and your batteries

When setting clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time this weekend, replace the batteries in alarms. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey for 2011, only three out of four homes reported they changed the batteries in their smoke alarms in the last six months. Batteries need to be replaced in alarms every year. In addition, CPSC recommends that consumers test their alarms every month to make sure they are working.

Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.

CO alarms

While about 95% of U.S. homes report having at least one working smoke alarm, only 42% report having a working CO alarm, based on 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data. CO alarms can alert you and your family to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide inside your home.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 500 people die each year in the U.S. from unintentional, non-fire related CO poisoning. This includes incidents involving automobiles left idling in a home’s garage, which does not fall under CPSC’s jurisdiction. Each year from 2007 to 2009, there were nearly 170 deaths involving consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction, including portable generators and home heating systems.

Carbon monoxide is called the invisible killer, because you cannot see or smell it. This poisonous gas can come from a variety of sources and quickly incapacitate and kill its victims.

If you do not have CO alarms, get them. They should be installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Like smoke alarms, CO alarms need fresh batteries every year. They should be tested once a month to make sure they are working.

Combination smoke and CO alarms are also available all in one unit.

The Pampered Chef of Addison, IL, is recalling about 286,000 garlic slicers.

A blade on the slicer can unexpectedly dislodge during use, posing a laceration hazard to the consumer. The company has received 23 reports of blades detaching during use, including one report of a consumer who cut her finger.

This recall involves The Pampered Chef garlic slicers sold individually and with a garlic peeler. The slicers were sold under product numbers 1113 (individual) and 2578 (set). The two-piece white plastic, tube shaped slicer measures 2 1/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches and has two blades on the end. "The Pampered Chef" is engraved on the top cover.

The slicers, manufactured in China, were sold at The Pampered Chef independent consultants nationwide and online from January 2009 through July 2011 for about $14 for the individual garlic slicer and $20 for the set.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled garlic slicers and contact The Pampered Chef for a replacement product.

Consumers may contact the company at productalert@pamperedchef.com or toll-free at (877) 917-2433 anytime. To speak with an operator, consumers can call between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday.

The economy cranked out a surprising 236,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in February, pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.7%.

While the unemployment rate edged down 0.2% last month, it has shown little real movement since September 2012. The decline in the rate is largely due to the fact that 130,00 people dropped out of the labor market -- in other words -- quit looking for work. The number of people unemployed is put at 12.0 million.

Figures released by the Labor Department show the major employment gains came in professional and business services, construction, and health care. In the prior three months, employment had risen by an average of 195,000 per month.

Both the payroll and unemployment numbers were unexpected. Briefing.com was calling for creation of 170,000 jobs with the unemployment rate holding steady at 7.9%. Payroll processing firm ADP was a bit more optimistic in jobs creation calling for payroll positions to increase by 198,000.

Employment gains

Professional and business services added 73,000 jobs in February after showing little change (+16,000) in January. Employment in administrative and support services, which includes employment services and services to buildings, rose by 44,000. Accounting and bookkeeping services added 11,000 jobs, and growth continued in computer systems design and in management and technical consulting services.

Employment in construction increased by 48,000. Since September, construction employment has risen by 151,000. In February, job growth occurred in specialty trade contractors, with this gain about equally split between residential (+17,000) and nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+15,000). Nonresidential building construction also added jobs (+6,000).

The health care industry continued to add jobs in February (+32,000). Within health care, there was a job gain of 14,000 in ambulatory health care services, which includes doctors' offices and outpatient care centers. Employment also increased over the month in nursing and residential care facilities (+9,000) and hospitals (+9,000).

Demographics

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for whites (6.8%) declined in February while the rates for adult men (7.1%), adult women (7.0%), teenagers (25.1%), blacks (13.8%), and Hispanics (9.6%) showed little or no change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.1 percent -- little changed from a year earlier.

Right now you probably carry your credit cards in a wallet. In the future, will you carry them in a smartphone?

You might. A few early adopters are giving it a try, with recent applications like Google Wallet, LevelUp and Square. These applications reside on your smartphone and store your credit card information. When making a purchase the data is transmitted electronically from your phone to the register.

“Some of the more common things you'll see with a mobile wallet is some kind of application you can use on your phone to store payment information and maybe some other things like rewards cards and coupons,” said Lisa Gerstner, who has written about mobile wallets for Kiplinger.

At least that's the ideal. Right now it's a very fragmented landscape with different players employing different platforms. It's reminiscent of the early days of the PC, when compatibility among manufacturers was a major obstacle. It took the dominance of Microsoft and the unversality of the Internet to make compatibility as an issue go away.

Cloud and NFC

Right now there are two main types of mobile wallets – those that operate in the cloud and those that are chip-based, using something called near field communication (NFC). Google Wallet, rolled out in 2011, is the latter category. Because the information is stored on a chip, not every phone will work. In fact, Google Wallet only works on Sprint phones because Sprint is the only carrier, to date, that has installed the chip.

To use Google Wallet a consumer simply walks up to the register with their purchase and taps their phone on a payment terminal. The payment information is automatically transferred. Pretty nifty, assuming the merchant has installed the necessary payment terminal. In a way, it's like an automated toll road, where your EZ-Pass transponder pays the tolls as you pass checkpoints while other drivers sit stewing long lines at the toll booths.

The cloud-based wallets store all your data in the cloud, meaning they might work on many different mobile phones. But there are a few more steps in the payment process.

“If you're using one of the cloud-based applications you'll go to the register and click your phone to make the payment.,” Gerstner said. “You might enter a PIN to get into the application securely.”

QR codes

At that point a QR code pops up on your phone. A scanner at the register reads it and loads your payment information. It's simple, and can be even simpler.

“Square is doing something interesting where in certain cases you just walk into the store and your phone talks to the register and when you get to the register all you have to do is say your name and your payment information pops up,” Gerstner said. “The payment then goes through after you confirm it.”

Despite the possibility that your smartphone security could be compromised by downloading malware – and that happens more than you think these days – a mobile wallet might be more secure than your old fashioned one. After all, if you lose your wallet, you must contact each credit card company individually to cancel the cards. With a mobile wallet, assuming you have set up the ability to remotely disable your phone, you simply wipe the information if the phone is lost or stolen. 

Warp speed?

Consumer technology tends to move at warp speed – think about where mobile phones were five years ago – so we could all soon be buying stuff with our phones, allowing men to get rid of that bulge in their hip pocket. However, for now the obstacles are still there.

“We're not there yet, the space is very fragmented,” Gerstner said. “For example, to use Google Wallet you must have a Sprint phone. And when you go to use it, only certain stores accept Google Wallet.”

In fact, Forbes Magazine reported last month that “Google Wallet isn't happening anytime soon” and that retailers shouldn't count on it in their plans for 2013, and maybe not even 2014. Should they ever? Maybe, but even Gerstner isn't sure.

“People are still pretty happy with their old fashioned wallets,” she said. “Most people don't have a problem with pulling out a card and swiping it.”

As most people know, bringing home a new pet can be like bringing home a new baby in many ways.

Both add a certain level of excitement to a household, causing people to happily alter some of their ways, both bring an added amount of joy for people who may have lacked it before and both provide a fresh chance for someone to express love and care, which is always healthy to do.

Some folks will head to the pet store to get the animal of their choice and many will head to the nearest shelter to adopt a pet, which adds a rescuing component to caring for an animal.

But what are some of the first things people should think about when adopting a pet, especially those who are adopting for the first time?

Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of  ASPCA’s Adoption Center said proper planning is mandatory when adopting a pet and that planning should start with a discussion between you and each member of your household.

“We do recommend that everyone in the household have a discussion about getting a pet and that means relatives [and] family members. And they should think about who is going to take care of the pet,” said Buchwald in an interview with ConsumerAffairs.

Primary caregiver

“Designating a primary caretaker would be appropriate, that’s the person that’s going to be primarily responsible for the feeding, the watering, the walking if it’s a dog and the general care for a cat," she said. "It’s really important that everybody understand whose responsibility it’s going to be, because even though it can often seem like a shared responsibility, typically there’s one person who’s taking on the brunt of it."

“And if I were going to be that one person I want to know it beforehand in a discussion,” she said.

Another important step, says Buchwald, is to discuss what the expectations are for everyone in the house, in terms of which pet everybody would prefer and what type of pet would best fit that particular home.

She pointed to some information on the ASPCA website that helps people determine the cost of owning an adopted pet, and the organization is able to break down those numbers according to species and animal size, so people are able to budget much easier and know what to expect financially   each year.

Buchwald says by doing a good amount of research and having informed discussions “the pet search is getting off to a terrific start.” 

An appropriate gift?

But does that mean that adopting a pet for someone as a gift is a bad idea, since it’s best to pre-plan and have household discussions about owning a new animal?

Buchwald says it’s common for people to think that giving an adopted pet as a gift is a bad idea, but in actuality, it’s a wonderful idea she says -- but those same conversations and steps of planning still need to take place and whomever you’re deciding to give a pet to should be let in on the gift idea beforehand, so they can be prepared when the animal arrives.

Buchwald pointed to a recent case in one of the ASPCA’s adoption shelters where a daughter wanted to give her mother a kitten as a gift, but instead of just going out and getting one, both mother and daughter had extended conversations to determine what the proper fit would be, and the surprise element of the gift came when the daughter brought her mother to the shelter unexpectedly, which suggests adopting a pet as a gift is fine, but the recipient should still be in the know before they take on owenership. 

Furthermore, Buchwald says the ASPCA finds that animals are less likely to be returned when they’re given as gifts, since people feel a sense of gratitude and sentimentality for receiving it. The organization also has gift aid pet certificates that people can purchase and give to someone.

Looks aren't everything

A common mistake when adopting a pet, Buchwald says, is choosing an animal simply because they’re cute, as opposed to selecting one that matches your household and lifestyle.

A common error is “choosing an animal on the basis of their looks,” she says.

“So the puppy that looks real cute or the kitten that’s so energetic and playful and looks adorable, [is the lure] and then we realize what it’s like to live with that 24/7. Or “the kitten that lands on your face at 5 a.m.”

“All of these things that can be so wonderful if we know about them in advance, but can be so difficult if they weren’t anticipated,” says Buchwald.

“We wouldn’t choose a person that we would want to live with solely on the basis of their looks," she adds, "there’s obviously a lot more than that, so it’s sort of the same thing.”

So the right way to adopt a pet has everything to do with planning, and not just randomly selecting an animal that you may be immediately taken with, and if you’ve never owned a pet before and aren’t familiar on how to properly care for one, Buchwald says the ASPCA can help you make the perfect match.

“We have a wonderful program called the ‘Meet Your Match’ program that was developed by a Ph.D. in animal behavior, Dr. Emily Weiss, and it is a way to look at a person’s lifestyle and their lifestyle preferences and their household makeup and match them up with a pet based on compatibility.”

“So getting a real good understanding of things like, ‘Is your household more like a library or more like Grand Central Station?' will help determine if a shy or fearful pet will do well in that home with all the comings and goings."

"Asking are there children in the home or children that come to visit the home sometimes or no children? That will help determine if a pet you’re looking for will do well with children,” Buchwald explains.

Canine-ality test

In addition, she says the ASPCA has a “canine-ality” test for dogs and “feline-ality” test for cats.

“What we do when every animal enters our facility is we test them and find out what their personalities are so we can make informed matchups, she says.”

And what’s the best way to get a pet acclimated to your home? Buchwald says it really depends on the species of the animal.

“We say that a quiet household is going to be the best transition, so the day you bring your pet home don’t bring your family, friends and others to come meet him. Give him some time to settle in and get used to the routine.”

“Routine is very important to animals," she adds. "They find comfort in being fed the same time each day." 

"I would strive to try to provide the same type of food that was being provided at the adoption center and try to provide a similar schedule.”

“It can always be altered later in a gradual way, but interestingly enough studies have shown if the cat is used to being fed at 7 a.m.[for example] at 7 a.m. in the new home he’s going to start looking around for his breakfast and if it tastes really different from what he used to eat, he’s going to start feeling like this is a little weird."

Moreover, a gradual change in diet is necessary for digestion purposes, she says.

Lastly, Buchwald advises to keep cats in a separate room away from the rest of the house, as complete access to the home may overwhelm a cat and cause it to hide beneath a couch or bed.

You get one of those phone calls we all hate to get: a telemarketer from a company you don't know trying to sell you something. Is it legit? Who knows.

That's a pretty common occurrence. According to a new survey from Consumer Federation of America (CFA), nearly nine in 10 adults in the United States are concerned that these kinds of calls might be scams. And, more than three-quarters think that it’s hard for most consumers to tell if a sales call is on the level.

Additionally, the survey revealed that most adults don’t know their basic telemarketing rights. “Knowing your rights can help you tell the difference between legitimate telemarketing offers and scams,” says Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection at CFA and leader of CFA’s Consumer Protection Institute.

As part of National Consumer Protection Week, CFA is offering new resources to help consumers avoid telemarketing fraud. They include a guide about consumers’ basic telemarketing rights, tips on spotting fraud and a short, humorous video. This educational project was supported by a grant from Western Union.

"A person’s best defense is to learn how to spot the signs of a scam before sending money,” said Shelley Bernhardt, director of global consumer protection at Western Union. “Consumer fraud is an industry issue. By working with CFA we can help prevent unsuspecting individuals from becoming a victim of fraud.”

National Do Not Call Registry

The first question in the survey was whether the respondents had put their phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry (DNC). Of the 1,008 adults surveyed, more than half (52%) said they had put their number on the DNC, 46% had not, and 2% were unsure. A greater number of older people said they had done so than younger people (68% of respondents age 55 and older versus 30% age 18-34).

But in a series of multiple choice questions about consumers’ telemarketing rights, the people who had put their numbers on the DNC or who said they were concerned about telemarketing fraud did not necessarily fare any better than other survey respondents in choosing the correct answers. For instance, the second question asked, if you put your phone number on the DNC, which of the following is true:

1. No telemarketers are allowed to call you.
2. Telemarketers are allowed to call you if you have recently done business with them. (correct)
3. Any telemarketer is allowed to call you, but only in the late afternoon between 4 and 6 p.m.

Only 34% of the people surveyed answered this correctly overall, and of those who had put their number on the DNC, only a slightly higher number -- 39% -- got it right. More than half of the respondents (55%) thought that no telemarketers were allowed to call them if their numbers were on the DNC; the percentage was the same for those who had put their numbers on the DNC. Of those who said they were very or somewhat concerned about telemarketing calls being scams, the results were more mixed: 30% of those very concerned about telemarketing fraud chose the right answer, while 46% of those who said they were somewhat concerned did. Eight percent of respondents overall thought that putting your number on the DNC limits the time that telemarketers can call to late afternoon. The results were similar for those who were very concerned about telemarketing fraud (9% chose that answer) and somewhat concerned (8%) and a bit better for those that had put their numbers on the DNC (only 4% choose that answer).

“Simple things such as understanding when companies are violating your Do Not Call rights and when they’re not can help consumers detect possible fraud, because legitimate companies usually follow the rules, scammers don’t,” said Grant. “Consumers who put their numbers on the Do Not Call Registry should be very wary of sales calls from unfamiliar companies, because those companies shouldn’t be calling.”

Significant survey findings

• Fifty-eight percent of consumers knew that if you don’t put your phone number on the DNC, telemarketers must stop calling you if you tell them over the phone not to call again – others incorrectly thought that they could ignore your request (21%) or it had to be in writing (17%). The CFA guide explains that consumers always have the right to tell telemarketers not to call again, no matter whether their numbers are on the DNC and regardless of whether they have recently done business with those companies or had given them written permission to make sales calls to them.
• Consumers were more knowledgeable about their rights when prizes are offered as part of a sales promotion, with 63% correctly answering that you cannot be required to buy something to be eligible to win. Only 11% mistakenly thought that you could be required to make a purchase as long as the cost was less than half the value of the prize, but disturbingly, 19% incorrectly believed that buying something will improve your chances of winning.
• On a question about robocalls that use recorded messages rather than live people speaking, only 25% of respondents answered correctly that robocalls for sales purposes may only be made to your home phone or cell phone if you gave the telemarketer written permission to make such calls to you. Twenty-nine percent incorrectly thought that telemarketers could make these calls to your home phone but not your cell phone, and 36% mistakenly believed that telemarketers could make those calls to you without your written permission if you had bought something from them before.
• Thirty-six percent of respondents knew that when a telemarketer calls on behalf of another company, it is allowed to show that company’s number on consumers’ Caller ID instead of its own. Thirty-five percent incorrectly thought that a telemarketer is only required to show its number on Caller ID if the consumer’s number is on the DNC, and 16% mistakenly believed that a telemarketer calling on behalf of a charity is not required to show Caller ID information.
• When asked about a telemarketer that calls offering to fix problems with your credit record, 35% of respondents correctly answered that the company is not allowed to ask for any payment until it has actually fixed the problems. Nearly as many, however (34%), mistakenly believed that that the company could charge the whole fee upfront as long as it had to give you a full refund if it failed to fix the problems and 16% incorrectly thought that the company could charge 10% of the fee in advance and the remainder after providing the service.
• When asked if they were concerned that telemarketing calls from companies they haven’t done business with might be a scam instead of a legitimate offer, 89% of respondents said they were (67% were very concerned, 22% somewhat concerned). And when asked how easy or difficult they thought it was for most consumers to tell if telemarketing call is legitimate or a scam, 76% said that they thought it was difficult (42% said very difficult, 34% said fairly difficult).

How they see it

Some of the demographic information gleaned by the survey was also interesting. Far more white respondents had put their numbers on the DNC (61%) than black (33%) or Hispanic (24%). Fewer adults at the low end of the income scale (less than $25,000) had put their numbers on the DNC (36%) than at the higher end of the scale (68% of those with incomes from $75,000 up to $99,999, and 60% of those with incomes of $100,00 or more had done so).

The differences between age, race and income were generally less sharp, however, when it came to answering the telemarketing rights questions correctly. One notable difference was in the question about prize offers, where a greater number of older people answered correctly than younger (75% of those age 55 to 64 and 71% age 65 and older compared to 50% of respondents age 18-34).

On the level of concern about whether telemarketing calls from unfamiliar companies might be scams, there were no significant differences between age, racial or income groups. Younger people and Hispanics were a bit more confident that most consumers can easily tell if a telemarketing call is legitimate or a scam (31% of those age 18-34 thought it was easy for most consumers to tell, and 38% of Hispanics, compared to 23 % of survey respondents overall). Only 15% of those in the $100,000+ income level thought that it would be easy for most consumers to tell.

“We want consumers to ask themselves, ‘Should this company be calling me? Why am I getting a recorded sales pitch when I never gave this company written permission to make them to me? Why doesn’t the company’s phone number show on my Caller ID?’ And to hang up if they think that something is wrong,” said Grant. “There are other clues to look for as well, such as whether telemarketers are asking for payment upfront for to help you settle your debts and whether they only accept payment using a money transfer service or a prepaid card product.”

Some people think cars are getting funny-looking. Others think they're getting too small. Could be, but they're also getting a lot more efficient.

In fact, the University of Michigan reports that the average fuel-economy (window-sticker) value of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in February was 24.5 miles per gallon -- tying the record high reached in January and up 4.4 mpg from the value in October 2007, the first month to be monitored.

Using this and other data, the university puts together something it calls the Eco-Driving Index (EDI) -- an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver.

The EDI stood at 0.80 in December, an improvement of 20% since October 2007.  The EDI takes into account both the fuel used per distance driven and the amount of driving.

The average sales-weighted fuel economy was calculated from the monthly sales of individual models of light-duty vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks) and the combined city/highway fuel-economy ratings published in the EPA Fuel Economy Guide (i.e., window sticker ratings) for the respective models.

For both monthly and model year averages, sales-weighted arithmetic means were calculated. The bars in the graph show the average for each model year. 

Someone recently said that sitting is the new smoking, setting one up for premature death and disability. Perhaps, but a new study shows pretty decisively that, in fact, sausages are the new smoking. Also bacon.

The study included half a million men and women and was part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. It found a link between processed meat and heart disease and cancer, according to a report of the study published in BMC Medicine. 

Processed meat includes sausages, ham, bacon, hot dogs and brats. It's apparently the salt, smoke and nitrate that make these kinds of meats so toxic, not to mention the high levels of fat. 

While it's been known for quite some time that such things aren't good for you, this study really puts the nail in the coffin, so to speak. It found, in no uncertain terms, that the more processed meat you eat the more likely you are to die early. 

The researchers think the increased cancer risk could be due to the presence of preservatives like the salt, smoke and nitrate. Also, the high levels of fat in these meats.

"Overall, we estimate that 3 percent of premature deaths each year could be prevented if people ate less than 20 grams of processed meat per day," said study researcher Sabine Rohrmann, from the University of Zurich.

This study, by the way, was huge. Half a million people is a lot of data. The researchers said the huge sample makes it possible to filter out the effects of other lifestyle habits besides meat-eating and thus makes the study more reliable. 

There is one little ray of sunshine for carnivores: the study found that there is a small positive effect from eating a small -- we said small -- amount of red meat, possibly because meat is a good source of nutrients and vitamins that are hard to find elsewhere.

Asbestos has been outlawed as a building material for more than three decades, but that doesn't mean it can't turn up in your home. And when it does, it shouldn't be ignored.

It wasn't unusual to find asbestos in construction materials, such as drywall products, floor tile and roofing shingles, up until the mid 1980s. It was used as an insulator and flame retardant. Though it was banned in 1978, the law allowed companies to use up their existing supply of the material until 1986.

Joy, of Fort Worth, Tex., recently discovered her pipes were insulated with asbestos when she called a plumber to repair her water heater.

“He told us the water heater was not even installed to code,” Joy wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “We were not told about the asbestos pipe either. At this point there is no resolution. I don't even know where to begin with this.”

Linked to fatal diseases

Asbestos was outlawed because it is dangerous when it becomes airborne, leading to diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Despite that scary fact, asbestos removal is not always necessary when you discover it. In some cases, experts say doing so could actually increase the risks to you and your loved ones.

That's because asbestos creates harm when the material ages and breaks down or is damaged. As it crumbles, tiny particles are released in the air and can end up in your lungs. If asbestos-containing materials such as drywall and floor tile are undamaged, you could be better off leaving it alone.

But here's a problem. Generally, you can't tell whether material contains asbestos just by looking at it, unless it happens to have a label. To be sure  requires sophisticated tests.

When in doubt

If in doubt, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal agency with jurisdiction over asbestos removal, says you should treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. You may want to have your home inspected for asbestos-containing materials by a trained and accredited asbestos professional if you're planning a remodeling project that could disturb or damage the materials in question.

A trained and accredited asbestos professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. For that reason, taking samples yourself is not recommended.

If building materials in your home aren’t damaged and won’t be disturbed, the EPA advises you do not need to have your home tested for asbestos. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed should be left alone.

No cause for alarm

For that reason, finding what you think is asbestos in your home is no call for alarm. A visual inspection of the area should tell you if the material is damaged and “leaking” tiny fibers. If it appears to be in good shape, and is unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, it probably poses no risk.

If the material you suspect is asbestos shows signs of wear or damage, or is exposed to potential wear and damage, there are two courses of action and both should be left to professionals.

Repair usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material. With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place.

Sealing, also known as encapsulation, involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released. Pipe, furnace and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way. This should be done only by a professional trained to handle asbestos safely.

Covering, also called enclosure, involves placing something over or around the material that contains asbestos to prevent release of fibers. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a protective wrap or jacket.

Asbestos removal

Removing asbestos from your home can be an expensive project. To keep it from being more expensive than it should be, EPA recommends avoiding a conflict of interest. An asbestos professional hired to assess the need for asbestos repair or removal should not be connected with an asbestos firm that does the actual repair or removal of materials. It is better to use two different firms so there is no conflict of interest.

When considering the services of asbestos professionals, ask them to document their completion of federal or state-approved training. Each person performing work should provide proof of accreditation to do asbestos work.

It is also a good idea to check on the past performance of your candiates with your local air pollution control board, the local agency responsible for worker safety, and the Better Business Bureau. Ask if the firm has had any safety violations. Find out if there are legal actions filed against it.

For sale: Single-owner car records company. 140 years on the clock, excellent condition, well-cared-for, has never seen rain. If you have $1 billion or so, you can park Carfax in your driveway. 

Actually, it's not just Carfax that is reportedly for sale but all of R.L. Polk & Co., the family-owned company that provides all kinds of data, research, forecasting and consulting services to the automobile industry.

Polk is best known to consumers for Carfax, which provides car histories  for a fee, using the data it collects from all 50 states.

Although consumers frequently complain about alleged omissions or additions in Carfax reports, it wasn't long ago that car histories were  available only to dealers.  

Potential buyers are likely to include companies such as J.D. Power  & Associates, CarsDirect.com and other research and data services.

Polk was founded in 1870 when it began publishing city directories, including the so-called "reverse" directories -- they listed residents by address instead of by name -- beloved of reporters, private detectives and insurance salesmen.

A California group accused of victimizing more than 1,000 consumers has agreed to stop promoting its "forensic loan audits" and "mass joinder" lawsuits to homeowners seeking relief from mortgage-related problems.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the promoters deceived cash-strapped consumers into believing they could hold onto their homes and reduce their mortgage payments by either suing their mortgage lenders in so-called “mass joinder” lawsuits or buying “forensic loan audits.”

All of the defendants, including two individuals and seven companies, will surrender assets and be prohibited from making deceptive claims about any product or service, and all but one are banned from marketing mortgage- and debt- relief services.

The FTC filed a complaint in 2012 against Santa Ana-based Sameer Lakhany and five companies he controlled.  The agency later added three more defendants.  

"Specialty law firm"

In the first alleged scam, Lakhany and defendants Brian Pacios, Precision Law Center, Inc., Precision Law Center LLC, National Legal Network, Inc., and Assurity Law Group, Inc., allegedly held themselves out as a specialty law firm called Precision Law Center, making the false promise to consumers that if they sued their lenders along with other homeowners in so-called “mass joinder” lawsuits, they could obtain favorable mortgage concessions from their lenders or stop the foreclosure process. 

According to the complaint, they charged $6,000 to $10,000 in advance, but failed to follow through with the suits, all of which were dismissed shortly after filing.

The second alleged scam, involving Lakhany and defendants The Credit Shop, LLC, Fidelity Legal Services LLC, and Titanium Realty, Inc., typically charged consumers between $795 and $1,595 for a so-called “forensic loan audit.”  

The complaint alleged that these defendants falsely portrayed themselves as nonprofit organizations using the domain names “HouseholdRelief.org,” “MyHomeSupport.org,” and “FreeFedLoanMod.org.”  

They told consumers the loan audits would find lender violations 90 percent of the time or more, and that this would force lenders to give them better mortgage terms.  In fact, the complaint alleged that consumers rarely if ever obtained better mortgage terms as a result of these “forensic loan audits.”

What could be more American then getting something for nothing? After all, that's pretty much the idea behind playing the lottery, isn't it?

But when someone makes a business out of falsely promising something for nothing, that's when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) steps in.

The is agency cracking down on affiliate marketers that allegedly bombarded consumers with hundreds of millions of unwanted spam text messages in an effort to steer them towards deceptive Websites falsely promising “free” gift cards.

In eight different complaints filed in courts around the United States, the FTC charged 29 defendants with collectively sending more than 180 million unwanted text messages to consumers -- many of whom had to pay for receiving the texts.

Bogus promises

The messages promised consumers “free gifts” or prizes, including gift cards worth $1,000 to major retailers such as Best Buy, Walmart and Target. Consumers who clicked on the links in the messages found themselves caught in a confusing and elaborate process that required them to provide sensitive personal information, apply for credit or pay to subscribe to services to get the supposedly “free” cards.

The complaints, according to Charles A. Harwood, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, say “‘game over’ to the major league scam artists behind millions of spam texts. The FTC is committed to rooting out this deception and stopping it. For consumers who find spam texts on their phones, delete them, immediately. The offers are, in a word, garbage."

The FTC complaints targeted defendants who sent the unwanted text messages, as well as those who operated the deceptive Websites. In addition, the commission is pursuing a contempt action against a serial text message spammer, Phil Flora, who was barred in 2011 from sending spam text messages and who is accused of being part of this spam texting scheme as well.

The complaints seek restraining orders against the defendants preventing them from continuing their alleged deceptive and unfair practices as well as preserving and accounting for their assets.

Randomly sent texts

According to the FTC complaints, the defendants sent text messages to random phone numbers, including to consumers who do not have a text message subscription plan. As many as 12 percent of mobile phone users fall into this category.

When consumers followed the links included in the unwanted messages, they were directed to sites that collected a substantial amount of personal information, including in some instances health information, before being allowed to continue toward receiving the supposed gift cards.

In many cases, the information was requested under the guise of being shipping information for the supposed gift cards. The commission alleged the information collected was then sold to third parties for marketing purposes, meaning consumers were deceived as to the real use of the information.

Once consumers entered their personal information, they were directed to another site and told they would have to participate in a number of “offers” to be eligible for their gift card. In some cases, consumers were obligated to sign up for as many as 13 of the offers. These offers frequently included recurring subscriptions for which consumers were required to provide credit card information.

In other cases, they required consumers to submit applications for credit that would be reflected in their credit reports and possibly affect their credit score. If a consumer completed all of the “offers,” they were then notified that to get the promised gift card, they had to find three others who also would complete the offers.

The FTC alleged that the operators of these sites violated the FTC Act by failing to tell consumers about all the conditions attached to the “free” gift, including the possibility that consumers would actually be required to spend money to receive the gift.

According to the FTC, the defendants who sent the text messages were paid by the operators of the “free” gift Websites based on how many consumers eventually entered their information. The operators of these Websites were in turn paid by those businesses who gained customers or subscribers through the “offer” process.

Complaints filed

Seven complaints were filed against the alleged senders of the unsolicited text messages containing deceptive promises of free gifts and prizes:

• Superior Affiliate Management, a case against five defendants: Ecommerce Merchants, LLC (also doing business as Superior Affiliate Management); Cresta Pillsbury, Jan-Paul Diaz, Joshua Brewer and Daniel Stanitski. This case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
• Rentbro, Inc., a case against three defendants: Rentbro, Inc., Daniel Pessin and Jacob Engel. This case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
• Jason Q. Cruz, a case against one defendant, Jason Q. Cruz (also doing business as Appidemic, Inc.) This case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
• Rishab Verma, a case against two defendants: Verma Holdings, LLC and Rishab Verma. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
• AdvertMarketing, a case against three defendants: AdvertMarketing, Inc., Scott A. Dalrymple and Robert Jerrold Wence. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
• Henry Kelly, a case against one defendant, Henry Nolan Kelly. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta.
• Seaside Building Marketing, a case against four defendants: Phillip Flora, Sandra Skipper, Kevin Beans and Dakota Geffre (all of whom are also doing business as Seaside Building Marketing Inc. and SB Marketing). This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles.

One complaint was filed against the alleged operators of the deceptive websites to which consumers were directed by the spam text messages:

• SubscriberBASE Holdings, Inc.,  a case against ten defendants: SubscriberBASE Holdings, Inc.; SubscriberBASE, Inc.; Jeffrey French; All Square Marketing, LLC; Threadpoint, LLC; PC Global Investments, LLC; Slash 20, LLC; Brent Cranmer; Christopher McVeigh (also doing business as CMB Marketing, Inc.) and Michael Mazzella (also doing business as Mazzco Marketing, Inc.). This case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

A day ahead of the eagerly anticipated February employment data, the Labor Department reports initial applications for state unemployment benefits fell by 7,000 last week -- to a seasonally adjusted 340,000. Economists at Briefing.com were calling for a total of 355,000 .

At the same time, the government revised its number for the holiday-shortened week ending February 23 higher by 3,000 -- to 347,000.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile and considered a more accurate gauge of the labor market, was 348,750, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 355,750. The previous week had initially been reported as 355,000.

Looking ahead

The government is scheduled to report Friday morning on the employment picture for February. Briefing.com expects that nonfarm payrolls increased by 170,000 last month with the unemployment rate holding steady at 7.9%. The economy created 157,000 jobs in January

Earlier this week, payroll processing firm ADP projected creation of 198,000 jobs during February.  

Checks are going out to more than 17,000 consumers who were swindled by hucksters who charged an upfront fee for bogus mortgage relief services and posed as a government mortgage assistance program. 

More than $1 million is being returned to consumers, each of whom will receive $62.50. It's part of a settlement with the Residential Relief Foundation, which was ordered to pay restitution and was banned from selling debt relief services.

Consumers who receive the checks from the FTC’s refund administrator should cash them within 60 days of the mailing date.  The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before refund checks can be cashed.  

Those with questions should call the refund administrator, BMC Group, at 1-8662246718, or visit www.FTC.gov/refunds for more general information.

Employers continue to thin the ranks of their workforce with news they planned to cut 55,356 payroll positions in February. That's a jump of 37% from January's total of 40,430 and the second month in a row that cuts have increased.

Outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which puts out the monthly tally, notes that the February total was 7% higher than the 51,728 job cuts announced the same month a year ago and the highest since last November, when 57,081 workers were let go.

Employers have now announced 95,786 job cuts so far this year -- down 9% from the first two months of 2012.

Financial sector woes

The financial sector dominated job cuts last month, with firms announcing 21,724 planned layoffs, the most since 31,167 were announced in September 2011, and nearly three times more than the 7,611 job cuts announced by financial institutions in January. Employers in this sector have now announced 30,302 job cuts this year -- nearly 75 percent of the 41,008 financial job cuts announced in all of 2012.

Retailers announced another 2,279 job cuts in February, bringing the year-to-date total to 8,955 -- the second largest sector total behind financial. Retail job cuts are down 38 percent from a year ago, when these employers announced 14,516 layoffs in January and February.

The largest job-cut announcement of the month came from JP Morgan Chase, which reported plans to reduce its headcount by 19,000 positions over the next two years. On a positive note, a majority of the cuts are due to an improving housing market. The bank is trimming its mortgage unit, which had swelled in recent years to process the large number of troubled mortgages.

“Ideally, you want an improving economy to lead to job creation, but it is not unusual to see employers make reductions in some areas while simultaneously adding in others as changing economic conditions require them to shuffle workforce priorities,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Sequester effect

While the Chase layoffs are a sign of economic bright spots, the 3,000 job cuts planned by United Technologies Corp. this year, may foreshadow a surge in layoffs by aerospace and defense companies as the spending cuts forced by the sequester affect these and other employers.

“In addition to aerospace and defense, the sequester is likely to result in increased job cuts in the government, education and non-profit sectors, as well as private-sector industries that count the government among their biggest customers, such as technology, construction and transportation,” said Challenger.

Sequester-related job cuts have yet to be announced, but several employers are already warning of impending workforce reductions. According to a report by cable news outlet CNN, the Federal Aviation Administration informed contractors that it will begin closing 168 contractor-staffed air traffic towers nationwide on April 1 and another 21 towers by September 30. The number of air traffic controllers impacted by the move has not been released, but one contractor operating 77 of the targeted towers told CNN that the closures could put more than 400 of its employees out of work.

Meanwhile, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that BAE Systems, contracted by the Navy to repair ships in Hawaii, California, Virginia and Florida, sent a letter to its nationwide “ship repair team” warning that more than 3,500 production, management, and administrative staff may be laid off as a result of the sequestration.

“These are just the tip of the iceberg. Some are predicting that the sequester could lead to 750,000 job losses this year,” said Challenger. “This will, of course, ripple through the economy, as 750,000 mostly middle-class and upper middle-class Americans are forced to postpone vacations, major purchases and other spending that boosts the economy.”  

You're in a nice restaurant when you look up from your menu and see a fashionably dressed young woman at the next table puffing away on a cigarette. Horrors! Smoking in a restaurant, in this day and age, in violation of who knows how many regulations and ordinances?

But on closer examination you see she is not smoking but “vaping,” enjoying most of the pleasures of smoking without breaking any rules – at least, not yet. That cigarette in her hand is actually an electronic cigarette, an e-cigarette. The smoke is actually water vapor, used to deliver flavored nicotine.

A growing number of smokers are giving up tobacco for e-cigarettes and for the most part, they're not using them as a way to stop their tobacco habit.

In fact, e-cigarette makers take great pains not to promote these devices as smoking-cessation aids. Were they to do so the products would be considered medicine and fall under the regulation of the Food and Drug Administration. (FDA).

Alternative to tobacco

Instead, consumers are embracing e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. They get the same hit of nicotine but avoid the thousands of chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

Electronic Cigarettes Inc. maintains a Facebook page where customers can post comments.

“I just celebrated my 11th month as a non-smoker and I have VaporKing E-Cigs to thank for that,” a customer named Anne wrote.

Note that she's been vaping for nearly a year and apparently doesn't miss cigarettes. It also sounds like she has no intention of kicking the vaping habit anytime soon.

That's what makes e-cigarettes such a booming business. Consumers aren't using them for a few months to ween themselves from cigarettes, then ending their use of the product. They enjoy vaping and apparently plan to keep doing it. After all, vaping is a lot cheaper than smoking.

“I just reordered the Vapor King after losing mine in a move,” a customer named Patrick posted on the Electronic Cigarettes Facebook page. “Ill be paying off my Camaro with the savings and funding my new hobbies!”

Saving money

He's not exaggerating. A pack of cigarettes can be more than $6 these days, thanks to the heavy federal and state taxes that are designed to discourage smoking. But these taxes also provide a significant revenue stream for governments. At least, until now.

A consumer who once smoked a pack of cigarettes a day but switches to e-cigarettes can literally save thousands of dollars a year. Governments, meanwhile, stand to lose billions.

Another reason smokers are gladly becoming vapers is they are no longer social outcasts, huddled in the cold outside a building getting a quick smoke. With e-cigarettes they can enjoy the ritual of smoking, along with the nicotine rush, in a restaurant, bar or other public place.

Anti-smoking groups

All of this has not escaped the notice of health advocates and anti-smoking groups, who are only now grappling with this new phenomenon. Some have raised questions about the health effects of vaping.

“The FDA is concerned about the safety of these products and how they are marketed to the public,” FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg said recently.

She expressed concern that e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction among young people and may lead kids to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes. The World Health Organization said in 2008 that there's no evidence that e-cigarettes are harmless, but as yet, no solid evidence that they cause harm.

If, in the future, anti-smoking groups present studies suggesting e-cigarettes are harmful, you can expect vapers to present their own research that suggests they aren't.

Vapers have their own organization, the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA), which recently began raising money to fund health reseach on e-cigarettes. It doesn't plan to sit by while the same curbs that were placed incrementally on tobacco are placed on e-cigarettes.

“CASAA will continue to be the leader in political actions to stop state and local anti-THR in the USA, and increasingly we are taking political action at the federal level,” the group said in a statement. “We will also continue to provide education internationally through our websites and other activities.”

Vapers appear to be passionate on the subject. When ConsumerAffairs recently reported on an anti-smoking group's attack on e-cigarettes, it produced a number of reader comments in defense of e-cigarettes.

“Find out how many people have quit smoking with these,” a reader named Jason posted. “Find out how many lives have been saved by electronic cigarettes. Tell people how well other smoking cessation devices work.”

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that about 21% of adults who smoke traditional cigarettes had used e-cigarettes in 2011, compared with about 10 percent in 2010.

Overall, about six percent of all adults have tried e-cigarettes, with estimates nearly doubling from 2010. The study is the first to report changes in awareness and use of e-cigarettes between 2010 and 2011. 

While the jury is still out in the U.S., several countries, including Australia, Brazil and Canada have banned e-cigarettes while others have placed restrictions on their sale and use.