Current Events in September 2015

A strong majority of employers support an increase in the minimum wage, according to a new survey by CareerBuilder.

Sixty-four percent of employers responding to the survey say they think the minimum wage should be increased in their state -- up 2% who said so last year.

“Americans’ wages have been stuck in a slow-growth pattern since the recession,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. “As big name brands take measures to increase pay for minimum wage workers and the market overall grows more competitive for skilled labor, employers are going to start feeling more wage pressure when trying to attract and retain employees at all levels within the organization.”

The national online survey, conducted on behalf by Harris Poll between May 14 and June 3, 2015, included a representative sample of 2,321 full-time hiring and human resource managers and 3,039 full-time workers in the private sector across industries and company sizes.

What is fair?

Twenty-six percent of employers said they plan to hire minimum wage workers this year. Just 6% of all employers believe the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) is fair. Sixty-one percent said a fair minimum wage is $10 or more per hour, versus 54% who said that last year. Eleven percent said a fair minimum wage is $15 or more per hour, compared with 7% last year.

Is it enough?

Of workers who currently have a minimum wage job or have held one in the past, 65% said they couldn’t make ends meet; another 49% said they had to work more than one job to make ends meet.

But it’s not just minimum wage workers who are struggling. Nineteen percent of workers at all salary levels claimed they were unable to make ends meet during the past year. Sixty-five percent of all workers say they’re in debt and, while most say it’s manageable, it should be noted that 16% of workers ages 25-34 still live with their parents. Eighteen percent of all workers have reduced their 401k contribution and/or personal savings in the last year and 28% don’t set aside any savings each month.

Depending on where you live in the United States, your water bill can vary greatly. Cities and larger communities, for example, have water infrastructure in place that can deliver water to their citizens in an effective manner; this makes their water prices more manageable. This contrasts greatly with people in rural areas; because people are more spread out, building and maintaining a water system is much more expensive. This increased cost affects millions of people across the country.

Luckily, a solution to this problem has been introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN). Their bill is called the “Water Systems Cost Savings Act”, a proposal that aims to provide rural areas with cost-effective alternatives to accessing clean, high quality water. By adding options like water-well systems to areas that don’t have them, Hanna and Cooper believe that their bill will reduce federal, state, and local costs for providing water services.

"Traditional municipal water systems don't work in every community, or are prohibitively expensive," said Hanna. "Fortunately, there are other options. Communities seeking federal assistance to upgrade their water infrastructure should be given the most comprehensive information possible so that they can build the most appropriate and cost-effective system that best meets their unique needs.”

Cost-effective

One of the great things about the bill is that it will not only help citizens who benefit from the upgraded infrastructure. With its passing, all citizens will see their tax dollars going towards other projects that will help their communities. “This bill will encourage cost-effective alternatives that will save taxpayer dollars and free up resources to reduce the growing backlog of clean water infrastructure needs,” said Hanna.

A recent survey given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that funding for water infrastructure in smaller communities was down $64 billion across the country. The new proposal intends to give programs to agencies like the EPA and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) that will inform smaller communities about more cost-efficient water options.

Many proponents applaud the bill for its focus on water well systems, which are a much more realistic and optimal choice for small communities. “The effectiveness of water wells as a reliable, low-cost way to provide access to safe drinking water has been proven in projects across the nation that have realized costs savings of as much as 94% over conventional drinking water systems,” said Margaret Martens, Executive Director of the Water Systems Council. “This legislation is a win for rural America and for the American taxpayer.”

Despite a slowdown in price growth, sales of existing homes fell in August following three consecutive monthly gains.

The National Association of Realtors reports total existing–home sales -- completed transactions that include single–family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co–ops -- fell 4.8% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.31 million. Sales were down in August in all four major regions.

Even with the August decline, sales posted a year–over–year advance of 6.2% and have been up year-over year for 11 straight months.

Tight inventories blamed

"Sales activity was down in many parts of the country last month -- especially in the South and West -- as the persistent summer theme of tight inventory levels likely deterred some buyers," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "The good news for the housing market is that price appreciation the last two months has started to moderate from the unhealthier rate of growth seen earlier this year."

Total housing inventory at the end last month rose 1.3%% to 2.29 million existing homes available for sale, but it is 1.7% lower than a year ago (2.33 million). Unsold inventory is at a 5.2–month supply at the current sales pace, compared with 4.9 months in July.

The median existing–home price for all housing types was $228,700 in August, 4.7% above the same time last year ($218,400). That increase marks the 42nd consecutive month of year–over–year gains.

"With sales and overall demand higher than a year ago and supply mostly unchanged, low inventories will likely continue to limit options for those looking to buy this fall even with the overall pool of buyers shrinking because of seasonal factors," Yun added.

The percent share of first–time buyers jumped to 32% in August from 28% in July, matching the highest share of the year set in May. A year ago, first–time buyers represented 29% of all buyers.

Regional breakdown

• Existing–home sales in the Northeast were unchanged in August an annual rate of 700,000, but were 6.1% above a year ago. The median price in the was $271,600, a year-over-year gain of 2.4%. The median is the point at which half the prices are higher and half are lower.
• In the Midwest, sales were down 1.5% an annual rate of 1.28 million, but were 5.8% above August 2014. The median price was $181,100 -- up 4.0% from a year ago.
• Sales in the South fell 6.6% to an annual rate of 2.14 million, but are still 5.9% above August 2014. The median price in the South was $196,300 -- up 6.0% from a year ago.
• Sales of previously-owned homes in the West plunged 7.8 percent to an annual rate of 1.19 million, but are 7.2 percent above a year ago. The median price rose 7.1% from a year earlier to $321,300.

America still has a serious weight problem, but if there is a silver lining to the latest State of Obesity report, it's the obesity problem isn't getting much worse.

The annual report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) finds obesity rates increased in Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Utah but held mostly steady in the rest of the country.

Arkansas has the highest adult obesity rate at 35.9%, while Colorado has the lowest at 21.3%. In three states – Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi – 35% or more of adults are clinically obese., meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

The top 10 states with the highest obesity rates are:

1. Arkansas
2. West Virginia
3. Mississippi
4. Louisiana
5. Alabama
6. Oklahoma
7. Indiana
8. Ohio
9. North Dakota
10. South Carolina

Fairly recent trend

The report drives home how recently this epidemic has occurred. In 1980, no state had an obesity rate above 15%. In 1991, there was no state with an obesity rate above 20%. Today, more than 30% of American adults, nearly 17% of two to 19 year olds and more than 8% of children ages 2 to 5 are obese.

Not just overweight. Obese.

The 78 million Americans who are obese are at increased risk for a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

"Efforts to prevent and reduce obesity over the past decade have made a difference. Stabilizing rates is an accomplishment. However, given the continued high rates, it isn't time to celebrate," said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. "We've learned that if we invest in effective programs, we can see signs of progress. But, we still haven't invested enough to really tip the scales yet."

The report authors suggest the best way to reduce obesity rates is to help children maintain a healthy weight. That's best done, they say, promoting good nutrition and physical activity. In that light, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not encouraging.

Fast food consumption

Its study of caloric intake from fast food between 2011-2012 finds that just over one-third of U.S. children and adolescents consumed fast food on a given day, getting 12.4% of their daily calories from fast food restaurants.

“Consumption of fast food has been linked to weight gain in adult.” the authors write. “Fast food has also been associated with higher caloric intake and poorer diet quality in children and adolescents.”

The CDC report also traces the rise in calories from fast food as a fairly recent trend. It also noted that older children frequent fast food restaurants a lot more than younger children do.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accusing Volkswagen and Audi of using illegal emissions control software to make their diesel-powered cars appear "clean" when in fact they are emitting up to 40 times the allowable diesel pollution.

The company could be fined up to $18 billion and faces criminal prosecution if it is proven that the deception was deliberate. It is also likely to be ordered to recall the cars.

Volkswagen, which has been far behind the curve in hybrid development, sold the cars with the promise that they are nearly as fuel-efficient and environmentally beneficial as hybrids.

"Hybrids aren’t the only game in town. TDI Clean Diesel engines offer up impressive efficiency numbers too. Take the Passat TDI for starters. It can go up to 814 miles uninterrupted. Now that’s a game changer," VW purrs in a page on its website.

The EPA said the software detects when a car is undergoing emissions testing, turns on the full emission controls, then switches them off when the car returns to "real-world" driving patterns.

“Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working closely with the California Air Resources Board, EPA is committed to making sure that all automakers play by the same rules. EPA will continue to investigate these very serious matters.”

Giles said VW initially denied the allegations but has now admitted wrongdoing.

“We expected better from VW.,We take this very seriously,” she said.

The agency said about 482,000 VW and Audi cars were sold with the illegal software from the 2009-2015 model years. The affected vehicles are diesel versions of:

• 2009-15 model year VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Audi A3; and

• 2014-15 model year VW Passat.

What now?

Besides learning that the cars they thought were helping to clean up the air when they may in fact have been making it much dirtier, owners of the cars are now left to wonder what they will have to do to bring the cars into compliance -- something the already-strict California authorities are also pondering. While the cars are likely to be recalled, owners may still face performance and fuel-economy issues after the fixes are made.

“Working with US EPA we are taking this important step to protect public health thanks to the dogged investigations by our laboratory scientists and staff,” said Air Resources Board Executive Officer Richard Corey.

“Our goal now is to ensure that the affected cars are brought into compliance, to dig more deeply into the extent and implications of Volkswagen’s efforts to cheat on clean air rules, and to take appropriate further action,” Corey said.

Oxygen sensor

Earlier this week, Volkswagen was ordered to pay $1.1 million for failing to promptly notify EPA of a defective oxygen sensor affecting at least 329,000 of their 1999, 2000 and 2001 gas-powered Golfs, Jettas, and New Beetles. It was the largest civil penalty to date for this type of violation.

As part of this settlement, Volkswagen completed a voluntary recall of the affected vehicles at a cost of over $26 million. Vehicles with the defect may release thousands of tons of harmful pollutants including nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) and carbon monoxide (CO).

NMHC are key reactants in the production of ozone, a major contributor to cancer-causing smog. CO impairs breathing and is especially harmful to children, people with asthma, and the elderly, EPA said.

"Reliable and effective automobile pollution control systems are an important part of this nation's air pollution reduction strategy," said Thomas V. Skinner, acting assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This case demonstrates EPA's commitment to ensuring that automobile manufacturers comply with emissions regulations."

Other cars and pedestrians aren't the only things drivers have to look out for. This time of year, especially, deer crossing the roadway are a significant hazard.

Often the animals seem to appear out of nowhere, slamming into a vehicle before the driver has a chance to react. These collisions cause millions of dollars in property damage and even result in fatalities.

The Autumn months tend to be the most dangerous. That's when deer are most likely to be on the move. It's also hunting season, and a deer fleeing chasing dogs pays no attention to traffic as it makes its escape.

No less dangerous this year

In its annual survey, State Farm Insurance found American motorists are just as likely to have a claim involving a collision with deer, elk, or moose than they were last year. State Farm reached that conclusion after analyzing claims data.

The odds a driver will hit one of those animals is 1 out of 169, with the odds more than doubling during October, November, and December.

While a claim resulting from an accident often results in an insurance rate hike, a collision with a deer might not. Allstate says the typical traffic accident is certainly different than the random and unpredictable act of a deer dashing across a highway or rural road.

“Since deer accident claims are usually filed under your comprehensive coverage where there's no fault assigned, it's not likely that your auto insurance rates will increase,” according to Allstate. “Every state and scenario is different, though. For example, if your state allows it and you choose to file the loss under collision, your rates may be impacted.”

West Virginia still most dangerous state

State Farm has looked at where deer collisions are most likely to occur, and for the ninth year in a row, West Virginia tops the list. The odds of hitting a deer in West Virginia are one in 44.

Drivers face tough odds in other rural states, including Montana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. Motorists in Hawaii have the least to fear from hitting a deer.

Collisions with deer often cause extensive damage to a vehicle. Because of the suddenness of the encounter, the driver rarely has time to brake and hits the animal at full speed. The vehicle's radiator, located in the front of the engine compartment, is usually a casualty, as well as other engine components.

Fatalities

The deer rarely survive these accidents that have been known to take human lives. In 2013, there were 191 deaths attributed to collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There are a few safety steps you can take to reduce your odds of hitting a deer. At night drive with your high beam headlights on. If a deer darts into the roadway ahead of you, be on guard for a second or third animal that could be close behind. Deer usually travel in groups.

Finally, when you encounter one of those yellow, diamond-shaped road signs with the image of a running deer, slow down. Those signs usually go up where there have been a number of costly encounters between vehicles and deer.

Since the housing crisis occurred, in part, because consumers purchased homes they couldn't afford, new federal regulations taking effect October 3 are aimed at clearing up any doubt about what future homebuyers can afford and what they can't.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is providing new online tools as part of its Know Before You Owe initiative to provide consumers with more information as they navigate the mortgage process.

Starting October 3, the mortgage industry will begin using the new Know Before You Owe forms. The forms are designed to make it easier for consumers to understand mortgage options and comparison shop between multiple loan offers.

Closing the information gap

“Our new mortgage forms reduce the information gap between lenders and consumers, shedding light on a process that often feels like a mystery,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “It is time consumers have more power in the mortgage process, and our new forms and online tools will help make that a reality.”

Since the housing bubble burst new, more stringent mortgage underwriting standards have had the effect of preventing consumers from buying homes they can't afford. The tighter standards have done the job of screening out consumers who lack the income to purchase a home.

However, that hasn't meant consumers have been more informed as they go through the process. That's where the new forms come in.

The forms in question are those covering the loan estimate and closing disclosure. CFPB says the forms will help consumers to better understand their options, choose the deal that’s best for them, and avoid costly surprises when they get to closing.

Loan Estimate

The Loan Estimate lists all the details of the mortgage transaction, including the estimated loan and closing costs. It makes possible an apples-to-apples comparison when consumers are considering different loan options.

The Closing Disclosure, which lists details of the final transaction, is sent to consumers at least three business days before closing. Consumers can use that time to make sure they are getting what they expected, ask questions, and negotiate over any changes. The Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure mirror each other, making it easy to compare estimates with final loan terms.

CFPB has also added new tools to its website to help consumers determine whether owning a home is the right financial step to take. It focuses on the many ownership costs outside of the monthly mortgage payment.

Online tools

The new “Owning a Home” tools include:

• A guide to the mortgage milestones: a step by step guide through the mortgage processs
• A monthly mortgage payment worksheet: the tools include a monthly payment worksheet that helps homebuyers fit in housing costs with their current debts, savings, living expenses.
• An interactive sample of the new Know Before You Owe mortgage forms: these can help consumers double-check the details of their own transactions and get definitions for terms they may not understand.

Meanwhile, CFPB Executive Director Richard Cordray addressed a National Association of Realtor (NAR) audience this week, defending the new mortgage regulations as vital protections for consumers. He noted that dire predictions about the effect tighter rules would have on the housing market haven't come to pass.

“Sensible regulation that includes substantial consumer protections should foster greater trust by consumers in the financial marketplace,” he said. “If people believe they will be treated fairly rather than becoming victims of predatory lending, they can develop a renewed sense of consumer confidence.”

If your American Airlines flight goes off the rails, don't go looking to Delta for help. The carriers' interlining agreement has expired and Delta is in no hurry to renew it.

"Interlining" is the practice of moving passengers and baggage from one airline to another. The usual assumption is that it will work out more or less evenly for both sides, but Delta says that hasn't been the case. It says American has been sending it five times as many passengers as it sent to American.

It all has to do with flight disruptions. U.S. Transportation Department data finds that nearly 84% of Delta flights were on time last year, compared to 76% of American's. And that, says Delta, means the numbers just don't add up anymore.

"The industry agreement was no longer mutually beneficial,” Delta spokesman Anthony Black said.

The expiration of the agreement means that, besides not handling rebookings for each other, Delta and American will not transfer bags and will not allow you to book travel that includes flight segments on both carriers.

American responded only indirectly to questions from trade publications about the situation, emailing a statement that said:

“While this is a change, it will not affect our commitment to re-accommodate customers during irregular operations,” she wrote. “The new American now has the world’s largest and best network and our team is doing a great job of running a reliable airline."

Chicagoans think their town is pretty much the center of the world. New Yorkers get it confused with Minneapolis. Neither city seems very interested in the other. 

But that's not stopping Rupert Murdoch's New York Post from invading Chicago. The irreverent, sometimes tasteless tabloid, is perhaps best known for its classic headline: "Headless Body in Topless Bar." Recent specimens have gone ever farther but cannot be quoted here in case our mothers are reading. 

For whatever reason, the Post will go on sale Monday in Chicagoland for $2, the same price it charges in Noo Yawk but double what the Chicago Sun-Times charges.

Maybe it will be worth twice as much because it will have all kinds of hot Chicago news? No, sorry. Sources deep within Murdochland are reported to have revealed that it will just be the same paper distributed in NYC. 

Chicago Magazine broke the story of the invasion, headlining it: "Tasteless Newspaper Found in Second City." (Of course, Los Angeles is now the second city, but who's counting).

Rail riders

The Post will join the Sun-Times and RedEye in vying for the attention of commuters stuffed into crowded trains. We're not quite sure how many people ride the rails in Chicago. Metra -- official motto: "The way to really fly" -- says it carried nearly 83 million passengers last year despite lousy weather. (Chicago is one of those places that takes pride in its miserable weather; NYC just ignores it). 

These papers are all tabloids, of course, as is the Post. You could only read the Chicago Tribune on the train if your origami skills are unusually advanced.

Cab drivers used to be the Post's target audience, but what with Uber and immigration, the cab driver market isn't what it used to be, so the Post has been looking for entrained commuters wherever it can find them.

You could read the Post at Starbucks, but it just doesn't seem right somehow.

Little more NYC

Post brass aren't saying much. Publisher Jesse Angelo issued what used to be known as a terse statement to Chicago Mag: “The rumors are indeed true. As of next week, the New York Post is coming to Chicago.  We wanted the great people of Chicago to have just a little more fun and a little more NYC in their daily media diet.”

The Post is part of Murdoch's News Corp. empire, which includes the Wall Street Journal and used to include Fox News before the company split its dead-tree and digital properties. It also used to own the Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine noted.

Chicago Magazine and RedEye, by the way, are owned by none other than the Tribune.

See, this is why newspapers have so much trouble competing effectively. They're like one of those small Midwestern towns where everybody's related to everybody else. They know each other's weaknesses but think it would be rude to reveal them to others.

Newspaper people also revere the past, the way they do in small towns. Maybe Rupert Murdoch looks at all those trains clattering around Chicago and thinks they're filled with news-hungry commuters wishing they had just one more newspaper.

Last time I was on a subway -- last Thursday, to be exact -- it was filled with people looking at their smartphones. I didn't see many newspapers of any description, tasteless or otherwise.

None of this should be taken to disparage newspapers, three of which land on my driveway each morning. A number that may go to four since, in conducting rigorous research on this story, I discovered that the NY Post offers home delivery in my corner of the D.C. area. 

Who knew?

The Federal Reserve is keeping interest rates at 0% for a while longer, and while talking heads on TV argue whether this is the right move or not, one housing economist warns the mortgage rate reprieve is likely short lived.

Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Realtor.com, a real estate market site, says rates are going up, it's just a matter of time. And if the market becomes convinced that the rate hike is coming in December, mortgage rates could begin to rise in anticipation.

For would-be homebuyers, he says that means not waiting.

“Those planning to get into the housing market in 2016 may want to consider a home purchase before the end of the 2015,” Smoke said. “When rates go up, not only will monthly mortgage payments increase, that increase will also lessen some buyers’ ability to get approved for a home loan – due to an increased debt to income ratio.”

A half point over 12 months

Mortgage rates can be hard to predict, but Smoke believes there could be a potential increase of 50 basis points over the 12 months following an official move to increase the Federal Funds target rate. Because a December rate hike appears more likely than a September one did, Smoke believes the mortgage market will try to stay out in front of Fed action, meaning mortgage rates could begin to rise before any Fed action is taken.

Smoke has produced models of what kind of impact he thinks a 50 basis point rate increase would look like in the mortgage market. He says it could result in:

• A 6% increase in monthly payments on new mortgages: on a loan of $231,000 it could mean the difference between principal and interest payments of $1,107 and $1,175 a month.
• An additional 7% rejection of mortgage applications: The increase in payments will result in borrowers being able to qualify for less house.
• The average debt-to-income ratio could increase by 4% . Right now that ratio is running at about 35.5%. A 50 basis points rise, and keeping all other factors equal, would send the average debt-to-income ratio to 37%.

Geography matters

The potential impact on borrowers would vary dramatically by geography.

“High cost markets and markets where first-time buyers have been just barely able to qualify this year are most at risk of seeing more failed mortgage applications as a result of higher debt burdens triggered by higher rates,” Smoke said.

Those markets where it would be harder to qualify for a mortgage include Honolulu, HI., Stockton, CA., Fresno, CA., El Paso, TX., and Fort Piece, FL.

After showing no movement in July and an 0.6% gain in June, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index (LEI) posted a tiny increase in August,

According to Ataman Ozyildirim, director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board, the 0.1% advance “suggests economic growth will remain moderate into the New Year, with little reason to expect growth to pick up substantially.

“Average working hours and new orders in manufacturing have been weak,”, he noted, “pointing to more slow growth in the industrial sector. However, employment, personal income and manufacturing and trade sales have all been rising, helping to offset the weakness in industrial production in recent months.”

The LEI is essentially a composite of several indicators. It's constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component -- primarily because they smooth out some of the volatility of individual components.

The ten components of LEI include:

1. Average weekly hours, manufacturing
2. Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
3. Manufacturers’ new orders, consumer goods and materials
4. ISM Index of New Orders
5. Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
6. Building permits, new private housing units
7. Stock prices, 500 common stocks
8. Leading Credit Index
9. Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds
10. Average consumer expectations for business conditions

Stellar ratings for crash protection and for its standard front crash prevention system have won the redesigned Volvo XC90 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest award -- TOP SAFETY PICK+.

The previous generation of the midsize luxury SUV also had good ratings across the board for crashworthiness but had no available front crash prevention system.

The 2016 XC90 comes with an upgraded version of Volvo's City Safety feature. A previous version of City Safety -- standard on earlier Volvos, though not the XC90 -- was an automatic braking system that functioned only at low speeds.

The new version also functions at higher speeds. In IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the XC90 avoided collisions. The system also includes a forward collision warning component that meets criteria set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicle earned the maximum six points from IIHS for a front crash prevention rating of superior.

Strong crashworthiness performance

The SUV earns good ratings in all five of the Institute's crashworthiness tests: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.

In the small overlap test, the most challenging of the IIHS evaluations, the driver space held up very well, with intrusion of less than 2 inches at all measured points in the driver's seating space. The dummy's movement was well-controlled, and the front and side curtain airbags worked well together to protect the head. Measures taken from the dummy showed a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, vehicles must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, plus a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap test.

For TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles also need an available front crash system with an advanced or superior rating.

Butala Emporium of Jackson Heights, N.Y., is recalling 11 Ayurvedic (dietary) supplements.

The products were found to contain elevated lead and mercury levels which may cause health problems to consumers -- particularly infants, small children, pregnant women and those with underlying kidney disorders if consumed.

The concentration of lead exceeds the recommended daily lead exposure for children less than six years of age and women of childbearing age, and would likely be injurious to health.

No complaints or illnesses have been reported to date.

The following products are being recalled:

1. Baidyanath brand Saptamrit Lauh--Batch No. SPL-04, Expiry Date 4/2018
2. Baidyanath brand Rajahpravartini Bati--Batch No. RAJ-15 0 & 126, Expiry Date 1/2019 & 07/2016
3. Baidyanath brand Sarivadi Bati--Batch No. SRI-09, Expiry Date 04/2018
4. Baidyanath brand Shankh Bati--Batch No. SHN-02, Expiry Date 08/2018
5. Baidyanath brand Marichyadi Bati--Batch No. 200, Expiry Date 08/2017
6. Baidyanath brand Agnitundi Bati--Batch No. 018, Expiry Date 02/2016
7. Baidyanath brand Arogyavardhini Bati--Batch No. 018, Expiry Date 03/2017
8. Baidyanath brand Sarivadi Bati--Batch No. SARI-015, Expiry Date 01/2019
9. Baidyanath brand Brahmi Bati--Batch No. HGB-18, Expiry Date 03/2019, Batch Nos. 244 & 242, Expiry Date 03/2017 (products without Batch No. or Expiry Date are subject to this recall)
10. Baidyanath brand Gaisantak Bati--Batch No. GAI-09, Expiry Date 08/2018 and Batch No. 141, Expiry Date 10/2017
11. Baidyanath brand Chitrakadi Bati--Batch No. 193, Expiry Date 02/2018

The 80-count-capsules are packed in white, plastic bottles with green, yellow or orange labeling under the brand name “Baidyanath” made by Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) Ltd. 1 Gupta Lane, Kolkata, India, and top cap sticker with imported by Butala Emporium

The recalled products were distributed in New York in retail stores and to consumers as single unit purchase via the firms Internet site within California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Customers who purchased these products should not consume them, but should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-718-899-5590, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm (ET) or by email at butala1@aol.com.

The Land of Nod is recalling about 400 Follow the Herd mobiles.

The yarn from the sheep figures can unravel, posing an entanglement and strangulation hazard to young children.

The company has received three reports of the sheep's yarn unraveling. No injuries have been reported.

The Land of Nod Follow the Herd mobile mobile is made of white wool felt and has five sheep figures made of white wool yarn. The sheep have black felt eyes and brown felt ears. The mobile is about 24 inches tall, 10 inches wide and 10 inches deep. SKU number 198234 is on a label attached to the body of the mobile.

The mobiles, manufactured in Nepal, were sold exclusively at The Land of Nod stores nationwide and online at www.landofnod.com from September 2013, through May 2015, for about $50.

Consumers should immediately put the recalled mobiles out of the reach of children and contact The Land of Nod for a full refund.

Consumers may contact The Land of Nod at 800-933-9904 from 8:30 a. m. to 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.landofnod.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA is recalling approximately 421,000 model year 2009-2012 RAV4 and approximately 2,500 model year 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles.

Water dripping onto the windshield wiper link can, over time, cause corrosion and wear at the wiper link joint. In some cases this could result in the separation of the wiper link from the wiper motor crank arm.

If separation occurs, the windshield wipers could become inoperative, which could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified by first class mail. Toyota dealers will replace the water channel, wiper link, and wiper motor crank arm with new ones.

Consumers may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.  

The Agriculture Departments Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has confirmed that frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products produced by Aspen Foods, a division of Koch Poultry Company of Chicago, Ill., has same Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak strain which was part of a July 2015 recall.

Following that recall, FSIS has been conducting intensified sampling at Aspen to ensure that the hazard responsible for the initial contamination has been controlled by the company. Results from FSIS sampling revealed 12 positive results that match the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis to Aspen Foods products.

Three illnesses were epidemiologically linked to the original recall.

The frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken items may include the following brands and be labeled as “chicken cordon bleu,” “chicken Kiev” or “chicken broccoli and cheese” and bear the establishment number “P-1358” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

These following products were shipped to retail and food service locations nationwide:

• Acclaim
• Antioch Farms
• Buckley Farms
• Centrella Signature
• Chestnut Farms
• Family Favorites
• Kirkwood
• Koch Foods
• Market Day
• Oven Cravers
• Rose
• Rosebud Farm
• Roundy’s
• Safeway Kitchens
• Schwan’s
• Shaner’s
• Spartan
• Sysco

Customers who purchased these products should not to consume them, but throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' freezers.

Although the products included in this Alert may appear to be cooked, this product is in fact uncooked (raw) and should be handled carefully to avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen.

General Motors will pay a fine of about $1 billion to settle a federal criminal investigation into the defective ignition switches that killed at least 124 people, but no GM employees will go to jail, The New York Times reports today.

Critics say the settlement proves the old adage that murdering someone with a gun carries the death penalty but doing so with the stroke of a pen carries only a fine.  

"GM killed over 100 people by knowingly putting a defective ignition switch into over 1 million vehicles. Yet no one from GM went to jail or was even charged with criminal homicide," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the non-profit Center for Auto Safety, in an auto safety blog, Care for Crash Victims. "GM killed innocent consumers."

Instead of entering a guilty plea, GM will sign a "deferred-prosecution agreement," the equivalent of probation for corporations, the Times said. 

The fine rivals the $1.2 billion fine Toyota was ordered to pay for concealing unintended acceleration problems.

GM recalled more than three million vehicles -- mostly sedans -- to replace the switches, which could unexpectedly shut off, cutting power to the engine and leaving drivers with no power streering, brakes, or airbags. 

The Times quoted relatives of crash victims as saying that failing to prosecute individual GM employees amounts to "giving GM ... permission to do it again."

Other penalties

In May 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined GM $35 million for failing to report a safety defect in the vehicle to the federal government in a timely manner.

The automaker has also paid out millions to the families of victims and still faces numerous individual lawsuits. 

Despite a low official unemployment rate and steady economic improvement, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (Fed) has decided to leave U.S. interest rates at 0%.

The Fed said economic conditions in the U.S. are improving but cited concern about economic weakness in developing economies. A number of international economists had urged the Fed not to raise U.S. interest rates, saying the move could have a harmful effect on other economies.

Foreign nations and corporations have borrowed billions of dollars and a rise in U.S. rates would place added costs on those loans.

Wall Street reacted with relief, since cheap money supports current stock valuations, which some economists think are too high.

The housing industry is also relieved. Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Realtor.com, says a Fed rate hike would have signaled the end of historically low mortgage rates and would have added about 6% to the cost of the average new mortgage.

Because of the Fed's decision, consumers should find mortgage rates, as well as rates on car loans, little changed.

The Fed lowered interest rates to 0% in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and has not raised them since. It's next opportunity will come at it's October meeting. At that time, the will-it-or-won't-it guessing game will begin again.

Amazon.com has been known to try to get a jump on the holiday shopping season. Its July 15 Prime Day promotion is a successful example.

The online retailer is at it again, taking the wraps off a new seven-inch tablet for $49.99. The product is available for pre-order, with shipping beginning on September 30.

To make it even cheaper, Amazon is offering its new Fire tablet in a six-pack; if you buy five of the devices, you get a sixth free, meaning it could replace the fruit cake or fruit-of-the-month club as the ubiquitous holiday gift.

Front and back cameras

The new tablet features a 1024 x 600 seven-inch display with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and rear and front cameras. It comes with 8 GB of internal storage and free unlimited cloud storage, as long as it is Amazon content and photos taken with Fire devices. You can add a microSD card for up to 128 GB of additional storage.

It runs Fire OS 5 and provides up to seven hours of battery life.

“Today, we’re taking another step in our mission to deliver premium products at non-premium prices,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com CEO. “The all-new Fire features a quad-core processor, is incredibly durable, and is backed by the Amazon content ecosystem, the new AmazonUnderground, and Amazon customer service with Mayday Screen Sharing.”

Flat sales

The tablet, as a device, appears to be at a crossroads. Apple this month introduced a larger tablet, the iPad Pro – a device aimed at business users. With the $50 Fire, Amazon is banking on entertainment users to drive sales.

These changes come at a time when tablet sales have leveled off. According to Statista, global tablet shipments declined from 48 million in the second quarter of 2014 to 44.7 million in the second quarter of this year.

Technology publication TechCrunch speculates the market has become saturated while consumers find they prefer their recently more sophisticated smartphones over a bulkier tablet.

Amazon is likely banking on the lower price point to lure consumers back to tablets. Since Amazon increasingly positions itself as a content provider, it stands to profit in other ways than strictly the sale of hardware.

The company points out the tablet will give users access to over 38 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, apps, and games, as well as other features like X-Ray, ASAP, and Second Screen.