Current Events in March 2017

In previous generations, Florida and Arizona were the most popular retirement destinations. After 30 years or more in the same job in a northern climate, many Americans looked forward to sunny skies and warm weather.

But things may be a little different now. When personal finance site Bankrate.com measured all the states against a set of criteria that should be important to people in retirement, states you might not think of as retirement havens showed up at the top of the list and states you might think would be near the top weren't.

Researchers looked at eight factors that includes the cost of living, quality of healthcare, the crime rate, cultural amenities, weather, the tax rate, how seniors fared in the state, and the prevalence of other retired people.

Retiring to New Hampshire

Measured against that set of criteria, snowy New Hampshire came out on top. No, its weather is not exactly a strong selling point, but it scored very well in the other categories. It appears to be a state that is particularly hospitable to its residents over 60.

Colorado was the second best state for retirement, followed by Maine, Iowa, and Minnesota. The absence of any Sunbelt states in the top five suggests weather isn't the retirement factor it once was.

In fact, the Bankrate editors slotted Arizona at number 12. Florida was 17th, earning points for having the highest population of seniors in the nation, but for little else. Nevada, another mild weather retirement destination, placed near the bottom, at 44th.

Alaska came in last, but not for the reason you might think. Yes, it's very cold in the winter, but the state was dragged down by its high crime rate and high cost of living.

You can check out the complete rankings here.

The rankings

The study surveyed non-retired adults and found about half would consider relocating once they stop working. Interestingly, the farther you are from retirement, the more likely you are to say you'd pack up and move.

About 58% of Millennials are open to moving, but just 37% of Baby Boomers and 12% of the Silent Generation want to think about relocating. Bankrate.com analyst Claes Bell says the study just illustrates the changing concept of retirement.

"What people think they want in retirement may not end up being what serves them best over the long run," Bell said. "It's about a lot more than sunny skies, beaches and golf courses. As you get older, practical considerations like healthcare, taxes and proximity to family and friends become much more important."

And after spending decades in the same house in a community where they have roots, many retired people are opting to simply stay put.

The final tally of economic performance for the past year is in and the results are not encouraging.

The Commerce Department reports that for all of 2016, real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.0%, compared with an increase of 1.9% the previous year.

Many economists consider between 2-3% to be the “ideal” annual GDP growth rate.

For the final quarter of last year, GDP expanded at an annual rate of 2.1%, up a tad from the 1.9% reported in the second look at the numbers. In the third quarter of 2016, real GDP increased 3.5%.

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, an inflation gauge tied to GDP, rose 2.0%. Excluding food and energy prices, the “core” PCE price index was up 1.3%.

Corporate profits with inventory valuation adjustment and capital consumption adjustment rose $11.2 billion in the fourth quarter, following a surge of $117.8 billion in the third quarter.

For all of 2016, profits were down $2.3 billion, compared with a plunge of $64.0 billion in 2015.

The complete report is available on the Commerce Department website.

Jobless claims

The number of people applying for state unemployment benefits for the first time was lower last week.

The Labor Department (DOL) reports initial jobless claims for the week ending March 25 totaled a seasonally adjusted 258,000, down 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile and considered by economists to be a better reflection of the labor market, rose 7,750 during the same week to 254,250.

The full report may be found on the DOL website.

For the estimated 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's dementia, home can be a perilous place. Alzheimer’s can affect a person’s judgement, senses, behavior, and physical ability, which may lead caregivers to become concerned for their loved one’s safety at home.

People with Alzheimer’s may forget how to use household appliances, have difficulty understanding instructions, and have physical coordination problems. Moreover, they may have an impaired sense of time and place -- a change that could result in getting lost on their own street.

But caregivers can implement a few safety measures at home to make sure their loved one stays safe, even as their abilities change.    

Tips for caregivers

Here are a few ways caregivers can make home a little safer for those living with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Evaluate the home. Take a look at your loved one’s home environment to see where safety risks may be present. Pay special attention to areas where there are more likely to be tools, chemicals, cleaning supplies, and items that may require supervision. Consider your loved one’s abilities when determining what changes need to be made.
• Make the bathroom safer. Consider installing a walk-in shower. To prevent falls, add grab bars to the shower or tub and at the edge of the vanity to allow for safe movement. Add textured stickers to slippery surfaces.
• Kitchen safety measures. If the person you’re caring for is still cooking, consider installing appliances that have an auto shut-off feature. If your loved one has experienced a change in their sensitivity to temperatures, consider adding a temperature-controlled water faucet.
• Prepare for emergencies. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in a prominent place and be sure the home has working fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Add extra lights. Remove clutter and tripping hazards and keep walkways well-lit. To reduce disorientation, consider adding night lights to hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
• Safely store dangerous items. Lock up or remove items that may pose a safety hazard. This may include firearms, cleaning supplies, medications, alcohol, matches, and sharp objects.
• Install locks. If you fear your loved one may wander out of the house, place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors. 

Juratoys U.S. of Fairfield, N.J., is recalling about 10,300 Bricolo by Janod Push toy trolleys sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The toy trolleys can tip backwards, posing an impact injury hazard to children.

The company has received two reports of trolleys falling backwards, both resulting in ER visits. One involved a tooth extraction the other a laceration to the child’s nose.

This recall involves four Bricolo by Janod-push toy trolleys. The French Cocotte Cooker trolley is red with orange wheels and includes a cooktop with fried egg shapes, an oven and eight accessories, including pots and pans “Janod” printed on the side and front of the trolley and J06544 printed on the base of the toy.

The DIY-Magnetic trolley is gray and black with red wheels with work station and tools. “Bricolo” is printed on the front of the DIY-Magnetic trolley and J06505 is printed on the base of the toy.

The Redmaster-Magnetic DIY trolley is black and gray with red wheels and 21 accessories, including three magnetic tools and a set of gears. J06493 is printed on the base of the toy.

The Barbecue trolley is brightly colored and comes with a magnetic spatula, magnetic barbecue fork, one piece of pork, two sausages, one fish, one piece of beef, and three tomatoes. J06523 is printed on the base of the toy. The trolleys measure approximately 17 inches tall and have a 1 foot by 1 foot base.

The trolleys, manufactured in China, were sold at various toy stores nationwide including Giggle and Saks Fifth Avenue, and online at Zulily.com from September 2012, to March 2017, for about $100. The Janod Barbecue trolley sold for about $70.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled trolleys and keep them out of the reach of young children until they have installed a repair kit. Contact Juratoys for a free repair kit that includes instructions, tools, and footers to prevent the toy from tipping backwards.

Consumers may contact Juratoys toll free at 877-277-1663 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.janod.com and click on “Product Recall” under the “Janod Express” tab at the top of the page for more information.

Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn., is recalling about 19,000 magnetic tic tac toe games.

The magnets can come off the game pieces, posing a choking hazard. In addition, when two or more magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside the intestines and clamp onto body tissues, causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death. Internal injury from magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects.

The company has received one report of the magnets falling off the game piece. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves a magnetic tic tac toe 10 x 10 inch plywood board with nine “X” and “Heart” game pieces. The game pieces have a magnet on the back. Model number “234-25-1089” is printed on the bottom right corner of the product.

The games, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide from December 2016, through February 2017, for about $5.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled tic tac toe game and return it to any Target store for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Target at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CT) any day or online at www.target.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page, then on “School/Stationery/Seasonal” for more information.

Last week, the Senate voted to ditch consumers' privacy rights on the internet, and yesterday the House did likewise, voting to repeal broadband privacy rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission in the final months of the Obama Administration.

The measure now goes to President Trump, who is expected to sign it without undue deliberation.

"The vote in Congress to repeal the broadband privacy rules, allowing internet service providers to spy on their customers and sell their data without consent, is a terrible setback for the American public," said Susan Grant of the Consumer Federation of America. "It does provide an opportunity for President Trump, however. He can show that he is on the side of the people by vetoing this measure."

The FCC rules prohibit broadband providers like AT&T and Comcast from following consumers around on the internet, recording their every action, and building huge databases that are sold to marketers and others.

Protect carriers' rights

Advertising interests have been relentless in their insistence that the Trump Administration and Congress unleash the surveillance powers of the broadband carriers, saying that protecting consumers' privacy rights will stymie innovation. 

"Without prompt action in Congress or at the FCC, the FCC's regulations would break with well-accepted and functioning industry practices, chilling innovation and hurting the consumers the regulation was supposed to protect," wrote The American Association of Advertising Agencies (the 4A's) and several other advertising trade groups recently. 

"All the public wants is a little respect," Grant said. "Unlike other online companies, our internet service providers can see our every move online, including the websites we visit and what we do there, the apps we use, and the locations from which we connect. With this information they can build detailed digital dossiers about us."

Grant said consumers aren't asking for an outright ban on such surveillance.

"We simply want them to get our approval before they can sell this information to the highest bidder. In crafting the broadband privacy rules, the FCC appropriately said that for our most sensitive information, consent should be on an opt-in basis. This is nothing new or radical."

Grant noted that many Americans don't have a choice of internet providers and thus face an unfair, take-it-or-leave-it situation. 

Nothing lost?

Some in the Congress, like Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) have argued that the repeal of the broadband privacy rules will not leave Americans with less privacy protection than they have now, but Grant said this misses the point entirely. "With few exceptions, Americans have no right to say 'don’t sell my data,'" she said.

Flake said the repeal was "the first step toward restoring the FTC's light-touch, consumer-friendly approach. It will not change or lessen existing consumer privacy protections." Critics noted that Flake's statement was true only insofar as the tougher FCC rules protecting consumers have not yet gone into effect. 

Others in Congress claimed that other agencies already police privacy. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas) argued that the FTC already has jurisdiction over privacy. "Two cops on the beat create confusion," he said.

Flores is incorrect, however. A federal appellate court ruled recently that the FTC lacks jurisdiction to bring enforcement actions against broadband providers.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said broadband carriers should be regulated because of their ability to track every action Americans take online. 

"Broadband providers know deeply personal information about us and our families," Pelosi said on the House floor. "They can even track us when we're surfing in private browsing mode. Americans' private browser history should not be up for sale."

She added: "If the Republicans are allowed to do this, we have surrendered all thoughts of privacy for the American people."

Before committing suicide in 2010 at the age of 57, Stewart Dolin lived what his wife Wendy described as a “perfect life.” The Dolins had been married for 36 years and raised two children together, and Stewart at the time of his death was in charge of corporate and securities law at a prominent law firm in Chicago.

“This happy, funny, loving, wealthy, dedicated husband and father who loved life left no note and no logical reason why he would suddenly want to end it all,” Wendy Dolin writes on MISSD, or The Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin, the nonprofit she created in her late husband’s memory.  

“Neither Paxil nor the generic version listed suicidal behavior as a potential side effect for men of Stewart's age.” 

Wendy Dolin is one of at least several people who have come forward publicly to blame the antidepressant Paxil for a loved one’s death. Her lawsuit against Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, after having been stalled for years, is currently being heard before a jury in a Chicago federal court.

GSK criticized over handling of data on adolescents 

The antidepressant Paxil had already brought GlaskoSmithKline an estimated $11.6 billion in sales when the company in 2012 was criminally prosecuted by the United States government, on charges that it was promoting Paxil for unapproved uses as well as hiding safety data about a different drug. That case ended with the United States government fining GSK a record $3 billion.

Since then, researchers have criticized GSK for its handling of evidence that paroxetine, the key ingredient in Paxil, is linked to suicide in young adults. The corporation had conducted a clinical trial in 2001 and reported positive findings -- that paroxetine is “safe and effective for adolescents.” But a re-analysis of GSK’s own data, published in the British Journal of Medicine in 2015, found that 12 of the 93 children given paroxetine in the clinical trial reported suicidal thoughts.

"There is an increased risk of suicidality in pediatric and adolescent patients given antidepressants like paroxetine," GSK acknowledged after the 2015 paper was published, pointing out that a black box label warning consumers as such had been placed on Paxil since 2004. But the researchers who analyzed GSK’s 2001 clinical trial data argued that such a warning should have been on Paxil since the beginning."What would have happened if this data were available 15 years ago when the study was originally published?," one of the researchers said in an interview with Scientific American. 

Wendy Dolin’s case charges that Paxil’s suicidal side effects aren’t limited to adolescents. Her attorneys are asking GSK similar questions about why they didn't warn adult patients of a potential suicide risk. 

Company blames FDA

Stewart Dolin’s family says that he had suffered some work-related anxiety shortly before his death. A family friend and doctor prescribed him the generic version of Paxil, which is produced by Mylan. The doctor, Martin Sachman, testified on Monday that he wouldn’t have prescribed paroxetine had he known about the suicide risk it posed in adults.

Dolin had been on paroxetine for six days, his family says, when he stepped in front of a commuter train after work.  His death was shortly after ruled a suicide. "Stu Dolin was a close personal friend, valued colleague and a great leader in our firm," the head of his law firm told reporters shortly after the news broke. 

GSK now acknowledges in court hearings that there is evidence of suicidal behavior in adults who take Paxil. “The results provided evidence of an increase in suicide attempts in adults with MDD [major depressive disorder] treated with paroxetine, compared to placebo, and that analysis based on the confidence interval was statistically significant,” a former bio-statistician for the company testified in one deposition, describing a 2006 study conducted by GSK.

But in testimony earlier this month, GSK told the federal jury that they were unable to warn consumers about this potential side effect becase the FDA had four times rejected its attempts to alter their own warning label. “The FDA controls the label, ladies and gentleman,” one of the GSK attorneys said at the trial, according to Law360. 

"GSK’s position is that the label provides adequate warnings and provided adequate warnings at the time relevant to the lawsuit," GSK spokesperson Frannie DeFranco writes to ConsumerAffairs via email.

She adds:  "For the past decade (and well before Mr. Dolin’s suicide), the label for Paxil has included a WARNING, regarding a listing of symptoms including akathisia:  'Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality.'”

Wendy Dolin, who is accusing GSK of negligence by failing to warn doctors about the suicide risk, is asking for $12 million. Her suit is filed only against GSK, not Mylan, because the courts had determined in earlier proceedings that name-brand drugmakers, not their generic competitors, are ultimately responsible for the warning labels that go on all drugs.

Restlessness or something worse?

Little is known about Akathisia, the specific condition that Wendy Dolin says was caused by paroxetine and led to her husband’s suicide. Researchers have described Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms in some adults who take antipsychotic drugs, and others describe the condition as something similar to restless leg syndrome, or inability to sit still. Some critics, including personal injury attorneys and researchers, charge that the Akathisia disorder is linked not just to physical restlessness but intense emotional restlessness as well. 

Among those warning of a dangerous link between Akathisia and antipsychotics is Dr. David Healy, a British psychiatrist who co-authored the 2015 re-analysis of GSK’s data showing an increased risk of suicide in adolescents. Healy, known as a gadfly in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in the field of psychiatry as a whole, is credited with convincing British and American regulators to place more warnings on antidepressants in 2004. Testifying on behalf of the the Dolin family earlier this month, he presented the jury with a study examining a link between Akathisia and Prozac, another popular antipsychotic medication. Both Paxil and Prozac are drugs classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. 

“Akathisia is a disorder, induced by SSRI medications, which can cause a person to experience such intense inner restlessness that the sufferer is driven to violence and/or suicide,” writes the memorial page that Wendy Dolin created in honor of Stewart. “It has been said, ‘Death can be a welcome result.’"

GSK’s attorneys, meanwhile, deny a link specifically between Akathisia and suicide, and they also deny that Paxil had anything to do with Dolin’s death. Instead they have reportedly blamed work-related stress, which as the American Lawyer points out is a common problem in the legal field. One study published by a commission for the American Bar Association last year claims that 28 percent of attorneys struggle with depression.  

An $11 million verdict

But this is not the first trial examining the link between Paxil and adult suicide. In October, a jury awarded the family of 46-year-old Mumun Barbaros $11.9 million after he commited suicide in jail. Rather than suing the drug-maker, however,  his family blamed and sued the company that provided medical services at the jail for re-starting Barbaros on Paxil after he had been off of the medication for four days.

Dr. Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist and expert witness testifying on behalf of the family, said in a statement afterward that the verdict “illustrates the growing understanding within the judicial system and the public arena that psychiatric drugs can cause people to act in harmful ways that are contrary to their character and normal behavior."

Spring is a time for gardening, cleaning, and Easter celebrations. But these springtime activities can also pose some hazards to furry family members.

Chemicals, poisons, and other non-pet-friendly substances are often used in spring cleaning and lawn maintenance tasks, while the season itself ushers in potential hazards such as poisonous plants, active wildlife, and increased outdoor activity.

To keep your pet safe, it’s important to take note of hidden pet dangers that may be lurking in your home, garage, or yard. Taking a few precautions prior to tackling seasonal chores can help ensure the safety of your four-legged springtime sidekick.

Ways to keep your pet safe

Here are a few tips on keeping your pets safe in the springtime, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

• Garden with care. The quest for a lush lawn prompts many homeowners to use fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides. However, the ingredients in these products can be dangerous to pets who ingest them. Be sure to keep fertilizers and pesticides away from pets.
• Take note of toxic plants. Many popular springtime plants, such as rhododendrons and daffodils, are toxic to pets and can even be fatal if eaten. Check out the ASPCA's full list of toxic plants to find out which plants should be kept away from pets.
• Use household cleaners safely. Read the instructions on all products that will be sprayed or used near your animals. All cleaning products -- even those labeled “all natural” -- can be harmful to pets. To learn more, visit the ASPCA’s list of poisonous household products.
• Home improvement safety. The paint, solvents, nails, and power tools you use while taking care of a home project on your to-do list may be hazardous to your pet. Some products may cause injury while others may cause chemical burns or irritation. Read all labels to see if the product is safe to use around your dog or cat. Better yet, confine your pet to a pet-friendly room during home improvement projects.
• Watch pets around Easter treats. Chocolate bunnies and other sweet treats, as well as certain Easter decorations, can be toxic to dogs and cats. Lilies can be fatal to cats that ingest them, and plastic grass can result in severe vomiting and dehydration or an obstructed digestive tract.

The U.S. Supreme Court today ordered a lower court to take a closer look at a New York law that bars merchants from imposing surcharges on credit-card purchases. It's part of a long-running battle by retailers to chip away at the $50 billion they pay credit card companies in so-called "swipe fees" each year.

A federal appeals court had upheld the law, saying it was a form of price regulation. But Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the measure actually regulates speech, which subjects it to the tougher requirements of the First Amendment. The decision to return the case for review was unanimous.

“In regulating the communication of prices rather than the prices themselves, Section 518 [the New York law] regulates speech,” Roberts wrote.

The ruling is "an important step toward allowing retailers to tell consumers about the added costs of credit card payments," said the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

“This unanimous ruling ... is an important acknowledgement of the true value that transparent price communication provides,” said Deborah White, RILA senior executive vice president and general counsel. “The Court’s ruling affirms the right of retailers to communicate honestly with their customers about the true cost of credit cards.”

RILA, joined by other associations, filed an amicus brief earlier this year urging the Court to "recognize the importance of transparent merchant communication to consumers about credit cards costs."

"Not the bad guys"

Retailers say that if they were allowed to explicity impose surcharges on credit card purchases, it would discourage card use, reduce their swipe-fee costs, and enable them to pass the savings on to consumers. 

In his opinion, Robert said merchants "want to make clear that they are not the bad guys—that the credit card companies, not the merchants, are responsible for the higher prices.” 

New York is one of 10 states that limit how merchants can describe lower cash prices. Appeals are also pending from cases in Florida and Texas.

There are plenty of things that consumers like to gripe about, but a recent report shows that credit cards and students loans are taking the brunt of complaints recently.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report yesterday which analyzed over 1.1 million complaints made across all products as of March 1, 2017. The findings showed that over 116,000 complaints had been made against certain credit cards, and that student loan complaints had shot up dramatically.

“Credit cards are a vital financial tool used daily by more than half of all adults in this country. Consumers deserve clear guidance and need to be able to resolve problems that arise with their cards,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray.

Credit card woes

The report shows that many consumers complained about fraudulent charges, being billed for charges that they did not initiate or authorize, and identity theft connected to their credit cards. Complainants often stated that an account was opened in their name even after an alert was placed on their credit file.

To make matters worse, those who complained about fraudulent charges said that it was difficult to have the charges removed even after their credit card company had notified them that the matter had been resolved in their favor.

Additionally, consumers made numerous complaints about confusing reward programs. The reports focus on problems connected to taking advantage of card benefits for bonus point programs, miles programs, cash back programs, and travel benefits programs. Other reports claimed that online information differed from what customer service representatives told them.

The CFPB found that the credit card companies most identified with the above problems were Citibank, Capital One, and JPMorgan Chase.

Student loan complaints shoot up

The CFPB also notes that student loan complaints rose dramatically on a year-over-year basis. Officials analyzed the three-month time period between December 2016 and February 2017 and found that the number of complaints rose 429% from the previous year – the most of any product or service.

The volume of student loan complaints differed widely at the state level. The largest increases in complaints occurred in Montana (+53%), Georgia (+53%), and Missouri (+39%) on a year-over-year basis.

The top three student loan providers that were most complained about from October through December 2016 were Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian – though the recent increase in complaints may be connected to the federal lawsuit filed against Navient back in January.  

For more information, the full CFPB report can be found here.

With an aging Baby Boom population, there are an increasing number of joint replacement operations, particularly total knee replacements.

When a knee is replaced, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, shinbone and kneecap. To replace it, the surgeon uses an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers. The Mayo Clinic says these procedures can reduce pain and restore function.

But new research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says these operations provide minimal relief and are usually "economically unattractive," meaning they aren't worth the cost.

Researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center suggest that's because many people who elect to have the total knee replacement surgery aren't the best candidates. If it were limited only to patients with severe osteoarthritis, that equation changes.

Not right for all patients

“Given its limited effectiveness in individuals with less severely affected physical function, performance of total knee replacement in these patients seems to be economically unjustifiable,” said Bart Ferket, MD, PhD, lead author on the study.

Ferket says there could be considerable cost savings if only patients with severe symptoms had the operation. He said there are less expensive, more conservative options that doctors should suggest to their patients with less severe symptoms.

Osteoarthritis of the knee affects some 12% of U.S. adults, particularly those age 50 and up. Wear and tear on the knee, and Americans' increasing weight problem, has contributed to a doubling of knee replacement surgeries since 2000.

Average cost of $49,000

The researchers say there are now more than 640,000 of these operations performed each year, at an annual cost of around $10.2 billion. According to Healthline, the average cost of a total knee replacement surgery in the U.S. is $49,000.

Perhaps one reason for the rising number of these operations is the increasing number of Baby Boomers now on Medicare. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid covers knee and hip replacements, and they are among the most common surgeries it pays for.

The Mount Sinai researchers concluded that in terms of cost-effectiveness, the current protocol is more expensive and less effective than it would be if it were limited to those patients in severe pain.

Not a day goes by in America that thousands of consumers aren't tricked into paying large sums of money to scammers.

These individuals employ all sorts of clever psychological schemes to get intelligent people to suspend disbelief and act against their better judgment. That's why objective observers need to be ready to intervene.

Matthew Drye and Mariah Thomas work at Target, in Mechanicsville, Va., outside Richmond. Earlier this year they were on duty when an elderly couple checked out, purchasing two Target gift cards.

The couple said they needed to place $2,000 on each card. Rather than blindly accept the sale, Drye and Thomas, who were manning the checkout lane, asked the couple why they needed so much money on the gift cards.

Grandpa scam

The couple told the employees an out of state police officer had called them to say their grandson was in jail. To secure his release on bail, the couple needed to place $4,000 on gift cards and then call with the cards' numbers.

Fortunately, Drye and Thomas immediately identified the request as a variation of the "grandpa scam," telling the couple they needed to contact the police, and reassured the couple their grandson was not in jail. In far too many instances, consumers send thousands of dollars to scammers because there are no outside observers or family members to warn them not to.

Hanover County, Virginia Sheriff Col. David Hines this week presented awards to Drye and Thomas, stressing the importance of the business community in stopping scams.

Going above and beyond

“As law enforcement officers, we can’t be in all places at all times," Hines said. "It warms my heart to see our citizens go above and beyond to help each other, which in turn acts as another set of eyes and ears for the Sheriff’s Office."

In spite of the fact that scams are now so common and widely reported, many consumers are still unaware of them and how they operate. It's a problem the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continues to deal with.

In testimony to Congress last week, FTC Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen and Commissioner Terrell McSweeny outlined what law enforcement is doing to combat scams, but their testimony also revealed the magnitude of the challenge.

They reported that impostor scams, where scammers pretend to be government agents, well-known businesses, family members, or others, are proliferating.

Other widespread and dangerous scams include tech support scams, fake prize and sweepstakes scams, “free” trial offers with recurring fees for products or services consumers never ordered, debt relief scams, and abusive debt collectors.

Sellers remain firmly in the driver's seat in most real estate markets across the country as the 2017 home shopping season gets underway.

That's because in most housing markets, the inventory of available homes for sale continues to fall. Zillow reports the average home value was up 7% last month, when compared to February 2016. At the same time, the average inventory of available homes was down 3% year-over-year.

Tampa, Seattle, Dallas, and Orlando saw home values rise the most among the 35 largest housing markets. All grew at a double digit pace.

In the Tampa market, home values surged nearly 12% to a median home value of $182,100. Seattle and Dallas saw values go up 11% in the last year.

Supply and demand

It all comes down to supply and demand. There are more people shopping for houses and fewer houses to buy. Sellers are able to ask more and get it.

Florida has seen the most shrinking inventory. The number of homes on the market in Tampa is down 5% and has dropped 11% in Orlando. It's not necessarily an improving economy that's driving the housing market, but rather a shortage of available properties.

"Low inventory, strong demand and tough competition will be the defining characteristics of this year's home shopping season," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "Even though interest rates are rising, buyers are eager to start their home search."

Be prepared to pay more

So what do you do if you've decided to buy a home? Gudell says you should be prepared to offer more than the asking price, if it's a home you really want in one of the nation's hotter housing markets. That's because attractive houses, attractively priced, tend to get multiple offers.

"Buyers should give themselves enough time to get their finances in order and find a real estate agent they know and trust before jumping into the market," Gudell said.

Think you'll rent for a while longer? Fine, but understand rents are going up too, though not as much and as fast as they have in recent years.

Zillow reports the national median rent is up 1.2% in the last 12 months, to a median $1,406 per month. But expect to pay a lot more in Seattle, Portland, and Sacramento, Calif. There, rents have risen between 5% and 7%.

A recent report by personal finance website NerdWallet finds that most parents dramatically underestimate the cost of a baby’s first year.

Findings from the study showed that the cost of a baby’s first year can range from just over $20,000 up to nearly $52,000, depending on a family’s income. But many parents aren't prepared to face such high costs.

The poll showed that 18% percent of parents -- including those who are currently pregnant or planning to have a baby the next three years -- thought their little one’s first year would cost less than $1,000. Roughly half of parents (54%) thought it would cost less than $5,000.

Cost expectations

To come up with its findings, NerdWallet broke down the expenses of a baby’s first year in two sample households -- one with a $40,000 annual income and one with a $200,000 income. At both income levels, families underestimated the expenses associated with raising a baby.

Most parents thought diapers and wipes would be the biggest expense -- but at $743, it’s actually one of the smallest expenses. Full-time child care usually turns out to be the largest expense, setting parents back an average of $8,059.

A majority of parents (61%) expect friends and family to contribute more than 20% of the first year’s costs. But parents often regretted not setting aside more money prior to having a baby.

Financial regrets

For many parents, misjudging the cost of food, housing, transportation, diapers, and health care in a baby’s first year led to financial regret. Nearly 3 out of 10 parents had no money saved before having their baby to help with the costs of the first year; 28% had less than $2,000 saved.

Parents also wished they had taken more financial action during the first year of their baby’s life. For one-third of parents, the biggest regret was not starting a college fund for their kiddo.

NerdWallet's cost estimates of a baby's first year may spark some degree of sticker shock amongst would-be parents, but it's also important to note that families could spend more or less depending on their spending habits.

To see the cost or raising a baby in year one based on your spending preferences and location, check out NerdWallet’s baby calculator.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners that some commercial dog foods may contain livestock gullets -- throat parts from livestock -- that contain thyroid tissue and hormones, which could make dogs sick.

Eating the thyroid tissue could cause hyperthyroidism, a disease that is normally rare in dogs and is usuaully triggered by thyroid cancer. The source of thyroid hormones is likely from the use of gullets from which the thyroid glands were not completely removed before adding to pet food or treats, the FDA said.

The FDA said a recent investigation found hyperthyroidism in three dogs but no signs of thyroid cancer. Interviews with the dogs’ owners revealed that all three dogs had been fed BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe, Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs and/or Wellness 95% Beef Topper for Dogs.

Investigators said the three dogs recovered when they were switched to a different food and their thyroid levels returned to normal.

Both WellPet (the maker of Wellness) and Blue Buffalo (the maker of Blue Wilderness) initiated voluntary recalls of select lots of the affected products on March 17, 2017, after being told of the FDA's findings. 

Blue Buffalo has long been the target of consumer complaints alleging that its products made dogs sick. In 2016, the company agreed to pay $32 million to settle a group of class action lawsuits from pet owners. Blue Buffalo denied any wrongdoing and said health problems encountered by consumers' pets may have been caused by supplier misconduct.

In 2013, the company was at the center of an investigation into unexplained pet illnesses and deaths. The FDA said it had no evidence that Blue Buffalo was at fault but expressed concern about repeated recalls and incidents with pet food and jerky treats in general

What to do

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss, increased appetite, restlessness, hyperactivity, elevated heart rate, rapid and/or labored breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea. Continued exposure to excess thyroid hormones can cause damage to the heart and, in some cases, death.

"If your dog has eaten either of these foods and is showing symptoms of hyperthyroidism, discontinue feeding of these foods and consult your veterinarian, making sure to provide your dog’s dietary history, including what the dog has been eating, how much, and for how long," the FDA advised.

How do you know if the pet food you're using contains livestock gullets? The FDA advises you ask the manufacturer. 

At the time of the 2013 illnesses, veterinarian Joe Bartges offered tips to pet owners worried about food safety.

Being alert to signs of illness is the first line of defense, he said. If your dog or cat becomes ill, switching to boiled chicken and white rice may solve the problem, but if it doesn't, it's important to get the animal to a veterinarian quickly. Kidney failure and other diseases that bedevil pets can progress rapidly and early treatment is vital.

Here are some other tips from Bartges and colleagues:

• Do not allow pets access to garbage or carrion
• Cover and refrigerate unused portions of wet food
• Do not feed foods that have a suspicious appearance or odor
• Use stainless steel bowls and utensils and clean them
• Store dry foods in a cool dry location free of pests.

Also, pet owners who suspect a problem with the food should save the package and a small sample of the food in question. Be sure to contact the manufacturer and file a report with the FDA as well. 

Uber's self-driving cars are on the road again, just a few days after one of their Volvo SUVs overturned following an intersection crash in Tempe, Arizona.

Uber paused the program after the accident last week but quickly put its cars back on the road in San Francisco Monday and said it would return to the streets of Tempe and Pittsburgh later in the day.

There was general agreement that the accident was caused by a driver who failed to yield in an intersection and struck the Uber vehicle. 

That explanation isn't going over well with some safety advocates, including John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit group headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif.

“Companies like Uber are using our public roads as their private laboratories,” said Simpson. “There must be complete transparency and accountability about what they are doing, which clearly can threaten public safety.”

Tempe police ticketed the driver of the other vehicle in the Uber crash.  Nonetheless, Consumer Watchdog said, the incident raised the question of who is at fault when a robot car causes a crash.

Consumer Watchdog said that while the driver of the other vehicle may have technically been at fault in the Arizona Uber crash, it could well be the case that the robot vehicle did not behave as a human-driven car would have, contributing to the crash.

Take the pledge

The group called on Uber to take the Safe Autonomous Vehicles (SAVe) Campaign pledge and agree to accept responsibility when one of its self-driving cars causes a crash, and also called on Uber to release all video and technical details related to the Friday crash.

Earlier this month the SAVe Campaign asked eighteen automakers and developers of self-driving cars, including Uber, to take responsibility for failures in their automated and autonomous vehicle technology. Only Volvo accepted the challenge and agreed to accept responsibility for their robot cars at some levels of automation.

“Self-driving car manufactures and developers must accept responsibility when their automated and autonomous technologies fail,” said Simpson.  “If Uber is finally serious about becoming a responsible corporate citizen, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick must take the SAVe pledge immediately.”

“The interaction between robot cars and human-driven cars is an area of serious concern and requires research,” said Simpson. “That’s why all the data about crashes must be made public.”

Uber has finally received permits to test in California. It will be required to file public crash reports when an incident occurs and annual disengagement reports detailing when the robot technology fails. The reports are posted to the DMV website.

Parents often hope for a better future for their children. For Millennial parents, a better future means one without the burden of student loan debt.

In an attempt to lay the groundwork for a debt-free future for their kids, many Millennials are putting their children’s college savings fund ahead of their own retirement fund.

Roughly one in five (19%) Millennial parents who responded to a survey by TD Ameritrade said saving for their child’s education is their top financial priority, equal to the number that identified emergency savings as their number one priority. Retirement savings came in third, at 15% of parents.

Findings from the new survey suggest Millennials would rather not see their children in the same boat in the future -- which is to say, still chipping away at their student loan debt when their own kids graduate.

Key findings

Millennial parents are saddled with an average of $9,100 in student debt, the survey found. One-third of these parents expect that they will still be paying off their loans when their kids head off to college.

Although it’ll be years before Millennial parents attend their child’s college graduation, the poll found that a majority (90%) already have a plan in place to pay at least some of their kid’s college fees.

Additional findings from the survey showed:

• Latino/Hispanic and Asian millennial parents are twice as likely as Caucasian Millennial parents to expect to pay all education fees.

• Although 57% Millennial parents do not expect their parents to help with college fees, one in five (19%) grandparents contributed to a grandchild’s college savings in the past year.

• Millennial parents who are saving for their children’s education are saving an average of $310 per month, with grandparents contributing an additional $205.

Setting financial goals

Accruing the funds needed to foot the bill for a child's college education may be a worthy endeavor, but the experts at TD Ameritrade say college savings shouldn’t come at the expense of retirement (for which there are no loans, grants, or scholarships).

“If you’re able to swing it, parents can of course sock away money in a college fund, or ask grandparents to contribute to future education needs, rather than the toy box,” said Dara Luber, retirement and long-term investing expert at TD Ameritrade.

“Just be steadfast in your own goals. Parents are much closer to cracking open that nest egg, and you want it to be as full as possible," Luber concluded.