Current Events in December 2019

When consumers chose restaurants this year, they gravitated toward healthy fare that was closely connected to the farm from which it originated.

In its year-end analysis, OpenTable provides these and other insights into the restaurants people are frequenting and the reasons for their choices. Based on the findings, a few key trends have emerged.

Farm-to-table continued to be a deciding factor in many restaurant bookings in 2019. In fact, the closer the connection, the more popular a restaurant was likely to be among diners.

Founding Farmers -- which is actually owned by farmers -- did the best, according to OpenTable. The reservation booking company said the majority farmer-owned restaurant in Washington, DC -- specializing in made-from-scratch responsibly sourced American cuisine --  has been 2019’s most-booked restaurant.

Diners are also more experiential and willing to try something new. OpenTable’s analysis shows 70 percent of the reservations booked through the app were at restaurants the diner hadn’t previously visited.

Spontaneous dining

People booking a table using the app were more spontaneous this year. Forty-two percent of diners made reservations at the last minute on the day of their reservation. International menus lost a little ground this year. American cuisine was the most popular for breakfast and lunch, but Italian fare took the top spot for dinner.

In terms of specific menu items, 2019 belonged to plant-based meat. Burger King created a minor sensation when it rolled out a Whopper using Impossible Foods’ plant-based patty. The addition of the new menu item boosted same-store sales in the following quarter.

Late in the year, Popeye’s created an even bigger sensation when it rolled out a chicken sandwich. It was so popular that the chain ran out of product when the sandwich was introduced in August. Its re-introduction in November led to long lines and even fistfights.

Other trends

Aside from cuisine, remodeling has been a growing trend among restaurants in 2019. In the fast-food space, McDonald’s was perhaps the most active, as it remodeled its restaurants and installed digital ordering kiosks.

Modern Restaurant Management, an industry trade publication, reported last month that digital ordering could soon move from fast-food and fast-casual outlets to more full service restaurants.

Dexcom, a technology company that makes blood sugar monitors that help diabetes patients monitor their readings on a real-time basis, has confirmed an outage over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend that interrupted service.

The device is worn by patients like a patch and has a tiny sensor that is inserted beneath the skin. It has become popular because it eliminates the need to prick the finger to access blood.

Beginning Saturday, patients reported they no longer received regular reports on their blood sugar levels. The service was back on Monday but reported as “intermittent.”

Dexcom told CNBC that the glitch was in the app’s feature that allows monitoring on Apple and Android mobile devices. The company said it learned of the issue early Saturday and traced it to what it called a server malfunction.

The company said the issue was not related to any updates or changes to the software because there haven’t been any recently. It suspects that a server overload is the root cause of the problem. While there may still be issues, the company said the situation has “significantly improved” since Saturday.

A sensor beneath the skin

Dexcom’s device consists of a monitor and “one-touch applicator” that inserts a small sensor just beneath the skin. The sensor continuously measures glucose levels and sends data wirelessly to a display device through a transmitter.

Patients use a small touch screen receiver or smart device to display real-time glucose data. The simplicity of the system and the fact that it provides real-time monitoring is one reason for the product’s popularity.

According to the company, the device takes a measurement of blood sugar every five minutes, up to 288 times a day. It uses graphics to display the speed and direction that glucose levels are heading.

Carrie Diulus, a patient with type 1 diabetes who uses Dexcom’s blood sugar monitor, told CNBC there was a 40-hour gap before she was notified that the monitoring was not working. She calls it “a big concern” since she has grown reliant on the monitor to keep her blood sugar levels in check.

More than a million Americans have type 1 diabetes. Patients must keep close track of their blood sugar levels so they know whether their body needs more sugar or an increase in insulin.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 11,217 model year 2020 Palisades.

The mounting bolts used to secure the side curtain airbags may damage the side curtain airbags during deployment.

Damaged side curtain airbags may not inflate properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the mounting bolts free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 3, 2020.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 186.

Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. of Kennesaw, Ga., is recalling about 10,100 model year 2018 and 2019 Yamaha EF2000iS portable generators.

The generator’s fuel tank can leak gasoline, posing fire and burn hazards.

No incidents or injuries are reported

This recall involves model year 2018 and 2019 Yamaha EF2000iS portable generators, with serial numbers range 4543288 through 4553706.

The blue generators have Yamaha and the model name printed on the control panel. The serial number can be found on a label below the exhaust outlet on the left side.

The generators, manufactured in Japan, were sold exclusively at Yamaha Motorsports dealers nationwide from June 2018, through October 2019, for about $900.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled generators and contact a Yamaha Power Products dealer to schedule a free repair. Yamaha is contacting all registered owners directly.

Consumers may contact Yamaha toll-free at (866) 788-7398 anytime or online at www.yamahamotorsports.com or www.yamahamotorsports.com/power-product and click on the CPSC Alerts tab at the bottom of the page for more information.

BrucePac of Silverton, Ore., is recalling approximately 55,550 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken sausage.

The product contains a pork casing not declared on the label.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following frozen item, were produced from November 15, 2018, to June 24, 2019, is being recalled:

• 30-lb. bulk pack cases containing “GRILLED SLICED ITALIAN STYLE CHICKEN SAUSAGE” with lot codes 11158S, 12058S, 03189S, 06249S and 05029S

The recalled product, bearing establishment number “P-9267A” inside the USDA mark of inspection, was shipped to an institutional location in California.

What to do

Institutions that purchased the recalled product should not serve it, but discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Monica McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@brucepac.com.

Chrysler is recalling 528,594 model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with a 3.6, 5.7, or 6.4 liter engine.

The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

The remedy for this recall is still under development.

Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk will be mailed beginning January 3, 2020. Vehicles that experience a fuel pump failure will receive an interim repair.

Owners will receive a second notice when the final remedy becomes available.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V62.

Consumers spent a record-breaking $7.4 billion during this year’s Black Friday, according to data from Adobe Analytics. 

Adobe, which looks at sales at 80 of the top 100 online retailers in the nation, found that purchases of computers, tablets, and smartphones accounted for many purchases. Top electronics included Air Fryers, Apple’s AirPods, and Samsung televisions. 

Consumers spent an average of $168 per person -- an increase of 6 percent over last year. 

This year’s Black Friday figures were up by $1.2 billion from 2018 and represented the biggest numbers for digital sales in history, coming second only to last year’s Cyber Monday total of $7.9 billion. However, this year’s Black Friday sales total was slightly lower than Adobe’s prediction of $7.5 billion. 

Uptick in smartphone purchases 

This year, a large share of online sales transactions took place on smartphones. Adobe found that $2.9 billion sales poured in from mobile devices on Friday -- the highest total ever. 

Half of consumers will choose to shop on a smartphone this holiday season, even when they have a desktop or laptop at their disposal, Adobe said in its report.

Consumers’ decreasing tolerance for standing in lines was further reflected in the 43 percent increase in buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders. Adobe said the increase in these sales suggested that many retailers are “successfully bridging online and offline retail operations.”

Adobe expects Cyber Monday 2019 to shatter records, as well. The firm predicts spending will hit $9.4 billion -- an 18.9 percent increase from last year. 

As recent studies have revealed, kids suffer from concussions longer than adults. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland found that the recovery process could be even more complicated than anticipated. 

The study revealed that when kids’ post-concussion symptoms last longer than expected, it could affect overall brain function. 

“In the MRI scans of children with persistent concussion symptoms, poor sleep was linked to decreases in brain grey matter and reduced brain function,” said researcher Dr. Kartik Iyer. “Identifying decreases in brain function can allow us to predict if a child will recover properly.” 

Risks to look for

To understand the effects that persistent concussion symptoms can have on children, the researchers had 110 kids participate in the study, all of whom were recovering from a recent head injury. The children were assessed twice over the course of the study, once when they were four weeks post-concussion and then again when they were eight to 10 weeks post-concussion. 

While recovering from a concussion can take time, this study highlighted how common it is for kids to have lingering symptoms. It also showed how serious those symptoms can be for brain development and function. 

One symptom that was associated with difficult recovery was disrupted sleep. Those who couldn’t get back into their regular sleeping routine up to two months post-injury were more likely to have issues with their brain function. 

According to the researchers, it’s important that both clinicians and parents are aware of these possible concerns, as children who are struggling to recover from a concussion could be having difficulties doing things in their day-to-day lives. 

“Generally, children with persistent concussion symptoms will have alterations to their visual, motor, and cognitive brain regions, but we don’t have a clear understanding of how this develops and how it relates to future recovery,” said Dr. Iyer. “It can have a serious impact on their return to normal activities, including time away from school, difficulties with memory and attentiveness, disturbances to sleeping habits, and changes to mood -- all of which can affect healthy brain development.”

Changing standards for recovery

As concussions become more prevalent in young people, both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines and recommendations for how medical professionals should be treating childhood concussions. The updates were part of an effort to standardize care and ensure that children aren’t doing too much before they’re ready. 

Moving forward, the researchers suggest that children are evaluated by a doctor as quickly as possible after their injuries. Parents should also take necessary precautions to prevent these injuries from happening, such as ensuring that children wear helmets during appropriate outdoor activities. 

While many consumers often point to their diet as a means of bettering their heart health, a new study found that good oral hygiene can produce similar results. 

According to researchers, too much inflammation in the body can cause two serious heart conditions -- congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. By brushing their teeth, consumers are clearing their bodies of bacteria that can build up and ultimately lead to poorer heart health. 

“It is certainly too early to recommend tooth brushing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure,” said researcher Dr. Tae-Jin Song. “While the role of inflammation in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease is becoming more and more evident, intervention studies are needed to define strategies of public health importance.” 

Practicing good oral hygiene

The researchers had over 161,000 participants involved in the study, none of whom had any issues regarding their heart health when the study began. 

At the start of the study, the participants’ health and lifestyle habits were assessed so the researchers could determine what routines were already in place regarding their oral hygiene. The team also assessed any risks that could lead to participants being more susceptible to a heart condition. 

Over a decade later, the participants were evaluated again; the researchers learned that those who were more diligent about brushing their teeth -- and did so multiple times per day -- were more likely to have better heart health. 

Regardless of any outside factors that could contribute to cardiovascular disease, the study revealed that those who brushed their teeth three times or more times throughout the day lowered their risk of both congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation by 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Dr. Song noted that the researchers “studied a large group over a long period, which adds strength to [their] findings.” 

The European Commission (EU) has launched a “preliminary investigation” into Google and Facebook’s data collection practices, Reuters reports. 

The EU didn’t provide many additional details on its probe. However, a document seen by Reuters indicates that Europe’s antitrust regulators are primarily looking into how and why the companies collect the information that they do.

Key focuses of the probe appear to include local search, advertising practices (including ad targeting), sign-in services, and web browsers. Regulators are reportedly looking into how consumer data is “gathered, processed, used and monetized” by the two companies.

“The Commission has sent out questionnaires as part of a preliminary investigation into Google’s and Facebook’s data practices,” an EU spokesperson told CNBC, adding that the preliminary investigation is “ongoing.”

Antitrust concerns

Two years ago, the European Commission slapped Google with a multi-billion dollar fine for breaching its antitrust rules. In March of this year, the EU fined Google $1.7 billion for "abusive" online ad practices.

“Google has abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service,” the EU said in a statement. 

When policymakers have questioned its privacy practices, Google has maintained that it uses the data it collects to improve its services. The tech giant has pointed out that it has enacted policies to enhance user privacy. 

"We use data to make our services more useful and to show relevant advertising, and we give people the controls to manage, delete or transfer their data," a Google spokesperson said in a statement regarding the EU probe.

There are ratings and rankings for darn near everything: colleges, weight loss diets, annuities, even how much love consumers have for their cars. 

Some of the annual lists that ConsumerAffairs readers look forward to revolve around travel. After all, if travelers are going to spend their hard-earned money to have a good time on a vacation, then, by George, they should have a good idea of which vacation-related businesses should receive their patronage.

Earlier this year, ConsumerAffairs reported on the carriers that AirlineRatings found to be the safest, and most of those airlines have made it onto 2020’s “best of” list as well. 

Drum roll, please…

The Top 20

1. Air New Zealand*

2. Singapore Airlines*

3. All Nippon Airways*

4. Qantas*

5. Cathay Pacific Airways*

6. Emirates*

7. Virgin Atlantic*

8. EVA Air*

9. Qatar Airways*

10. Virgin Australia*

11. Lufthansa*

12. Finnair*

13. Japan Airlines

14. KLM*

15. Korean Airlines

16. Hawaiian Airlines*

17. British Airways*

18. Alaska Airlines*

19. Delta Air Lines

20. Etihad Airways

*AirlineRatings 2019 Top 20 “Safest Airline” 

Good day, mates!

Air New Zealand edge Singapore Air out of the top position this time around. As a matter of fact, airlines from this region took three of the top 10 slots because of their penchant for giving travelers what they want.

“In our analysis, Air New Zealand came out number one in most of our audit criteria, which is an outstanding performance when it’s up against carriers with more resources and scale on this same list of best airlines for 2020,” commented Airline Ratings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. 

“Air New Zealand’s commitment to excellence in all facets of its business starts at the top with outstanding governance and one of the best executive teams in aviation through to a workforce that is delivering consistently to the airline’s strategy and customer promise.”

Who owns the specialty trophies?

In consumer rankings, there’s no participation trophy like there is in youth sports. However, there are specialties -- like “Best Cabin Crew” -- that can impact how consumers feel about a carrier when they go to tell someone about their trip.

• Best Premium Economy -- Air New Zealand

• Best Cabin Crew -- Virgin Australia

• Best Inflight Entertainment -- Emirates

• Best Business Class -- Qatar

• Best Lounges -- Qantas

• Best Long-Haul Middle East -- Emirates

• Most Improved Airline award for 2020 -- Cebu Pacific

• Best Low-Cost Airlines: JetBlue (Americas), Wizz (Europe) and AirAsia / AirAsia X (Asia/Pacific) and Air Arabia (Middle-East / Africa)

Where are the U.S.-based airlines?

It’s painfully obvious that U.S.-based airlines don’t stack up well in AirlineRatings rankings (other than Delta and regional carriers Hawaiian and Alaska.)

The biggest issue, interestingly enough, is because of the weather. Snowstorms, in particular, can play havoc with on-time performance. For example, a few feet of snow in Chicago can cause a terrible domino effect for American Airlines and United since Chicago’s O’Hare is a major hub for both. Added to United’s winter woes are the hubs they have in Newark and Denver.

While weather can indeed be an issue, the U.S. is more relaxed about flight delays. With their collective feet not being held to the fire to get somewhere on time, U.S. carriers might have become a little lax in that regard. 

“In Europe, air passengers are well protected by European Commission Regulation EC261, which entitles travelers to be paid up to €600 in compensation for flight delays of more than three hours,” writes TheAirhelper. 

“On the other hand, US regulations don’t have a lot to say about air passenger rights regarding flight delays. So anytime bad weather hits, it’s a double-whammy: airline performance suffers and passengers lose money.”

In a timely consumer advisory published ahead of Cyber Monday, the FBI's Portland field office has warned of the dangers of failing to adequately secure smart TVs. 

The agency said consumers shopping for a smart TV this holiday season should be aware that hackers could potentially use these products to infiltrate consumers’ home networks. They could also use them to take control of the camera and microphone. 

"Beyond the risk that your TV manufacturer and app developers may be listening and watching you, that television can also be a gateway for hackers to come into your home,” the FBI wrote on its website. “A bad cyber actor may not be able to access your locked-down computer directly, but it is possible that your unsecured TV can give him or her an easy way in the backdoor through your router.” 

The FBI said attackers could change channels, manipulate the volume, or show children inappropriate videos. 

“In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV’s camera and microphone and silently cyberstalk you,” the agency said. 

Securing smart TVs

To secure vulnerabilities and protect against exploits, the FBI suggested taking the following actions: 

• Know the device’s capabilities. Know exactly what features your TV has and how to control those features. A basic internet search with your model number and the words “microphone,” “camera,” and “privacy” can help you find this information.

• Don’t rely on default security settings. The FBI recommends changing passwords if you can. Consumer should also know how to turn off the microphones, cameras, and the device’s ability to collect personal information if possible. In the event that these features can’t be disabled, the agency advises consumers to “consider whether you are willing to take the risk of buying that model or using that service.” 

• Use tape if needed. A piece of black tape can be placed over the camera eye as a “back to basics” security option, the agency noted. 

• Seek information about patches. Check the manufacturer’s ability to update your device with security patches. 

• Check the privacy policy. Check the privacy policy for the TV manufacturer and the streaming services you use. Confirm what data they collect, how they store that data, and what they do with it.

Amazon has removed a series of products from its site after the operators of Poland’s Auschwitz Memorial said the products bore the images of the Nazi death camp.

The images were found on Christmas ornaments, bottle openers, key rings, and mouse mats.

“Selling ‘Christmas ornaments’ with images of Auschwitz does not seem appropriate,” the Auschwitz Memorial posted on its Twitter feed. “Auschwitz on a bottle opener is rather disturbing and disrespectful. We ask @amazon to remove the items of those suppliers.”

Amazon did so almost immediately. In a statement to the media, the online retailer said sellers that don’t follow Amazon’s selling guidelines are “subject to action,” including the closing of their selling account. The guidelines prohibit the sale of “products related to human tragedies and natural disasters.” 

Auschwitz is perhaps the most notorious of the Nazis’ concentration camps. An estimated 1 million people died there during World War II.

Third-party seller

The items were offered for sale by an unidentified third-party seller, not by Amazon itself. The Auschwitz Memorial posted screenshots of the online product descriptions. Each product depicted old, institutional-type buildings that were not identified with a location. One product carried a description that said: “The ideal city souvenir to commemorate and share the cities you have visited.” 

Neither Amazon nor the Auschwitz Memorial speculated about the motive for the product offerings -- whether they were intended to promote a neo-Nazi ideology or were simply the result of tone-deaf marketing.

However, this isn’t the first time that something like this has happened. CNBC reported last year that Amazon had removed some products from its site -- including infant clothing -- that carried Ku Klux Klan and Nazi symbols.

The United Auto Workers union has reached a tentative agreement with Fiat Chrysler (FCA) on a new contract, completing its negotiations with the “big three” automakers. The union previously reached agreements with Ford and GM -- the latter only after a bitter 40-day strike.

Union official Cindy Estrada, director of the UAW-FCA Department, said negotiations with FCA took place during the GM strike and Ford negotiations, which gave bargainers more time and made the process easier.

“The pattern bargaining strategy has been a very effective approach for the UAW and its members to negotiate economic gains around salary, benefits and job security,” Estrada said. “In addition to the $4.5 billion in major investments previously announced, negotiators secured an additional $4.5 billion for a total of $9 billion of investments adding 7,900 jobs during the contract period.”

Estrada declined to reveal details of the proposed contract, preferring to wait for union leaders to conduct a thorough review. Once those union leaders sign off, the pact will be put to FCA’s union employees for a ratification vote.

UAW Acting President Rory Gamble issued a statement praising both sides in the negotiations, noting that FCA has become the fastest-growing automaker in the U.S.

Union officials have been quick to point out the benefits of the proposed deal, but the union rank and file have a history of making up their own minds. Four years ago, they soundly rejected the first draft of the contract.

In the background is a lawsuit filed by GM that accuses FCA of racketeering by allegedly interfering in GM’s contract negotiations. GM claims that FCA bribed UAW officials over a number of years in an effort to gain marketplace advantages. FCA branded the lawsuit as “meritless” and said it would vigorously defend against it in court.

Renters can expect housing costs to rise and availability to decline in 2020, according to housing experts.

A new report from real estate marketplace Zillow shows average rent increased year-over-year each month from July through October. In October, the average rent was $1,600 -- an increase of 2.3 percent over October 2018.

While Zillow estimates rents grew throughout the country, its report focuses on the 35 largest metro areas. Rents declined in only two of them -- Columbus, Ohio and Houston. In markets where rents are growing, Zillow found they’re growing faster than in 2018.

Rents and home prices are rising for the same reason -- declining inventory. That pushed home rental costs up 6.4 percent in Phoenix, 5.2 percent in Las Vegas, and 4 percent in Charlotte. And because there are fewer homes to purchase, more consumers continue to rent, reducing the number of available units.

Warning from Harvard researchers

In June, a study by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies warned that the U.S. housing supply is falling far short of what’s needed, especially since a good economy has encouraged an increase in household formation.

Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies, says building activity has dropped off for a number of reasons. However, he says the most significant reasons are rising land prices and regulatory constraints on development.

“These constraints, largely imposed at the local level, raise costs and limit the number of homes that can be built in places where demand is highest,” Herbert said. “Meanwhile, a large percentage of new housing being built is intended primarily for the higher end of the market. The limited supply of smaller, more affordable homes in the face of rising demand suggests that the rising land costs and the difficult development environment make it unprofitable to build for the middle market.

Fewer affordable homes

The middle market is the segment that is encountering the most difficulty putting a roof over its head. Zillow reports that the inventory decline in October was sharpest in the bottom-third of the market, which is down 9.4 percent year-over-year. 

"Despite some fearful headlines, the U.S. economy keeps on trucking, and that is reflected in the continued rent growth across the country,” said Zillow Director of Economic Research Skylar Olsen. “The unemployment rate remains near record lows and wage growth keeps adding to renters' pocketbooks."

Over the last few years, a number of red hot housing markets saw the fastest growth in rents. If the last few months are any indication, Olsen says growing demand and limited supply of rental housing could become a national story.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe is recalling 163 Avon Cobra Chrome motorcycle tires, size 240/50R16, manufactured April 8, 2018. through June 1, 2019 (DOT date codes 1418-2119).

The innerliner gauge may be too thin, possibly resulting in a rapid deflation of the tire.

Rapid tire deflation can reduce vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Cooper Europe will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires free of charge. The recall began November 18, 2019.

Owners may contact Cooper Tire customer service at (800) 854-6288 or by email at tyrerecall@coopertire.com. Cooper Tire's number for this recall is 174.