Current Events in April 2021

A study co-authored by two MIT professors has found that staying six feet apart while indoors does little to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission among groups of people with mixed vaccination statuses. 

The researchers said COVID-19 is primarily spread through small aerosol droplets, not larger droplets as health experts initially warned during the early stages of the pandemic. Small aerosol droplets can stay suspended in the air for extended periods of time and disperse more evenly throughout a room. 

Based on this new knowledge, the study authors said the recommendation of staying six feet apart while indoors isn’t particularly effective at reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread. They say small aerosol droplets can still work their way through a room pretty easily and remain there for some time. 

How long the virus floats in the air

The MIT researchers created a model showing how long the particles that cause COVID-19 can stay in the air in different indoor scenarios. 

In a calm environment, the authors said small aerosol droplets would slowly drift to the ground. In a room filled with people that are talking, eating, singing, and sneezing, the droplets can be suspended in the airflow and mixed throughout the room for a longer period of time. 

Increasing the ventilation or air filtration can help mitigate the transmission risk in these types of environments by getting the particles out of the air, the researchers said. Their model that shows indoor transmission risk can be viewed here. 

Masks and ventilation crucial

The researchers stressed that people should still avoid very crowded indoor situations when possible, and they should wear masks if it’s necessary to be in a densely populated area.

“To minimize risk of infection, one should avoid spending extended periods in highly populated areas,” the researchers said. “One is safer in rooms with large volume and high ventilation rates.” 

Individuals are “at greater risk in rooms where people are exerting themselves in such a way as to increase their respiration rate and pathogen output, for example, by exercising, singing, or shouting,” the study authors added. They concluded by saying that wearing masks can reduce the risk of transmission.

Petco, which rebranded itself as Petco Health and Wellness Company last October, has launched a new credit card that it says will support animal welfare.

Petco Pay, provided in partnership with Alliance Data Systems Corporation, includes the Petco Pay Mastercard, a co-branded credit card, and the Petco Pay Credit Card, a private label credit card. 

The cards feature many of the standard perks and rewards most cards offer, but they also include one benefit designed to appeal to animal lovers. With every purchase made using Petco Pay credit cards, Petco says it will make a donation to Petco Love, an independent nonprofit organization that supports pet health and welfare.

Petco has pledged to donate up to $1 million a year to the initiatives carried out by Petco Love, including a program that helps find lost pets. 

"Petco's mission is to improve the lives of pets and pet parents, and we're leading the way in the credit card space with Petco Pay," said Tariq Hassan, Petco’s chief marketing officer. "This groundbreaking credit card program not only provides great benefits to cardmembers but also gives them the gratification of having a portion of every dollar they spend go toward helping animals in need."

Eight percent cash back on Petco purchases

The cards are being offered through Petco Pals Rewards, the retailer’s membership rewards program. The credit cards’ perks include 20% off the first Petco Pay purchase and 8% back at Petco. 

The company said the Petco Pay Mastercard offers additional earning opportunities like 2% back on grocery store purchases, 1% back wherever Mastercard is accepted, and a $25 Pals Reward for spending $500 outside of Petco within the first 90 days of approval. 

The Petco Pay Mastercard also features a contactless payment option. And to make the card stand out in your wallet, Petco said it will customize the cards with photos of the cardholder’s favorite pet.

A new statement released by researchers from the American Heart Association explored the health risks associated with consumers carrying excess belly fat. 

According to their report, body mass index (BMI) scores may not always be an indicator of an increased risk of heart disease. Instead, they say excess belly fat could be a better marker of heart disease risk; this means that those with a healthy BMI but a higher level of belly fat could be more susceptible to cardiovascular disease. 

“This scientific statement provides the most recent research and information on the relationship between obesity and obesity treatment in coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias,” said researcher Dr. Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley. “The timing of this information is important because the obesity epidemic contributes significantly to the global burden of cardiovascular disease and numerous chronic health conditions that also impact heart disease.” 

Weight plays and heart disease risk

To better understand how weight and BMI can impact heart disease risk, the researchers analyzed earlier studies that have looked at all of these factors. They then identified what posed the biggest threat to consumers’ health, what lifestyle changes are possible to reduce the risk of heart disease, and the preventative measures health care providers should take to ensure that all consumers are given the highest level of care. 

Ultimately, excess belly weight was linked with a higher risk of heart disease, regardless of BMI; findings showed that consumers with a healthy BMI but excess belly fat could be at an increased risk of developing heart disease. The team recommends adopting healthy habits like following a healthy diet and engaging in regular aerobic exercise to improve blood pressure and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, they found that the best health outcomes occurred for consumers who received weight loss surgery. 

“Additional work is needed to identify effective interventions for patients with obesity that improve cardiovascular disease outcomes and reduce cardiovascular disease mortality, as is seen with bariatric surgery,” Dr. Powell-Wiley said. 

Weight problems become more common

The researchers say the best way to identify those at the highest risk of heart disease is to continue monitoring BMI scores while also measuring consumers’ waist circumference to check for excess belly fat.

“As overweight and obesity prevalence increases among adolescents worldwide, it is critical to address how best to develop upstream primary prevention interventions and better treatment strategies, particularly for young patients with severe obesity,” Dr. Powell-Wiley said. 

From all indications, the 2021 vacation season will be a busy one as millions of newly-vaccinated Americans who were cooped up at home for months book travel.

But in the search for the best fare and hotel rate, consumers should be careful when booking and paying for trips. Scammers have reportedly launched fake booking sites, and some of these bogus sites are showing up in search engines.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports its Scam Tracker website has begun to receive accounts from angry consumers ripped off after they thought they had booked a vacation. In at least one case, criminals have created a website that appears to sell airline tickets.

The flights are real, but the prices aren’t. Attracted by what appears to be a great deal, consumers enter their credit card information and receive a confirmation message. A closer look, however, shows there is no ticket attached.

Different twist

Some consumers have reported a slightly different twist. After booking a flight on the bogus travel site they get a call from “customer service” saying there has been a price increase on the flight and they have to pay more. That should be a red flag since a legitimate company would not do that.

In many cases, the consumers who purchased tickets through one of these sites called the airline directly only to learn the carrier had no record of their reservation or payment.

The lesson for travelers is clear: be careful when booking a trip and make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate entity. There are several ways to do that.

What to do

First, if you’re booking through a third-party site like Priceline or Expedia, make sure it’s a company that is familiar to you. Better still, book through a company you have used in the past with good results.

When in doubt, check the company out on ConsumerAffairs. Our reviews are verified to make sure they are real. You’ll find thousands of reviews of the top travel sites here.

Look closely at the website’s URL before entering personal and payment information. It can be easy to click on a sponsored ad or imposter website without noticing. 

Be suspicious of websites with no working customer service number and no physical address. Typos and grammatical errors can be indications of a scammer’s handiwork, too.

When booking travel, use your credit card and not your debit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed and losses are limited by law.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 279,040 model year 2009-2015 Venzas.

The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.

Damaged wires may cause the airbag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain airbags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and -- if necessary -- replace the driver-side front door wire harness free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 31, 2021.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB01/21TA01.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 5,215 model year 2021 GLB35 AMGs, and model year 2020-2021 GLB250s.

The side spoilers on the tailgate might not have been installed correctly, allowing them to detach.

Detached spoilers can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and -- if necessary -- replace the side spoilers free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 31, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

The United States has agreed to share up to 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries in the coming months. 

Last September, AstraZeneca agreed to put forth its “best reasonable efforts” to deliver 180 million doses to the EU during the second quarter of 2021. However, the firm has so far only delivered 31 million doses. AstraZeneca said earlier this year that low yields at EU production plants were causing delivery delays. 

Now, the White House has announced that it will send doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries that need it. 

“We do not need to use AstraZeneca in our fight against covid,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday. “Over the next few months, before any AstraZeneca doses are shipped from the United States, the FDA will confirm any such doses meet its expectations for product quality. This is being done in the context of the ongoing review of all doses made at the plant where these AstraZeneca doses were produced.”

Recent data has suggested that the vast majority of the people who were most eager to get vaccinated already have been. Health officials are now focused on encouraging vaccinations among those who are open to getting inoculated but haven’t yet taken that step. However, they’re also pushing to vaccinate the global population. 

Once AstraZeneca’s vaccine clears federal safety reviews, the U.S. will begin sharing its entire stock of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines with the world. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 32,080,017 (32,063,938)

Total U.S. deaths: 572,226 (572,109)

Total global cases: 147,312,053 (146,707,516)

Total global deaths: 3,112,019 (3,103,553)

Johnson & Johnson vaccinations resume

Government health experts have cleared the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus (COVID-19) for use in the U.S., with distribution resuming over the weekend. 

An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed safety data before making the decision. In particular, they looked closely at the cases of six women who formed dangerous blood clots within weeks of being vaccinated. One woman died.

Within hours of the advisory committee vote, the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the pause after determining the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.

Many Americans skipping second dose

The U.S. has made great strides in getting the COVID-19 vaccine into people’s arms, but the CDC has issued a sobering statistic. Millions of Americans are getting the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine but are skipping the second.

Health officials say that puts recipients at greater risk. While one shot of either mRNA vaccine provides some level of protection, scientists say the second dose is needed to achieve an acceptable level of immunity.

The New York Times reports that people skipping the second dose have offered a variety of reasons. Among them, some say they don’t want to suffer the mild side effects often associated with the second dose.

As the pandemic fades, confidence grows

The Gallup organization reports that Americans are showing confidence in the economy for the first time since early March 2020. Gallup's Economic Confidence Index showed a score of +2 in April, the first time it has been net positive since just before the economic shutdown.

Even though Americans’ economic outlook brightened somewhat in previous months, especially after the stock market hit record highs, it remained in negative territory.

In the new survey, 28% of respondents said current economic conditions are either excellent or good, while 26% said they are poor. Last month, 23% rated current conditions as excellent or good and 31% said they were poor.

Study finds pregnancy increases risk of dying from COVID-19

Researchers say being pregnant is a significant risk factor for dying from COVID-19. Scientists at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine studied 2,100 pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy and found they were 20 times more likely to die than those who did not contract the virus.

UW Medicine and University of Oxford doctors led this first-of-its-kind study, published in JAMA Pediatrics. The investigation involved more than 100 researchers and was conducted in the early months of the pandemic before vaccines were developed.

“The No. 1 takeaway from the research is that pregnant women are no more likely to get COVID-19, but if they get it, they are more likely to become very ill and more likely to require ICU care, ventilation, or experience preterm birth and preeclampsia," said Dr. Michael Gravett, one of the study's lead authors.

India struggles to contain surge in cases

While the U.S. has been able to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, other countries that are behind the U.S. in terms of vaccination rates are seeing a sharp increase. India is a case in point.

The country’s health ministry reported 352,991 new cases and 2,812 virus-related deaths today. It is setting records no country wants to set -- recording the world's highest daily caseload for the fifth straight day.

As hospitals in India fill to capacity, the country is running out of oxygen to treat the most seriously ill. India’s vaccination rate is about 10% of the population.

Around the nation

• Connecticut: Education officials say the state’s schoolchildren already lagged behind national literacy standards before the pandemic. They now worry about how much kids have lost by not being in the classroom. “We know we have a reading achievement gap in this country, and I do believe that the pandemic has heightened it,” said Cassie Budman, a reading specialist at Highland Park Elementary School in Manchester.

• Texas: Texas was one of the first states to fully reopen and has not suffered from a surge in new COVID-19 cases that many predicted. The state has reported 165 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over the past two weeks, keeping it in 40th place among all U.S. states and territories, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

• Michigan: A surge in new cases continues, with state health officials reporting 4,698 new cases and 121 additional deaths over the weekend. They say hospitalizations include many younger patients who have not yet been vaccinated. 

If there was any question that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would expand its recent additions to school and daycare meals to help children out this summer, there’s not any longer. On Monday, the agency announced a major effort to provide a lifeline to more than 30 million children by expanding Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits at a time when families are struggling to put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Only children are eligible for this temporary nutrition benefit -- and only those who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year or are under age six and live in a SNAP household can apply. Families of eligible children typically receive $6.82 per child per weekday, or roughly $375 per child over the summer months. The benefits will be loaded onto an EBT card that can be used to purchase food.

“The expansion of P-EBT benefits over the summer is a first-of-its-kind, game-changing intervention to reduce child hunger in the United States,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By providing low-income families with a simple benefit over the summer months, USDA is using an evidenced-based solution to drive down hunger and ensure no child has to miss a meal.”

How the program works

Parents of potentially qualified children will likely have some questions about how this program works. ConsumerAffairs took a look into the details to find answers to the more commonly asked questions.

Who’s eligible? All school children who would have received free or reduced-price school meals at school under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) are eligible for P-EBT benefits this summer. This includes:

• School children who received P-EBT benefits during the last month of the 2020-2021 school year. The USDA says children who graduate at the end of the school year are also eligible because the covered summer period is an extension of the school year.

• School children who were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals under the NSLP and SBP in the 2020/2021 school year but did not receive P-EBT benefits in the last month of the school year because they attended school in-person and benefitted from a free or reduced-price meal service at school.

What about children in daycare? Children in daycare are also eligible to receive benefits. The USDA says children falling under the following categories can take advantage of meal assistance: 

• SNAP-enrolled children who received P-EBT child care benefits in the last month of the school year.

• SNAP-enrolled children who would have received P-EBT child care benefits in the last month of the school year but didn’t because their child care facility was not closed or operating at reduced attendance or hours during that month. This also includes children whose residence was in the area of a school that was closed or operating at reduced attendance or hours in that month.

• SNAP-enrolled children who are born before the end of the covered summer period are also eligible for P-EBT benefits for the entire covered summer period.

How long is the covered summer period? The summer period will be a maximum of 90 calendar days. 

How many P-EBT benefit days are in the covered summer period? The number of P-EBT benefit days is not 90 total; it equals the number of weekdays during the covered summer period. In preparing the plan, the USDA reviewed publicly available summer 2021 calendars for the two largest districts in every state and found that the median length of these districts’ summer breaks, excluding weekends, is 55 weekdays.

Are all states included in the program? Yes. 

Is there any flexibility on the amount received? Only for recipients in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories. Alaskans will receive $10.99 per day, and Hawaiians and certain U.S. territory residents will receive $7.97 per day. 

Consumers who have additional questions should check out the USDA’s complete guide to the program, which is available here.

Vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine have resumed after government health agencies lifted the pause that they had placed on it pending a safety review.

An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spent about a week reviewing safety data. In particular, the medical experts looked closely at the cases of six women who formed dangerous blood clots within weeks of being vaccinated.

Late Friday, the advisory committee voted to recommend a resumption of Johnson & Johnson vaccinations. Within hours, the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the pause after determining:

• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective in presenting COVID-19.

• The available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.

• The available data suggest that the chance of blood clot formation is very low.

• Both agencies will continue to investigate the possible risk.

Examined all available data

While the vaccinations were suspended, medical and scientific teams at the FDA and CDC examined available data to assess the risk of the rare but serious blood clot condition called thrombosis, which involves the cerebral venous sinuses, or CVST, and other large blood vessels in the body.

Both agencies also contacted providers and clinicians to ensure they were made aware of the potential for these adverse events and could properly manage and recognize these conditions if they occurred in people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Vaccinations resumed over the weekend.

“Above all else, health and safety are at the forefront of our decisions,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. “Our vaccine safety systems are working.”

‘Exceptionally rare events’

Walensky said the two health agencies identified what she called “exceptionally rare events,” noting that the small number of reactions occurred out of millions of doses administered.

"As the global pandemic continues to devastate communities around the world, we believe a single-shot, easily transportable COVID-19 vaccine with demonstrated protection against multiple variants can help protect the health and safety of people everywhere,” said Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientific officer.

The company has also updated the emergency use authorization (EUA) fact sheets for health care providers administering the vaccine. The update includes information about the diagnosis and treatment of blood clot conditions. 

In an interview with The New York Times in Brussels, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that vaccinated Americans will be able to travel to countries in the European Union this summer.

More than a year ago, it was announced that nonessential travel to the EU would be banned to limit the spread of COVID-19. But van der Leyen said the U.S. is well on its way to reaching its vaccination goals, meaning leisure travel to the EU will soon be permitted once again. 

"The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines," von der Leyen said, according to Sunday’s report. "This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union. Because one thing is clear: All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A.”

The three vaccines currently being administered in the United States -- Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson -- have all been approved by the E.M.A. (the bloc’s drugs regulator). 

Talks of vaccine certificates

The European Union is reportedly talking with authorities in the U.S. about “vaccine certificates” that would serve as proof of vaccination when an American is traveling. 

According to the Times, "technical discussions have been going on for several weeks between European Union and United States officials on how to practically and technologically make vaccine certificates from each place broadly readable."

With or without vaccination passports, von der Leyen said the U.S. is “on track” and making “huge progress” with its push to achieve herd immunity through vaccinating at least 70% of adults by mid-June. According to data from the CDC, about 28% of Americans are now fully vaccinated. Roughly half of all U.S. adults had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of mid-April. 

Von der Leyen didn’t provide a timeline for when tourist travel to the EU will be allowed to resume, according to the Times report. 

In new guidance issued Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control for Prevention (CDC) said summer camps can safely operate this summer as long as certain precautions are followed. 

The CDC said youth and summer camps can play an important role in children’s lives, offering kids “opportunities to try new activities, develop relationships and social skills, and be physically active.” 

“In addition to allowing for free play and unstructured learning, many camps also incorporate educational content, which can help prevent summer learning loss,” the CDC said. “The present guidance is intended to help camp administrators operate camps while preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting campers, their families, staff, and communities.” 

Limiting COVID-19 spread in camps

Although the nation is in a much brighter place than it was last summer, the COVID-19 pandemic is still present. Because of this fact, the CDC recommends a “consistent and layered”  approach to COVID-19 transmission prevention. 

To limit the spread of the coronavirus among children, families, and camp staff, the CDC recommends: 

• Keeping kids three feet apart. Children must be at least 3 feet apart from each other most of the time, which mirrors the agency's recommendation for schools. Six feet of social distancing is still recommended for children while eating and drinking.

• Maintaining six feet of distance between adults. Camp counselors and adults present should stay at least 6 feet away from each other and children. 

• Having most activities outdoors. If summer camps do have activities indoors, they should leave windows and doors open. “Bringing fresh, outdoor air into your facility helps keep virus particles from concentrating inside,” the CDC said.

• Encouraging mask use. Masks are recommended for anyone who can wear one except when doing activities that preclude mask-wearing, such as eating and drinking or swimming.

• Encouraging vaccination. The CDC encourages camp employees over the age of 16 to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccines currently in use have not been approved for those under the age of 16, and health officials have noted that children are far less likely to become severely ill or spread the virus. 

A battle royale is brewing between Roku and Google. On Monday, Roku sent out an email to its 50+ million users saying that Google may take away their access to the YouTube TV channel on Roku.

A Roku spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs there are three key issues that the platform is wrestling with: 

• Google’s request that Roku manipulate consumer search.

• What Roku calls discriminatory tactics levied by Google exclusively against Roku.

• An attempt to tie other aspects of the Google monopoly together such as leveraging the negotiations Roku and Google are holding that could make Google’s own hardware more price-competitive by threatening to remove the much bigger YouTube app. The Roku spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs that this point is not up for negotiation at this time. 

Roku says it’s standing up for its customers

In its email to subscribers, Roku hammered home that the platform is sticking to its guns to ensure “a great streaming experience at an exceptional value.” 

“We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements to manipulate your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more,” the company stated.

When ConsumerAffairs contacted Roku, its spokesperson wasted no time in taking off the gloves. They said Google was attempting to force Roku into accepting predatory, anti-competitive, and discriminatory terms that will directly impact Roku’s users. 

“Given antitrust suits against Google, investigations by competition authorities of anti-competitive behavior and Congressional hearings into Google’s practices, it should come as no surprise that Google is now demanding unfair and anti-competitive terms that harm Roku’s users,” the spokesperson said.

Google fires back

The fight turned even uglier when ConsumerAffairs contacted Google for its side of the argument.

Google called out Roku for making inaccurate public claims, but the company said that it wasn’t really surprised by Roku’s ploy to go public to raise the specter of negotiations. Google pointed out two recent examples of that -- one with WarnerMedia and another negotiation with NBC’s Peacock. Roku wasn’t alone in its stand-off with Peacock; Amazon also played hardball for the sake of its Fire TV service.

“We have been working with Roku in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits our viewers and their customers. Unfortunately, Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations. We’re disappointed that they chose to make baseless claims while we continue our ongoing negotiations,” a Google spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs.

“All of our work with them has been focused on ensuring a high quality and consistent experience for our viewers. We have made no requests to access user data or interfere with search results.”

What consumers can expect as an end result

At the end of this bout, it’s likely that both sides will find a way to work things out, call it a draw, and lay down their swords for the sake of the consumer. Neither side would say much more than it’s working in good faith to reach an equitable agreement that benefits its users.

“We believe consumers stand to benefit from Google and Roku reaching a fair agreement that preserves consumers access to YouTube TV, protects user data and promotes a competitive, free and open marketplace. We are committed to trying to achieve that goal,” Roku said. 

Google was on the same page, saying that it hopes the two sides “can resolve this for the sake of our mutual users.”

It’s not only getting harder to buy a home, it’s getting more difficult -- and expensive -- to rent one.

When the pandemic prompted many apartment dwellers to move out and purchase single-family homes, rents flatlined and landlords offered incentives to keep their units occupied. But a new report from realtor.com shows that rental bargains are now few and far between.

Rents in the nation’s 50 largest housing markets rose in March for the first time in eight months, increasing 1.1% year-over-year. The median rent last month in those same markets was $1,463. It marked a reversal from the preceding months, when rent growth had slowed from 2.2% in July 2020 to just 0.6% in February.

"Although we're still below the 3.2% growth we were seeing before COVID, average rent growth in the nation's largest housing markets saw its first uptick since July 2020, and rents are poised to rise at a quickening pace as recovery continues,” said realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

But Hale says there are exceptions. Markets dominated by high-tech employers, along with large metros like Chicago and Los Angeles, are actually seeing rent declines. But she says that could change in the coming months as the red-hot housing market eventually increases competition for rentals.

Home prices still rising by double-digits

Real estate broker Redfin reports that the median home sale price has increased by 18% year-over-year to $344,625, an all-time high. It attributes the rise to a trend that has occurred throughout the pandemic -- families in search of more space.

More buyers and fewer available homes have given sellers the upper hand. The Redfin report shows that asking prices reached an all-time high of $356,175 during the last four weeks. Homes that sold were on the market for an average of just 21 days before going under contract -- the shortest time since 2012.

More telling, 45% of homes sold for more than their list price, an all-time high. This was 18 percentage points higher than the same period a year earlier.

Hope for buyers?

With homebuilders producing fewer new houses, the housing market is dependent on owners of existing homes to list their properties for sale. Now that the pandemic appears to be winding down, real estate marketplace Zillow reports that more people are doing just that.

The inventory of homes for sale went down 1.1% last month, but Zillow notes that the decline was the smallest since July. Zillow takes that as a sign that listings have resumed normal seasonal patterns and predicts that frustrated buyers could find more choices in the months ahead.

However, prices are still going up. Zillow reports that home value appreciation pushed the accelerator closer to the floor in March, rising a record 1.2% month-over-month to $276,717. 

Many consumers rely on the support of others to stay on track with eating healthy. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found that food choices made by coworkers may have a lot of influence on consumers’ diets. 

According to their findings, many consumers’ are impacted by their coworkers’ food choices -- both positively and negatively. Whether it’s healthy or unhealthy foods, coworkers are likely to base their workplace food selections on what others are eating. 

“We found that individuals tend to mirror the food choices of others in their social circles, which may explain one way obesity spreads through social networks,” said researcher Douglas Levy, Ph.D. 

Making healthy choices

To understand how coworkers can influence each other’s food habits, the researchers tracked food purchases from over 6,000 employees at Massachusetts General Hospital over the course of two years. By looking at when people bought food, the team could determine which employees were social and what purchases impacted others. The researchers also interviewed 1,000 employees to confirm which groups were friendly and frequently ate together. 

“Two people who make purchases within two minutes of each other, for example, are more likely to know each other than those who make purchases 30 minutes apart,” Dr. Levy said. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that people who regularly ate together were likely to influence each other’s eating habits. Employees who ate healthy foods were likely to influence their coworkers to also make healthy choices, while the opposite was also true. However, the researchers did find that this association was stronger for healthy foods. 

“People may change their behavior to cement the relationship with someone in their social circle,” Dr. Levy said. 

The team explained that social networks play a larger role in consumers’ food choices than previously established lifestyles. Though many people believe that those with healthy diets may seek out other healthy eaters, this study confirmed that social dynamics play a bigger role in what consumers decide to eat. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that consumers use these findings to their advantage. Having a support system dedicated to eating healthy can help more people make healthier choices. 

“As we emerge from the pandemic and transition back to in-person work, we have an opportunity to eat together in a more healthful way than we did before,” said researcher Mark C. Pachucki. “If your eating habits shape how your coworkers eat -- even just a little -- then changing your food choices for the better might benefit your coworker.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Yale University explored the health burden associated with COVID-19 and pregnancy. 

Their findings showed that the virus didn’t pose a threat to the women’s placentas; however, they found that COVID-19 may have a stronger effect on pregnant women’s immune systems, which can increase their risk for several pregnancy-related complications. 

“The good news is the placenta is mounting a robust defense against an infection that is far distant, in lungs or nasal tissue,” said researcher Shelli Farhadian. “On the other hand, the high level of immune system activity might be leading to other deleterious effects on the pregnancy.” 

Understanding the health risks

The researchers came to their conclusions after analyzing placenta and blood samples from pregnant women who were infected with COVID-19 and those who were healthy throughout their pregnancies. By examining samples from the various stages of pregnancy, the team was able to gauge what effect the virus had on immune system function. 

The team found that women who were infected by COVID-19 early on during their pregnancy lost the use of their ACE2 receptor, which is the entrance point for the virus to infect cells. Conversely, women who weren’t infected maintained the use of their ACE2 receptor throughout their first trimester. 

While the loss of the ACE2 receptor shows that infected women’s immune systems were responding to the virus, the researchers say it also made them more susceptible to complications like preeclampsia and premature birth. 

Though there is still more to learn about how COVID-19 affects pregnancy and the immune system, the researchers hope these findings highlight some of the risks pregnant women may face during the pandemic. 

“It is very important to closely monitor expectant mothers who become infected early in pregnancy,” said Farhadian. 

Brompton Bicycle of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling about 600 Brompton Electric Folding Bicycles.

Due to a software malfunction, the electric system can continue to provide assistance to the motor, causing continued forward momentum when the rider is not actively pedaling, posing fall and injury hazards.

The firm has received one report of a bicycle providing continued assistance when the rider had stopped pedaling. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Brompton Electric Folding Bicycles with a three-section folding frame, 16-inch wheels sold in black, white, Turkish green & bolt lacquer.

The serial number is printed on a label on the frame of the bicycle. For a full list of the serial numbers included in the recall, visit https://us.brompton.com/recall.

The bicycles, manufactured in the United Kingdom, were sold at The Brompton Junction Store in New York and authorized Brompton Electric Dealers nationwide from June 2020, through March 2021, for between $3,500 and $3,800.

What to do

Consumers should stop using the recalled bicycles immediately and contact the nearest authorized Brompton Electric dealer for a free software upgrade to Version 1-2-10-2.

Consumers may contact Brompton Bicycle at (800) 578-6785 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at Support@Brompton.com, online at https://us.brompton.com/ and click “Brompton Electric Recall Notice” in the middle of the page for more information.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 12,327 of the following model year 2021 vehicles:

• AMG C43
• AMG C63
• AMG C63 S
• AMG CLS53
• AMG E53
• AMG G63
• AMG GLC43
• AMG GLC63
• AMG GLC63 S
• AMG GT43
• AMG GT53
• AMG GT63
• AMG GT63S
• C300
• CLS450
• E350
• E450
• G550
• GLC300

A faulty electrical contact within the seat position switch may prevent the driver and passenger airbags and seat belt force limiters from activating properly in a crash.

Airbags and seat belts that do not perform properly in a crash can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat position switches free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 31, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

With the economy beginning to reopen and COVID-19 vaccinations continuing to trend upward, cabin fever is giving way to wanderlust, and people are starting to make travel plans. As a result, airlines are reaping the rewards, with over 80% of consumers saying they plan to travel this year.

But which airline is going to give travelers the best experience when they return to the air? While you can take the carriers’ word for it, why not check in with actual consumers to see what they have to say on the matter?

To find out which airlines are producing the best travel experiences, ConsumerAffairs turned to our own review-driven data. After all, if someone really likes -- or hates -- a product or service, they’re more likely to tell their story.

Southwest comes out on top

According to consumers posting reviews at ConsumerAffairs, Southwest Airlines came out as the clear winner in the first quarter of 2021. The budget airline cautiously added more flights, deployed more aircraft, and brought back furloughed staff. Those efforts have paid off handsomely in the review department.

Southwest earned five-star reviews 72.9% of the time during the first three months of the year. On the other end of the ratings measuring stick, it only received one-star reviews 8.3% of the time, the same percentage as its three-star reviews. 

One of the consumers giving Southwest a five-star review was Jennifer, from Rockford, Illinois.

“I hadn’t flown in years, so I was a little anxious, and on top of coronavirus, we had to sit accordingly, and I have extra weight on me so it was hard to sit in a seat with minimal legroom for 2 hours!” she wrote in her ConsumerAffairs post. “But the airline attendees were fantastic, they just went on doing everything normally and catering to all of our needs. I felt very relaxed with them showing us they were in charge and assured of our flight! And the trip home was even better!”

All told, based on 1,685 ratings submitted in the last year on ConsumerAffairs, Southwest earns just shy of an overall four-star rating.

The runners-up

Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines were neck and neck for the second spot in our reviewers’ overall opinion. Delta’s five-star reviews made up 52.2% of its total, with Alaska Airlines just a hair shy of that at 52.1%. 

But when four-star reviews are added to the mix, Delta takes off and leaves all other airlines in the dust. Delta’s four-star reviews made up 20.4% of its total reviews, while Alaska Airlines’ four-star reviews accounted for 17.3% of its total.

Taking into account the 1,764 ratings consumers submitted to ConsumerAffairs about Delta in the last year, it earns an overall four-star rating. While the total number of ratings submitted for Alaska Airlines is considerably smaller (474), the love that reviewers gave them was just as strong as Delta’s customers, earning Alaska a four-star rating as well.

Kind of good, but kind of bad too

While it appears that Southwest, Delta, and Alaska got most of ConsumerAffairs reviewers’ love, it doesn’t mean that others were besieged by bad reviews. In fact, a couple of airlines got great reviews, but they were also beset with some reviews that dragged down their overall scores. 

Take JetBlue, for example. It received a five-star review 45.8% of the time. However, it also received a one-star review 33.3% of the time. It’s not alone when it comes to that disparity. Allegiant Airlines was deemed worthy of five-star reviews 41.8% of the time but was besieged by one-star reviews 35.7% of the time.

Budget carriers such as Allegiant Airlines are dependent on fees to keep them in the green, and asking for as much as $80 for seat selection, $5 to print out a boarding pass, and $14.99 to purchase a ticket on a phone rather than online can get old. Just ask Michelle of Summerville, South Carolina.

“It was my first and LAST flight with them,” Anderson wrote. “They cost me additional fees in parking and my rental car and had the nerve to charge me a double fee for an extra bag bc I had already checked in on the app and it wouldn’t let me add a bag. The kind woman at check in waived the $50 exorbitant fee and the aid at the gate stopped me and took my bag and made me pay it at boarding.”

There are people who fly budget airlines, know exactly what they’re getting, and are happy to live without the frills as long as they get a good deal -- people like Joy from Pittsburgh, who appears to have flown Allegiant several times and still gives it a five-star review.

“Great airline with great prices. I have never had to wait for a flight and we have always been on time or sometimes early. The flight crews have always [been] very friendly and helpful. I would recommend this airline to my friends,” Joy wrote.

Two major airlines fall short

To our surprise, there are two large and successful airlines that have some work to do in the ratings department: American and United.

United Airlines’ one-star reviews were higher than its three-, four-, and five-star ratings combined. One-star reviews made up 47% of United’s totals, while its three levels of favorable reviews only added up to 45.1% of the total.

One of United’s three-star reviews came from Bill of Germantown, Maryland. “It always seems as if I'm playing air travel roulette when I fly United - will the airplane depart on time to make connections or not. The last time I flew I had to run from one concourse to another in DIA (Washington Dulles). Not fun,” he wrote.

As for American, ConsumerAffairs readers gave the Dallas-based carrier a one-star rating 43.1% of the time. That compares to 29.4% for five-star reviews and 18.8% for four-star reviews.

While Spirit Airlines doesn’t have the history that United and American do, its pre-pandemic passenger load of more than 34 million passengers a year was impressive enough to rank seventh out of all U.S. airlines in that metric. Its “Less Money, More Go” tagline might be putting people in seats, but ConsumerAffairs reviews show that not everyone is happy with the company’s business model.

Not only did Spirit amass the lowest percentage of five-star ratings -- 5.5% -- but it also racked up the highest number of one-star ratings at 69.4%. If the airline is looking for a reason, it doesn't need to look any further than the one-star review Haley from Young America, Minnesota, gave the carrier.

“Booked a round trip flight in which Spirit would be our airline back home. I heard nothing from this airline apart from junk mail promoting deals,” Haley wrote. “When I went to check into our flight 24 hours before our departure, I found out that our flight no longer existed and they had moved our nonstop flight to a two stop flight that would take 9 additional hours with a 7 hour layover.”

Despite the poor first-quarter showing, Spirit Airlines earned just under a four-star rating from ConsumerAffairs readers based on 1,461 ratings submitted in the last year.

ConsumerAffairs verifies all reviews before they are published, and we require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real. We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews, and our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

Mark Huffman contributed to this article.