Current Events in April 2022

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2022

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    WiseTrade recalls Enoki Mushrooms

    The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

    WiseTrade Corporation of Irvine, Calif., is recalling all cases of Enoki Mushrooms imported from Korea.

    The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

    No illnesses have been reported to date.

    The recalled product, which comes in a 200-g/7.05-oz clear plastic package with UPC 809728-95012 on the back of the package, was sold in retail stores in California.

    What to do

    Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

    Consumers with questions may contact the company at (949) 264-2268 Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PST).

    WiseTrade Corporation of Irvine, Calif., is recalling all cases of Enoki Mushrooms imported from Korea.The product may be contaminated with Listeria mo...

    Hands-off detection software error prompts Mercedes-Benz recall

    The vehicle's DISTRONIC system features may not function properly

    Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 8,396 of the following vehicles:

    • Model year 2022 AMG GT 43s, AMG GT53s, S500s, AMG EQSs, EQS450s, EQS580s, AMG GT63 Ss, C300s, CLS450s, AMG SL63s, AMG SL55s;
    • Model year 2021 AMG CLS53s, AMG E63 Wagon Ss, AMG E63 Ss; and
    • Model year 2021-2022 AMG E53s, E350s, E450 Cabriolets, E450 Coupes, E450 Wagons, E450s, AMG E53 Cabriolets, AMG E53 Coupes, S580s, and Maybach S580s with a heated leather steering wheel.

    Due to a software error in the hand detection control unit, the hands-off detection might not detect when the driver's hands are away from the steering wheel when using the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC system.

    Deactivated hands-off detection will prevent DISTRONIC system features from functioning, including issuing warnings to grab the steering wheel, engagement of the Active Emergency Stop Assist feature, or the ability to call first responders in the event of an emergency. All of these errors can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    What to do

    Dealers will update the hand detection control unit software for the DISTRONIC system free of charge.

    Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 20, 2022.

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

    Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 8,396 of the following vehicles: Model year 2022 AMG GT 43s, AMG GT53s, S500s, AMG EQSs, EQS450s, EQS580s, AMG...

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      Ford recalls model year 2016 and 2020 Transit Connect vehicles

      The windshield may not stay adhered to the vehicle

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 39,720 model year 2016 and 2020 Transit Connect vehicles.

      The windshield may have been manufactured with inadequate adhesion to the vehicle body structure.

      This could cause the windshield to detach from the vehicle in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

      What to do

      Dealers will inspect the windshield and -- if necessary -- remove and reinstall the windshield free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 18, 2022.

      Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S20.

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 39,720 model year 2016 and 2020 Transit Connect vehicles.The windshield may have been manufactured with inadequate adhe...

      Amazon to charge sellers additional 5% fuel and inflation surcharge

      The new fees may be passed along to consumers to offset business costs

      In an attempt to keep its bottom line from going into the red, Amazon has announced that it will increase its fulfillment fee rates to sellers by 5% – a surcharge related to inflation and rising fuel prices. The company said that it’s the first time in its 28-year history that it’s had to do that.

      Effective April 28, sellers will see an average increase of $0.24 to their per unit fulfillment fee rates. As an example, if a seller had previously paid $5 in fulfillment fees, they’ll now pay $5.25. This fee covers the cost for Amazon to pick, pack, ship the products in less than two days, and provide customer service on the orders.

      "Like many, we have experienced significant cost increases and absorbed them, wherever possible, to reduce the impact on our selling partners,” Amazon said in an email sent to its sellers. 

      The company noted that while the surcharge is a mechanism broadly used across supply chain providers, the move was unplanned. Going into 2022, Amazon anticipated a return to business as usual as COVID-19 restrictions eased, but fuel prices and inflation presented the company with unexpected challenges.

      Consumers may have to pay more

      ConsumerAffairs reached out to Amazon to see if the company expected the extra surcharge to result in consumers paying more for products, but the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Amazon sellers are already speaking out.

      “Consumers will lose,” Dan Brownsher, the owner of e-commerce consulting business Channel Key, told Bloomberg News. “Amazon already raised fees in January, so sellers will have to raise prices.”

      While Amazon is in the spotlight at the moment, it’s not the only company raising prices or adding surcharges to offset the impact of inflation and gas prices. Rideshare leaders Lyft and Uber have also added fuel surcharges to help compensate their drivers for the spike in fuel prices that they have to pay out of their own pockets.

      ---

      Update: This story has been updated to reflect a clarification on how Amazon will be applying the 5% surcharge to sellers.

      In an attempt to keep its bottom line from going into the red, Amazon has announced that it will begin charging sellers a 5% surcharge related to inflation...

      Coronavirus update: Pfizer booster reportedly protects kids from Omicron variant

      The FDA has approved two more tests

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

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80,514,666 (80,480,771)

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 987,560 (986,460)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 501,970,999 (501,027,009)

      Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,190,360 (6,186,045)‌

      Drugmakers say booster shots effective for young children

      Pfizer and BioNTech report that a clinical trial has shown that their vaccine booster shot provides effective protection from COVID-19 in children between the ages of five and 11. Specifically, they say the shot provided protection against infection from the Omicron variant.

      The trial analyzed data from 140 children five through 11 years of age who received a booster dose approximately six months after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. It showed that antibody levels increased 36 times more than after the second dose of the mRNA vaccine.

      “A robust response was observed regardless of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the companies reported.

      FDA approves two more at-home tests

      The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two additional over-the-counter (OTC) at-home COVID-19 antigen tests. The agency says validation data was gathered through the FDA’s collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Independent Test Assessment Program (ITAP). 

      The Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) were issued to Osang LLC for its OHC COVID-19 Antigen Self Test and Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., Ltd for its Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Card. The FDA said it is continuing to make it easier for Americans to test for the virus.

      The FDA says the products are antigen diagnostic tests that show results in 15 minutes and that they can be used as a serial test for people with or without symptoms. That means the test is done two times over three days, with at least 24 hours and no more than 48 hours between tests.

      Uninsured face COVID financial crunch

      Americans who have no health insurance will face costs when they need a COVID-19 test or treatment for the virus. The federal government bore those costs up until now, but funding has run out and has not been renewed.

      Unless and until funding is restored, uninsured Americans may be charged $100 or more for a test and will be presented with hospital bills if they require treatment. 

      CNBC reports that Senate negotiators reached a $10 billion bipartisan COVID-19 funding deal last week. However, the package does not include a White House request for $1.5 billion to cover the uninsured and pay some vaccine costs.

      Around the nation

      • Ohio: Ohio is one of the latest states to report a sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases. State health officials say new cases have increased by more than 23%. Despite that, Ohio ranks 31st among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, according to USA TODAY.

      • California: Hundreds of thousands of Californians are reportedly waiting for promised emergency COVID-19 rental assistance, with fewer than half of applicants having received the money. "We’ve had to choose between paying bills and feeding our family,"  Melissa Menez told KTVU-TV. "I don’t know what’s taking so long."

      • Michigan: Even though COVID-19 cases are increasing in the state, the Detroit Free Press reports that thousands of doses of an effective antiviral medicine are sitting unused because doctors aren’t prescribing them. "What we really saw was the clinicians were a little bit hesitant to prescribe it,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive.

      • Texas: New cases of the coronavirus are rising in Texas, but hospitalizations aren’t. In fact, health officials are reporting the fewest hospitalizations since the pandemic began. As of Tuesday, 823 Texans were hospitalized with the virus, a decrease of 34 from the day before.

      • Iowa: The virus spread quickly through meatpacking plants in the early days of the pandemic, and now the family of an employee who died of COVID-19 is suing his former employer. Jose Andrade-Garcia died after contracting COVID-19 while working at the JBS USA meatpacking plant in Marshalltown.

      COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80...

      U.S. travel mask mandate extended for another two weeks

      A travel group says it’s time for the White House to set a clear end date

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has decided that the U.S. is not quite ready to lift its travel mask mandate.

      The agency is extending the Transportation Security Administration's mask requirement for all transportation networks through May 3 – two weeks longer than it was set to expire – over concerns of a coronavirus surge spurred by the BA.2 subvariant, which has proven to spread quickly.

      The TSA mask mandate for travel stipulates that consumers must wear a mask while on trains, buses, rail systems, airplanes, and at airports.

      "In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC Order will remain in place at this time," the CDC said in a statement. "At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive and emergency amendment for 15 days, through May 3, 2022."

      Despite the short extension, there is no guarantee that May 3 is the definitive end to the mask mandate. In a press briefing delivered Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended the CDC's move and said the extra two weeks will give officials more time to assess the potential impact of the BA.2 subvariant. Psaki said the CDC will determine what the next steps will be at the end of the two-week extension.

      No longer practical

      ConsumerAffairs reached out to the U.S. Travel Association to get their reaction to the extension, and the organization was not shy about expressing its displeasure with the move.

      “Travelers and the travel industry need to hear firm plans to navigate the endemic environment in which the public and practically all other industries are now operating, particularly as the CDC no longer recommends masks for the overwhelming majority of the U.S. population,” Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes told us.

      “With all of the tools now available to mitigate the virus, it is time for the administration to set a clear end date for federal requirements on mask usage as well as pre-departure testing for air travelers to the U.S.”

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has decided that the U.S. is not quite ready to lift its travel mask mandate.The agency is extendi...

      Harvard picked as top college in both the U.S. and the world

      Experts weigh in on how students should choose a college or university

      When students consider a college or university, they often consider what experts say are the best institutions of higher education. On both of its annual lists of the best colleges in the world and the U.S.AcademicInfluence.com has ranked Harvard as the top option.

      But picking a college is a big decision – and a very expensive one – so a lot of personal and individual considerations should go into the choice. Jed Macosko, a physics professor at Wake Forest University and president of AcademicInfluence.com, advises students to pick a school that closely matches their interests.

      “For example, if you are interested in pre-med, engineering, or business, you can find the schools that other students with those same interests have selected,” Macosko told ConsumerAffairs. “If these students, whose interests match yours, have been accepted at more than one college, their choices can really show you which schools are considered the best for those fields, and often there’s a lot of collective wisdom that can be gained by looking at big data.”

      Financial fit

      Mark Kantrowitz, the president of PrivateStudentLoans.guru, says students should look for a financial fit as well as an academic fit because of the huge cost of a four-year degree. That involves avoiding unreasonable student loan debt.

      “Student loan debt is reasonable if it can be repaid in ten years,” Kantrowitz told us. “If total student loan debt at graduation is less than the student's expected annual starting salary, it can be repaid in ten years or less.”

      Dr. Adedayo Akande, president of University of Health Sciences Antigua, agrees that matching a college with the student’s academic interests is an important consideration. He also says students should not overlook some of the benefits of starting their education at a community college.

      "Smaller class sizes offered at community colleges allow students to have more personalized attention when compared to larger universities,” Akande said. “Another pro (advantage) is that community colleges typically offer a lower cost of education while courses can be easily transferred upon joining a university."

      Check the important boxes

      Neeta Vallab, the founder of MeritMore, which helps students manage the admissions process, told us that students should start with a list of colleges that check important boxes for them. That might include things like area of study, location, size, mentorship opportunities, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

      “Secondly, a student should also consider the strength of the alumni network, quality of career placement services, and scope and quality of experiences outside of the classroom,” she said. “As a student researches colleges and narrows the initial list, they should still go into the process applying to multiple colleges as this will give them the opportunity to make a choice from various offers.”

      How many different applications should a student file? Vallab says seven is a good number to start with, but students may consider up to 20 colleges and universities. If a student receives acceptance letters from multiple institutions, Vallab says they should evaluate all of the offers to determine the best fit, both academically and financially.

      When students consider a college or university, they often consider what experts say are the best institutions of higher education. On both of its annual l...

      Cardiovascular risk factors may increase risk of depression in older adults, study finds

      Experts say diet and other health markers can identify those who carry the most risk

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Granada explored the link between heart health and depression. According to their findings, consumers who struggle with cardiovascular risk factors may have a higher risk of developing depression in later life. 

      “Cardiovascular disease and depression are thought to be closely related, due to shared risk factors,” the researchers wrote. “Improving cardiovascular health could prevent the onset of depression in the elderly.” 

      How heart health affects mental health

      For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 6,500 older participants with obesity who spent an average of two years following the Mediterranean diet. The participants completed questionnaires to assess their depression at the start of the study and two years into the study. The researchers then measured their heart disease risk with the Framingham-based REGICOR scale, which assessed participants' risk as low, medium, or high/very high. 

      Ultimately, the team identified a link between cardiovascular disease risks and the risk of depression-related symptoms. Participants with the highest risk of cardiovascular disease also showed the highest risk of depression compared to those who had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. 

      Overall, the team found that women were more likely than men to develop depression and that the Mediterranean diet was associated with fewer depression-related symptoms; those who had higher REGICOR scores and stayed consistent with the Mediterranean diet saw the biggest improvements in their depression symptoms. 

      Cholesterol was another important factor related to depression risk. The study found that participants in the medium and high risk cardiovascular groups with cholesterol levels under 160 mg/mL at the start of the study had a higher risk of developing depression. On the other hand, these participants had a lower risk of depression when they started the study with cholesterol levels of 280 mg/mL or higher. 

      Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done in this area to better understand how factors like diet and cholesterol can affect consumers’ mental health as they go into older age. 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Granada explored the link between heart health and depression. According to their findings, con...

      Consumers' personalities may affect their cognitive function in later life, study finds

      Experts say those who struggle to stabilize their emotions may also be more likely to struggle with cognitive function

      A new study conducted by researchers from the American Psychological Association explored how consumers' personality traits may affect their cognitive function later in life. 

      According to their findings, those who are moodier may be more likely to struggle with cognitive impairment. However, those who have more self-discipline may be less likely to struggle cognitively

      “Personality traits reflect relatively enduring patterns of thinking and behaving, which may cumulatively affect engagement in healthy and unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns across the lifespan,” said researcher Tomiko Yoneda, Ph.D. “The accumulation of lifelong experiences may then contribute to susceptibility of particular diseases or disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment, or contribute to individual differences in the ability to withstand age-related neurological changes.” 

      The link between personality and cognition

      For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 people enrolled in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. The participants began the study in 1997 and completed assessments of their cognitive abilities annually. 

      The researchers learned that participants’ personalities played a role in their long-term cognitive function. Cognitive impairment was less likely for those who scored higher on traits consistent with conscientiousness and lower on traits related to neuroticism; participants with low conscientiousness scores and higher neuroticism scores were more likely to experience cognitive impairment. 

      “Scoring approximately six more points on a conscientiousness scale ranging from 0 to 48 was associated with a 22% decreased risk of transitioning from normal cognitive functioning to mild cognitive impairment,” said Yoneda. “Additionally, scoring approximately seven more points on a neuroticism scale of 0 to 48 was associated with a 12% increased risk of transition.” 

      The researchers also learned that those who scored higher on measures of extraversion were more likely to delay the onset of cognitive impairment by about one year. On the other hand, those who had higher levels of neuroticism were found to have one less year of healthy cognitive function. 

      Moving forward, the researchers plan to do more work in this area to test how more of the main personality traits may impact consumers’ cognitive function in older age. 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the American Psychological Association explored how consumers' personality traits may affect their cognitive func...

      Ford recalls model year 2022 Lincoln Aviators

      The inlet charge port harness bus bar may loosen

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 585 model year 2022 Lincoln Aviators with the 3.0L plug-in hybrid powertrain.

      The inlet charge port harness bus bar may become unseated, leading to a loss of drive power.

      A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will inspect the inlet charge port harness date code label and replace the harness -- if necessary -- free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 18, 2022.

      Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S19.

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 585 model year 2022 Lincoln Aviators with the 3.0L plug-in hybrid powertrain.The inlet charge port harness bus bar may...

      Google sends out warning to billions of Chrome browser users

      There are alternatives that users who are concerned about privacy should consider

      The “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” axiom couldn’t be more accurate. Google has announced that the 3.2 billion people who use its Chrome browser have been left vulnerable following a series of new hacks aimed at dismantling Chrome. And no one – not Mac users, not PC users, not Linux users – are safe. 

      Google confirmed the hacks on its company blog, saying that nine of the 11 hacks that were discovered pose a "high level threat." The company said it’s working on a patch to close off the vulnerabilities.

      What should Chrome users do?

      To guard against the latest hacks, Forbes reports that Google released the Chrome 100.0.4896.88 update. Nonetheless, some patience will evidently be required. Google said the update will not be made available to everyone all at once. Instead, it will "roll out over the coming days/weeks." 

      To manually check for the update, click the three dots in the top right corner of the Chrome browser and navigate to Settings > Help > About Google Chrome. An option to update your browser will be there if it is available.

      For those who don't want to move away from the Chrome browser, using Enhanced Safe Browsing mode may be a viable option to keep your web surfing more secure.

      The “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” axiom couldn’t be more accurate. Google has announced that the 3.2 billion people who use its Chrome browse...

      Coronavirus update: New surge would likely be handled differently

      New studies find that vaccine side effects affecting the heart are rare

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

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80,486,936 (80,449,398)

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 986,511 (985,826)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 501,199,108 (499,748,065)

      Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,187,033 (6,181,560)‌

      New surge would be different, experts say

      Cases of COVID-19 have begun to increase again, but they are nowhere near the number reached during the most recent peak in January. Still, experts who are preparing for another spike in U.S. cases expect that the surge will be handled differently than before.

      First, scientists expect any new surge to be less severe. That’s because new cases are being fueled by the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron variant, which generally causes less severe symptoms in people who are vaccinated.

      They also point out that so many Americans have now either been vaccinated or have been infected – or both – that there is growing immunity to the virus. There are also plenty of ways to fight the virus. A Pfizer drug called Paxlovid has been shown to cut the risk of hospitalization or death by about 90%.

      Studies find heart side effects of vaccines are rare

      Despite early concerns that COVID-19 vaccines could be linked to a heart condition in some people, two new studies find that the risk is very low.  One of the studies, which consisted of an analysis of 22 other studies, found that the risk of developing myocarditis was about the same as for vaccines against measles and other common diseases.

      Another study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the risk of heart ailments -- including myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle -- was higher in people after they were infected with the virus than after receiving a vaccine.

      Surveys show that concerns about vaccine side effects, including well-publicized reports of rare heart conditions, have contributed to vaccine hesitancy.

      Airlines step up push to drop mask mandate

      Top executives at U.S. airlines have renewed their push for the Biden administration to drop the requirement that everyone aboard commercial aircraft wear a mask. However, some foreign airlines that have dropped the mask mandate have run into turbulence.

      CBS News reports that some international airlines that recently dropped the mask rule have had to cancel hundreds of flights because so many members of flight crews have been infected with COVID-19.

      As an example, CBS cites data showing that EasyJet canceled 202 of its 3,517 flights scheduled to depart from the U.K. between March 28 and April 3. During the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, there were no flight cancellations.

      Around the nation

      • New Jersey: Even though Philadelphia has reimposed its mask mandate, New Jersey probably won’t, at least according to Gov. Phil Murphy. Murphy said he would be “shocked” if the state decided to follow Philadelphia’s lead. He also said he was surprised by the action Philadelphia took.

      • Nevada: The Nevada Department of Corrections has resumed visits to inmates at prisons around the state after they were suspended during January’s surge in COVID-19 cases. The state said masking requirements, social distancing, barriers between inmates and visitors, and previously required sanitation measures would be suspended as visits resume.

      • Massachusetts: New cases of COVID-19 are rising quickly across the state, health officials report. Positive test results have risen more than 50% in the last seven days, and virus hospitalizations have also jumped. The positivity rate is now 3.42%, more than double the rate of 1.60% a few weeks ago.

      • Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a fourth round of federal Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits. The aid will go to Texas families with children who temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19.

      • Illinois: Chicago health officials say they don’t expect the city to follow the lead of Philadelphia, which reimposed a mask mandate for indoor spaces after cases spiked. Chicago and the state of Illinois are both seeing similar increases, but Dr. Amaal Tokars, the acting director of the state Department of Public Health, says the return of a mask mandate isn’t expected any time soon.

      COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80...

      Biden looks to combat high gas prices with more E15 fuel production

      There are differences that consumers should look into before using the fuel type

      President Biden wants to combat the high gas prices that Americans are paying at the pump, and he thinks he may be able to do it with ethanol.

      In remarks made in Menlo, Iowa, on Tuesday, the president said he wants to use the ethanol produced by U.S. farms via corn production to produce more E15 gasoline that can be used to bolster the nation's fuel supply.

      “It reduces our reliance on foreign oil. By adding this fuel to our gasoline – 10% or 15%, even more – it stretches the supply,” Biden stated. “It [also] gives you a choice at the pump. When you have a choice, you have competition; when you have competition, you have better prices.”

      The president added that using ethanol as a fuel source would create more jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide more grain to be used as animal feed for cattle producers. Currently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is forcing the price of grain to rise. 

      The questions and answers around E15

      To try and make sense of the whole ethanol landscape as it affects consumers, ConsumerAffairs dove into some common questions that readers may have about the fuel type. Here’s what we found…

      What’s the difference between E10 and E15? Most U.S. drivers who use ethanol pump what's referred to as E10 – a blend that contains 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. E15 is a blend that includes anywhere from 10.5% to 15% ethanol. A more important difference is that a gallon of E15 doesn't carry a driver quite as far as a gallon of E10, as the U.S. Department of Energy says the higher blend has slightly less energy.

      How available is E15? At the moment, E15 gas is currently available at about 2,300 fueling stations in 30 states, according to the Department of Energy. However, Biden said the U.S. will invest $100 million in biofuel infrastructure to create more stations.

      Can all vehicles use E15? No. The only vehicles approved for E15 use so far are flexible fuel vehicles and conventional vehicles produced during the 2001 model year or after. The vehicles prohibited from using E15 are much greater in number. They include:

      • All motorcycles.

      • All vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses and delivery trucks.

      • All off-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles.

      • All engines in off-road equipment, such as chainsaws and gasoline lawn mowers.

      • All conventional vehicles older than the 2001 model year.

      Will E15 be cheaper? Yes. According to the Des Moines Register’s coverage of Biden’s visit, consumers will pay less for E15 than E10 at the pump. However, the difference is only reported to be around 3%. For those who are interested in how much it might save them at their local pump, the Renewable Fuels Association provides an online calculator that helps consumers figure it out.

      President Biden wants to combat the high gas prices that Americans are paying at the pump, and he thinks he may be able to do it with ethanol.In remark...

      Homes become less affordable as mortgage rates continue to climb

      By one measure, the average 30-year rate is over 5%

      Consumers hoping to purchase a home are feeling strong headwinds just as the spring home-buying season gets underway. Prices are at record highs while mortgage rates continue to climb, increasing the average monthly payment.

      According to data compiled by Bankrate, the interest rate on the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 5.14%, up from 4.85% a week ago. The increase is at least indirectly tied to inflation.

      Mortgage rates are closely correlated to the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, which has moved higher in recent weeks because of inflation. A year ago, the average mortgage rate was just over 3%.

      Big difference

      Two percentage points make a huge difference when it comes to a monthly payment. Principal and interest on a $400,000 mortgage at 3.14% is $1,717. The same mortgage at 5.14% produces a monthly payment of $2,182 – an extra $465 a month. Over the life of the loan, that adds up.

      “The difference in 3% and 5% mortgage rates translates to $125,000 more on a $500k home,” Polina Ryshakov, lead economist at real estate broker Sundae, recently told ConsumerAffairs.

      “We’re about to head into the spring selling season with record-low inventory so we likely won’t see a slow in sales any time soon.”

      ‘Extremely difficult process’

      It’s that record low inventory of homes that is keeping home prices at record levels. A report issued this week by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that rising prices and declining affordability now hold back many buyers, especially minorities.

      The biggest challenges identified are a lack of affordable homes, a lack of homes that fit their criteria, competing with multiple offers, and saving for a down payment.

      "Record-high home prices and record-low inventory have made the home buying process exceedingly difficult,” said Dr. Jessica Lautz, NAR vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “Our new study shows that while the inventory crisis is affecting potential buyers of every race, nearly all home buyers agree that homeownership is still an important part of the American Dream.”

      While buyers are finding fewer choices, they are also encountering higher asking prices. The NAR reports that the median price of an existing home selling in February was $357,000, 15% higher than in February 2021. Those conditions have raised the average monthly payment by 28%.

      The number of homes to choose from, meanwhile, got smaller. Inventory levels were down 15.5% from a year earlier.

      Consumers hoping to purchase a home are feeling strong headwinds just as the spring home-buying season gets underway. Prices are at record highs while mort...

      New vehicle prices dipped in March

      But the average price is still a lot higher than last year

      New cars and trucks are still in short supply, but at least the cost of buying one went down last month. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reports that the average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle fell slightly after reaching a record high in December.

      The March ATP was $45,927, which was a decline of $156 from the month before. But compared to March 2021, buyers spent an average of $5,247 more, a 12.9% increase.

      Inventory levels remained low, but there was no letup in consumer demand. That enabled dealers to continue to sell vehicles above the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), or “sticker price.”

      In March, new vehicles from Kia, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz were selling between 7.8% and 9.8% over MSRP on average. On the other side of the spectrum, Volvo, Buick, and Lincoln were selling around 1% below MSRP. 

      “With a myriad of supply chain issues disrupting global vehicle production, we expect inventory to remain tight through the rest of the year and prices to remain high,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Cox Automotive, parent company of KBB.

      Automakers have discouraged dealers from marking up vehicles beyond the sticker price, fearing damage to the brand if consumers feel they are being gouged. While the average MSRP on a non-luxury vehicle has decreased over the past five months, car shoppers are still paying more than $970 above the sticker price on average. 

      In fact, new car buyers have paid more than MSRP for each of the last 10 months. A year ago, KBB reported that non-luxury vehicles were selling for more than $1,300 under MSRP.

      Government data shows used car prices are falling

      The March Consumer Price Index (CPI), released Tuesday, actually shows a slight increase in new vehicles. The government data shows that consumers paid 0.2% more for a new car or truck than they did in February.

      The March CPI also shows that the prices of used cars and trucks fell significantly, dropping 3.8% from the previous month. However, used vehicle prices have surged by 35.3% and new vehicle prices have risen by just 12.5% in the last 12 months.

      Not only are new car buyers paying above the sticker price in many cases, but they're also getting fewer incentives from dealers and automakers. Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, says the percentage of dealers and manufacturers offering 0% financing last week was around 8.2%.

      Smoke says that was a slight increase from the week before, but about 20% of dealers were offering interest-free financing in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic.

      New cars and trucks are still in short supply, but at least the cost of buying one went down last month. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reports that the average tr...

      Those trying to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic actually smoked more, study finds

      Experts say the stress of the pandemic may have affected consumers’ smoking habits

      Recent studies have shown how consumers’ harmful drinking habits have escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now a new study conducted by researchers from Florida Atlantic University has explored how it has affected smoking habits.

      According to the findings, many people who were trying to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic actually ended up smoking more. 

      “These data may aid health care providers to identify and provide counsel to cigarette smokers at greater risk for tobacco consumption during current and future stresses such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said researcher Dr. Charles H. Hennekens. “All of these efforts have the potential to reduce many premature deaths from cigarette smoking, which remain alarmingly and unnecessarily high in the U.S. and are increasing worldwide.” 

      Stress may increase smoking

      For the study, the researchers analyzed survey responses from 150 people who were enrolled in a tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening program. The group answered questions about changes in their tobacco use, the impact the pandemic had on them, their exposure to COVID-19, and the protective measures they were taking. 

      The researchers learned that while former smokers didn’t return to the habit during the COVID-19 pandemic, many smokers who were trying to quit were unable to do so. Of the current smokers involved in the study, over 28% increased their tobacco use between June 2020, and October 2020; that compares to just over 17% of respondents who decreased their tobacco use. Nearly 55% reported no change in their tobacco use throughout the pandemic. 

      The team pinpointed stress as one of the biggest factors that influenced consumers’ smoking habits during the pandemic. Many of the mental health stressors associated with the pandemic -- including feeling hopeless and fearful about securing groceries and other necessities, uncertainty about the future, boredom because of the disruption to daily life, and anger with the changes to daily routines -- were all found to contribute to the participants’ tobacco use. 

      The researchers also learned that there was a link between smoking habits and COVID-19 safety measures. The study showed that those who smoked less were more likely to be more cautious about health and safety during the pandemic. 

      Because of the significant long-term health risks associated with smoking, the researchers hope more work is done to help smokers get the right kind of therapy and guidance moving forward. 

      “Smoking cessation therapy also should include long-term counseling and at least 90 days of a prescription drug, in particular, varenicline, whose mechanisms include blocking the pleasurable sensations of nicotine on the brain,” said Dr. Hennekens. 

      Recent studies have shown how consumers’ harmful drinking habits have escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now a new study conducted by researchers...

      Ford recalls nearly 350,000 Escapes and Bronco Sport vehicles

      The engine may develop an oil leak

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 345,451 model year 2020-2022 Escape and model year 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5L engines.

      The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.

      An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

      What to do

      Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks and replace the oil separator and seals -- as necessary -- free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 18, 2022.

      Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S21.

      Ford Motor Company is recalling 345,451 model year 2020-2022 Escape and model year 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5L engines.The engine oil sep...