Michelin North America is recalling 86 Pilot Sport 4 ZP tires, size 255/35ZR19 96Y XL with DOT codes 0521 through 2121.
The DOT certification symbol is missing from the tire sidewalls.
Tires that are missing a DOT symbol may be used in inappropriate applications, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the tires free of charge.
The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification.
Owners may contact Michelin customer service at (888) 847-8475.
Michelin North America is recalling 86 Pilot Sport 4 ZP tires, size 255/35ZR19 96Y XL with DOT codes 0521 through 2121.The DOT certification symbol is...
Tesla is suing yet another engineer for allegedly stealing company secrets. This situation could be far more serious than an earlier alleged inside theft because the engineer that is now in Tesla’s crosshairs – Alexander Yatskov – supposedly stole trade secrets related to its Dojo supercomputer project.
Dojo is Tesla's supercomputer that is designed to process large amounts of data necessary to instruct the artificial intelligence software in Tesla’s self-driving vehicles.
Bloomberg News reports that Yatskov also had access to other sensitive information related to the project – information that he reportedly downloaded to his personal devices and refused to give back to Tesla when the company asked him to.
Tesla claims that Yatskov brought in a completely different laptop than the one he downloaded the information to when the company asked him to come in for a face-to-face meeting about the situation. The company said Yatskov wanted it to appear like he retrieved "inoffensive Tesla information, like an offer letter” and not Dojo-related trade secrets.
In what’s sure to raise questions in the H.R. department, Yatskov has reportedly only been working at Tesla as a thermal engineer since January, qualifications that Tesla now claims he lied about.
“This is a case about illicit retention of trade secrets by an employee who, in his short time at Tesla, already demonstrated a track record of lying and then lying again by providing a ‘dummy’ device to try and cover his tracks,” Tesla noted in its lawsuit.
Additionally, Tesla says Yatskov also sent emails from his personal email address to his Tesla email account that contained classified Tesla information.
Yatskov is out of a job for the time being, but he still refuses to cooperate. In the lawsuit, Tesla is asking the court to award “compensatory and exemplary damages and an order that would stop Yatskov from disseminating its trade secrets and direct him to return all proprietary data.”
Tesla is suing yet another engineer for allegedly stealing company secrets. This situation could be far more serious than an earlier alleged inside theft b...
COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)
Total U.S. confirmed cases: 81,877,929 (81,858,744)
Total U.S. deaths: 997,539 (997,403)
Total global cases: 517,397,826 (517,119,260)
Total global deaths: 6,251,585 (6,250,875)
In May 2021, the three COVID-19 vaccines were rolling out to the general population. Most older Americans had gotten the jab, and now younger adults were rolling up their sleeves. Cases and deaths were declining.
A one-year comparison shows that new cases of COVID-19 are sharply higher, but deaths from the virus are about the same. Analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University shows that the seven-day average of new cases is 71,742 now, compared to 42,015 on May 8, 2021. The seven-day average of deaths is exactly the same – 607.
Over the weekend, the White House warned that the U.S. might see 100 million COVID19 infections this fall and winter. The warning was part of an appeal to Congress for more COVID-19 funding.
Variants and subvariants of the coronavirus have made the early vaccines less effective at blocking infection, even though they can prevent serious illness. Now scientists believe changing the location of the vaccinations might improve effectiveness.
Instead of shots in the arm, the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines may be sprayed in the nose. Scientists say eight such vaccines are currently in clinical trials.
The reasoning is simple. Scientists say it makes more sense to deliver the vaccine to the point where the infection takes place. They also say the vaccine could be administered at home, making it easier to quickly innoculate the population.
In the last two years, there have been vaccines and new therapeutic drugs to combat the pandemic. Some scientists are now pointing to interferon, part of the body’s natural defense against infection, as a potential weapon.
Scientists in Brazil who conducted a trial of an interferon-based drug are reporting a “strikingly positive result.” Of more than 1,900 high-risk people who received a single shot within seven days of developing symptoms, severe symptoms declined by 50%.
Even better, the pharmaceutical company that developed the drug said it appeared to be effective against all variants, including the Omicron variant.
California: New cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the state, but especially in the San Francisco Bay area. The California Department of Public Health’s latest report shows that the statewide daily case rate for COVID-19 at 14 per 100,000 residents. That’s a 27% increase in the past week and an increase of 71% in the past two weeks.
Connecticut: State health officials say the most recent COVID-19 tracking numbers have become so skewed that they’re almost meaningless. They point to a test positivity rate of more than 11%, which suggests a surge. At the same time, the state is logging only 900 new cases a day on average.
Maine: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Maine now has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in the nation. State health officials report that the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus grew to 169 on Wednesday, the highest number in Maine in months.
New Mexico: Hospital cases of the coronavirus continue to fall in New Mexico. State health officials report that the number of logged COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Mexico dropped significantly at the end of last week in spite of a slight increase in case counts.
Hawaii: It’s prom season, and in many places that means COVID-19 Season. Officials at the Hawaii Department of Health have linked two recent outbreaks involving teenagers with two Oahu high school proms. Both schools required all attendees to be vaccinated.
COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)Total U.S. confirmed cases: 81...
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage continues to climb above 5% making it more difficult for buyers to qualify for loans at current prices. In its latest update, Freddie Mac set the average interest rate on that popular mortgage at 5.27%. Five months ago it was around 3%.
But Michael Gifford, CEO & co-founder of Splitero, a home-seller resource, doesn’t expect to see a price dip – at least not in the near term.
“The real estate market is starving for inventory and has significant pent-up demand,” Gifford told ConsumerAffairs. “We are unlikely to see home price appreciation slow with a single factor like interest rates. Inflation, affordability, interest rates, supply, and other factors will likely need to combine over the course of the year to stop rising prices.”
Gifford says his company operates in many markets where homes are still selling within days or even hours of going on the market.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently issued a report that suggests there hasn’t been much of a slowdown in rising prices so far this year. The report found that 70% of 185 measured metros experienced double-digit price gains in the first quarter, up from 66% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Tom LaSalvia, the senior economist at Moody’s Analytics, says demand for homes, even at a higher mortgage rate, may actually be increasing because rates are going up. He says it can create a “fear of missing out” mindset.
“This only intensifies in an environment when interest rates are expected to rise -- buyers want to get something before their rate lock expires,” he told us. “While many of these purchases work out, some will lead to regret. There is already anecdotal and survey evidence of this during this moment in time.”
On the other hand, LaSalvia says some people will look at rising rates and the resulting higher monthly house payments and decide to put off their purchase, cooling down the red-hot housing market.
Mayer Dallal, the managing director of mortgage lender MBANC, says his company is already seeing price reductions in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and some other major housing markets. That, he says, could be an opportunity for savvy buyers.
“Sellers know mortgage rates are rising, which might scare off buyers, but they still want to sell, so they're willing to compromise,” Dallal said. “Remember, asking prices aren't based on any scientific instruments. It's often about perception. If your neighbor got a high, over-asking-price offer during the height of the frenzy, then you might ask for a similar price -- not because that price reflects any objective reality.”
Dallal says the housing market is cooling from the peak frenzy of a few months ago and an economic slowdown could give buyers a little more bargaining power.
If you'd like to learn more about all the factors that determine how mortgage rates are calculated, check out ConsumerAffairs' resource here.
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage continues to climb above 5% making it more difficult for buyers to qualify for loans at current prices. In its late...
Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency coin, has investors scratching their heads after it had its fifth consecutive day of losing value, bottoming out at $32,813 early Monday morning.
Where the asset will land is anyone's guess, but as cryptocurrency investors know, even more volatility is sure to follow. A year ago, Bitcoin was trading at $55,000 before shooting up to an all-time high $69,000 in November. But it isn’t the only digital coin that's along for the current ride in plummeting value.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also fell by more than 9% from Friday’s high of $2,754.84 to Sunday’s low of $2,498.43. If you compared everything in the cryptocurrency market from its early April 2022, highs to now, its total market cap has fallen by about $670 billion.
Bitcoin may not have bottomed out either. Edul Patel, chief executive officer of cryptocurrency investment platform Mudrex, told Bloomberg News that a downward trend is likely to continue for the next few days. He added that it's possible Bitcoin will fall even further, which could precipitate even more of a sell-off.
What’s driving this most recent cryptocurrency crash? Michael Oliver, a chief analyst at Momentum Structural Analysis, told CBS News that these assets "have been tending to trend recently with the stock market."
"Bitcoin is really stuck in a sideways news cycle where you're just waiting for it to be calm on Wall Street and then you'll see more people confident in investing," he said. "I still think there's a lot of long-term potential value here, but you have to be able to stomach this volatility."
Another theory is that Bitcoin simply might be cooling off after a year of bullish investments from companies like Visa, Kroger, and Tesla. Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at Oanda, says corporate and institutional investors are now in “wait and see mode” and that 2022 has been a lot more subdued when it comes to investing in Bitcoin.
"There's a belief that mainstream adoption [of bitcoin] is taking a lot longer than people expected," he said.
A third hypothesis is that Bitcoin’s slide is simply a reflection of how investors are moving their investments into safer, more stable investments like Treasury bonds because of what's happening in the broader economy.
Investors are "moving their money back to the dollar, as a starting point, and then seeing what they're going to do from there," Chris Kline, co-founder of Bitcoin IRA, told CBS.
Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency coin, has investors scratching their heads after it had its fifth consecutive day of losing value, bottoming out at $32...
More than 20 internet service providers (ISP) are partnering with the U.S. government to reduce or eliminate the cost of high-speed internet service for millions of Americans.
The White House has announced that the ISPs -- including AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon -- cover more than 80% of U.S. households. Eligible households will pay no more than $30 a month for service. After a refund, millions of households will get free service.
Under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the government will work with the private sector to increase the number of connected homes in the U.S. and remove cost as a barrier. The program is part of the $1 trillion infrastructure measure Congress passed in 2021.
“From large providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon serving dozens of states, to smaller providers serving rural areas like Jackson Energy Authority in Tennessee and Comporium in North Carolina, the commitments will allow tens of millions of ACP-eligible households to receive high-speed internet at no cost,” the White House said in a statement.
Households can qualify for this new benefit based on income. They can also qualify through their participation in one of several other federal programs, like Pell Grants, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income.
People who are participants in those programs won’t necessarily have to take any action. The White House says the agencies that manage the programs will reach out to households that qualify for ACP through programs they help administer.
For example, people who receive Supplemental Security Income should be on the lookout for a contact from the Social Security Administration. Contact will be made with participants who have a “My Social Security” account. The White House estimates that there are about 1.6 million people in that program.
Contact may also come from city and state governments. The White House said officials in Michigan; Massachusetts; Philadelphia; Mesa, Arizona; and New York City will send text messages to millions of eligible households.
The government has set up a website – GetInternet.gov – to help consumers see if they qualify. It also provides a way for households and individuals to sign up and find the participating ISPs in their local area.
The White House estimates that 48 million households—or nearly 40% of households in the country—qualify for the ACP either because their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, or because a member of the household meets qualifying criteria.
More than 20 internet service providers (ISP) are partnering with the U.S. government to reduce or eliminate the cost of high-speed internet service for mi...
A new study conducted by researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute explored how the timing and quantity of meals can affect consumers’ lifespan. According to the findings, altering two key factors – calorie consumption and meal timing – may improve longevity.
Researcher Rafael de Cabo said the study “is a very elegant demonstration that even if you are restricting your calories but you are not [eating at the right times], you do not get the full benefits of caloric restriction.”
The researchers conducted a four-year study on hundreds of mice to better understand the ways that fasting, circadian rhythm, and calories affect longevity. One group of mice was allowed to eat as much as they wanted. The second group of mice had their calories cut back by 30-40% and ate on a time-restricted eating schedule.
The researchers learned that the combination of limiting calories and eating meals on a time-restricted schedule was linked with the greatest lifespan improvements. The mice that simply had their calories reduced over the course of the study lived 10% longer, but those that were fed solely at night and also had their calories cut by 40% were able to live 35% longer. The researchers explained that the mice involved in the study typically live for two years, but these mealtime interventions added an extra nine months to their lifespans.
The team pointed out that making these changes to how much the mice were eating and when they were eating was not associated with weight loss. Instead, the improvements in lifespan were the greatest benefits linked with these meal-time changes.
Our metabolism becomes less active as we age, and the cells linked to inflammation become more active. The researchers say our goal should be to eat during times when the body is most active while cutting overall calorie intake. This can help improve our metabolism from an aging perspective.
The team hopes to conduct future research in this area to identify other interventions that can help the metabolism long-term.
“If we find a drug that can boost your [circadian] clock, we can then test it in the laboratory and see if that extends lifespan,” said researcher Joseph Takahashi.
A new study conducted by researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute explored how the timing and quantity of meals can affect consumers’ lifespan....
General Motors is recalling 2,687 model year 2015 Buick Enclaves, Chevrolet Traverses, and GMC Acadias.
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 30, 2022.
Owners may contact Buick customer service at (800) 521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020, or GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222366190.
General Motors is recalling 2,687 model year 2015 Buick Enclaves, Chevrolet Traverses, and GMC Acadias.The driver's air bag inflator may explode during...
Ford Motor Company is recalling 21,904 model year 2019 F-150, Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks.
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind them, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the rearview camera free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 16, 2022.
Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Ford Motor Company is recalling 21,904 model year 2019 F-150, Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks.Due to a poor electrical connection, the...
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 275 rear hatch spoilers, part numbers 5NA-071-644--C9A and 5NA-071-644--C9X, sold as accessories for 2018-2022 Tiguan long wheel base vehicles.
Due to incorrect installation instructions, the spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard that increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the spoiler free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on June 3, 2022.
Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298.
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 275 rear hatch spoilers, part numbers 5NA-071-644--C9A and 5NA-071-644--C9X, sold as accessories for 2018-2022 Tig...
With an updated analysis, evaluation, and investigation of reported cases in its hands, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to limit the emergency use authorization of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine to two demographic groups.
Those groups include people 18 and older for whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and individuals 18 and older who choose to receive the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine because they would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
The FDA said its decision is based on the determination that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine comes with a higher risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare but serious condition that produces blood clots.
This doesn’t mean the end for Johnson & Johnson’s participation in the vaccine pipeline.
“We recognize that the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine still has a role in the current pandemic response in the United States and across the global community. Our action reflects our updated analysis of the risk of TTS following administration of this vaccine and limits the use of the vaccine to certain individuals,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., and director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Marks said the FDA will continue to monitor the safety of the Janssen vaccine – as it will all other vaccines – and will thoroughly evaluate any new safety information that emerges.
Johnson & Johnson said it has updated its U.S. COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet in an effort to make the public aware of the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. However, the company reinforced its belief that the benefits of its vaccine outweigh the risks.
“Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of those who use the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine,” the company said in a press release. “Data continue to support a favorable benefit-risk profile for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in adults, when compared with no vaccine.”
Company officials stated that they will continue to collaborate with health authorities, regulators, and vaccine recipients to make sure everyone is kept up to date about reports of TTS.
With an updated analysis, evaluation, and investigation of reported cases in its hands, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to limit th...
Inflation and supply chain issues are hitting even closer to home. A new report from Datasembly suggests that baby formula out-of-stock rates are continuing to soar, hitting 31% in April. That compares to a rate of between 2% and 8% just a year ago.
In July, the out-of-stock rate (OOS) July moved into the double digits. By the time January 2022, rolled around, baby formula shortages hit 23%. The analysts cited hyperlocal data that suggests store shelves will become even barer going forward.
“Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” said Datasembly founder and CEO Ben Reich. “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions. Baby formula stock, which has been one of the more affected categories so far in 2022, and one that will continue to demonstrate higher than average out-of-stock levels.”
Data from April shows that there were 20 states that had OOS rates between 30% and 40%, but some states were hit very hard. For the week ending April 3rd, there were 7 states that had OOS rates that were higher than 40%: Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.
Drilling down to metro areas, there were 12 major areas that had OOS rates that were higher than 40% – Baltimore, Charlotte, Des Moines, Greenville, Hartford-New Haven, Houston, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans Mobile, Oahu, San Antonio, and Seattle. Of those metros, there were three areas that got hit really hard with rates of 50% or higher – Des Moines at 50%, Minneapolis at 55%, and San Antonio at 56%.
As you can imagine, parents are scrambling to find a solution. WRAL-TV reports that parents across North Carolina are setting up Google alerts and asking for help on social media. Some are even going as far as enlisting friends and family to help search store shelves and buy what they can when they see available products.
"I don’t think there’s going to be an overnight solution," Dr. Jonathan Seigel, a Neonatologist at WakeMed in Raleigh, told WRAL. He warned parents who might give up hope that there are several things they should not do on their own to fill in the gaps.
Do not dilute baby formula in an attempt to 'stretch' it out.
Do not use goat's milk or cow's milk in place of formula.
Do not use a friend or family member's breast milk as a supplement.
North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services offered a couple of additional notes for families to keep in mind:
Families using a combination feeding of breast milk and iron-fortified infant formula may wish to consider increasing the frequency of breastfeeding or pumping to decrease the amount of formula needed.
If an infant has been prescribed a specific formula and the availability of safe products is limited, families should work with the child’s health care provider to determine the best feeding plan.
Inflation and supply chain issues are hitting even closer to home. A new report from Datasembly suggests that baby formula out-of-stock rates are continuin...
COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)
Total U.S. confirmed cases: 81,711,387 (81,621,102)
Total U.S. deaths: 997,023 (996,713)
Total global cases: 516,292,773 (515,017,808)
Total global deaths: 6,248,147 (6,245,407)
First, it was new strains of the coronavirus we had to worry about. But since the appearance of the Delta variant in mid-2021, we’ve had the Omicron variant and its multiple subvariants. At last count, scientists have identified BA.1; BA.1.1; BA.2; BA.2.12.1; BA.3; and the most recent, BA.4 and BA.5.
“They all differ from each other by having different mutations in the spike protein,” which is the part of the virus that penetrates host cells and causes infection, Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, told Kaiser Health News.
The numbers associated with the names are important. Generally, the higher the number following “BA” in the subvariant’s name, the more transmissible that subvariant is. For instance, BA.2 is thought to be about 30% to 60% more transmissible than previous subvariants.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is modifying its emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Going forward, it is only approved for people 18 and older for whom other vaccines aren't appropriate or who otherwise wouldn’t get vaccinated.
The change was prompted by research showing that there is a risk of a rare and dangerous blood clotting condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receiving the vaccine.
“We recognize that the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine still has a role in the current pandemic response in the United States and across the global community,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Our action reflects our updated analysis of the risk of TTS following administration of this vaccine and limits the use of the vaccine to certain individuals.”
There have been fewer reports of “long COVID” cases in recent months, and we may be able to thank the Omicron variant for that. An analysis of case data suggests that infections caused by the Omicron variant are less likely than those caused by the Delta strain to produce long-lasting symptoms.
The analysis shows that the chance of fully vaccinated adults infected with the BA.1 subvariant developing long COVID is about 50% lower than people whose infection was caused by the Delta variant.
The analysis was conducted by the British Office for National Statistics (ONS). It showed the prevalence of self-reported long COVID for fully vaccinated adults infected with the Delta variant was 16%, compared to 9% for Omicron BA.1.
Pennsylvania: Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez has revealed that at least 41 clergy members in the Diocese of Pennsylvania tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a clergy conference last week. The conference was held in Cape May, N.J.
North Carolina: New cases of COVID-19 are slowly rising throughout the state, and emerging subvariants of the Omicron variant are getting most of the blame. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that BA.2 is still the predominant strain in North Carolina, making up 91% of the positive cases sequenced.
New Jersey: Public health officials report that the coronavirus' BA.2 variant continues to spread rapidly through the state. However, they say it's not causing anywhere near the severe outcomes that the Delta and Omicron variants did in the past year. Hospitalizations are up, but they're below worst-case predictions.
Ohio: Cuyahoga County is the first area in Ohio to return to a high COVID-19 transmission status. However, the virus is ticking up in several areas of the state. Federal data shows that there are 91.33 cases per 100,000 people this week.
Nevada: State health officials report a sharp upturn in new COVID-19 cases, an increase of nearly 58%. Washoe County reported 258 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 152 cases and one death.
COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)Total U.S. confirmed cases: 81...
Credit card networks are raising “swipe fees,” a move that will increase costs for businesses and will almost certainly be passed along to consumers in this inflationary environment. However, the networks are getting pushback from retailers and members of Congress.
Executives from Visa and Mastercard appeared before a Senate committee this week to explain last month's increase in interchange fees, which are collected on every purchase to compensate banks for antifraud efforts and pay for rewards programs.
Officials from both companies said they are sensitive to the issues facing small businesses. Executives from Visa said the company is reducing fees for most small businesses, and Mastercard officials said they have reduced fees on transactions below $5.
But industry estimates show that businesses that accept Visa and Mastercard will still pay more in fees. By some estimates, the increases could be as much as $475 million.
“The credit and debit card systems are not competitive marketplaces,” said Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who wants new regulations to promote competition. “It’s a sweetheart deal for the dominant networks, for the biggest banks, and for certain cardholders who have ritzy rewards programs, but the average small business and the consumer, they pay the price.”
The National Retail Federation (NRF) agrees. A representative of the trade group told the committee in a letter that businesses that accept credit cards – small businesses in particular – need more choices.
“Ongoing and unwarranted increases in swipe fees are especially damaging to small retailers,” NRF Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz said. “We have heard many stories from small retailers about the extreme challenges posed by the current payments system and Visa and Mastercard’s continuing monopoly. It is small retailers who are calling for swipe fee reform more than any other segment of our industry.”
The pain small businesses feel may have increased significantly since the start of the pandemic. Since the spring of 2020, consumers have used payment cards more than cash. There was even a coin shortage that prompted consumers to use plastic if they didn’t have exact change.
When a greater percentage of purchases are made with credit cards, a business pays a swipe fee on an increasing percentage of its sales, reducing its profit margin.
“When we first opened our business, credit card transactions accounted for approximately 40% of our business,” said John Morman, owner of Celtic Tides gift shop, in Lexington, Va. “Now the credit card share is about 80% of transactions.”
To make matters worse, Morman says the fees have risen and that the time taken before funds appear in his business’ account gets longer.
Consumers are also shouldering part of that burden. The NRF estimates that the average American family pays over $700 a year in price hikes that businesses impose to cover swipe fees.
Credit card networks are raising “swipe fees,” a move that will increase costs for businesses and will almost certainly be passed along to consumers in thi...
A new study conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Neurology explored how antioxidants can affect cognitive health. According to their findings, consumers with higher levels of antioxidants may be less likely to develop dementia.
“Extending people’s cognitive functioning is an important public health challenge,” said researcher May A. Beydoun, Ph.D. “Antioxidants may help protect the brain from oxidative stress, which can cause cell damage. Further studies are needed to test whether adding these antioxidants can help protect the brain from dementia.”
The researchers had over 7,200 people who were at least 45 years old involved in the study. The team took baseline vitals -- including a blood test, a physical exam, and a cognitive assessment -- at the start of the study. The researchers then tracked the participants' health outcomes over the course of 16 years.
The study showed that participants who had the highest levels of three antioxidants – lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin – had a lower risk of developing dementia. Each 15.4 micromoles/liter increase of lutein and zeaxanthin was linked with a 7% lower risk of dementia. Similarly, each 8.6 micromoles/liter increase of beta-cryptoxanthin was linked with a 14% lower risk of dementia.
The researchers explained that lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in broccoli, kale, spinach, and other leafy, green vegetables. On the other hand, beta-cryptoxanthin can be found in fruits, like persimmons, oranges, tangerines, and papayas.
While the researchers hope to do more work in this area to better understand why this link between antioxidants and dementia risk exists, these findings highlight the cognitive benefits of having higher antioxidant levels.
“It’s important to note that the effect of these antioxidants on the risk of dementia was reduced somewhat when we took into account other factors such as education, income, and physical activity, so it’s possible that those factors may help explain the relationship between antioxidant levels and dementia,” Dr. Beydoun said.
A new study conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Neurology explored how antioxidants can affect cognitive health. According to their findi...
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki suggests that adopting certain healthy lifestyle habits can lower the risk of gestational diabetes. The findings showed that this was especially true for those who have the highest genetic risk for the condition.
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 500 women who were enrolled in the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL). The participants received dietary and exercise counseling during pregnancy and in the first year after delivery.
Based on the genes that are known to increase the risk of gestational diabetes, the team gave each participant a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess their risk of developing diabetes. Those who had high sugar levels during pregnancy and after delivery were considered to have high risk scores.
The researchers learned that adopting a healthy lifestyle -- including following a healthy diet and exercising -- during and after pregnancy was linked with a lower risk of gestational diabetes. For women with the highest risk scores for gestational diabetes, these lifestyle interventions were particularly beneficial.
Moving forward, the team hopes these findings can work to identify women who may have the highest risk of developing gestational diabetes. Knowing who is the most genetically predisposed to gestational diabetes can help target women who would benefit the most from changing their lifestyles during pregnancy and beyond.
“At the same time, it’s important to realize that, in the case of diabetes, our genetic background does not determine our future,” said researcher Emilia Huvinen, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. “With the help of a healthy lifestyle, you can reverse the effect of a high genetic diabetes risk.”
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki suggests that adopting certain healthy lifestyle habits can lower the risk of gestatio...
Whether you drive an SUV or a big rig, the last week has been painful when it was time to fill up. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel continued to rise.
AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.28 a gallon, 12 cents a gallon higher since last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $4.92 a gallon, 10 cents higher than a week ago.
But it's the price of diesel fuel that is the most stunning, reaching another record high. Today, the national average price is $5.51 a gallon, an increase of 76 cents per gallon since last week and $3.13 higher than a year ago.
Truckers in the Northeast are paying a lot more. The average price of diesel in New York, where there is a shortage, is $6.25 a gallon, an increase of 83 cents a gallon in just the last seven days.
While the average gas price is rising at a more moderate pace, some states have experienced wild price swings in the last week. The statewide average price of regular is up 30 cents a gallon in Michigan, 19 cents in Ohio, 15 cents in Illinois, 12 cents in Wisconsin, and 11 cents in Texas.
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved the so-called “NOPEC” bill, which if passed would allow the U.S. to sue OPEC for antitrust and monopolistic behavior. In a tweet, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, predicted such a law would result in even higher fuel prices.
While oil companies don’t set oil prices, they are benefitting from the rise in prices. This week, both Shell and BP reported near-record earnings.
These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:
California ($5.76)
Hawaii ($5.27)
Nevada ($5.10)
Washington ($4.75)
Oregon ($4.73)
Alaska ($4.68)
Arizona ($4.59)
Illinois ($4.54)
Utah($4.51)
Idaho ($4.46)
AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:
Georgia ($3.76)
South Carolina ($3.81)
Arkansas ($3.84)
Mississippi ($3.84)
Missouri ($3.85)
Oklahoma ($3.85)
Kansas ($3.86)
Texas ($3.90)
Louisiana ($3.91)
Minnesota ($3.92)
Whether you drive an SUV or a big rig, the last week has been painful when it was time to fill up. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel continued to rise....
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 18,101 model year 2022 Tundra pickup trucks with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system.
The parking assist electronic control unit (ECU) software may prevent transmission of the rearview camera signal during cold weather, preventing the rearview image from displaying.
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the parking assist ECU software free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 30, 2022.
Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA04.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 18,101 model year 2022 Tundra pickup trucks with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system.The parkin...
Turkey Hill Dairy of Conestoga, Pa., is recalling Chocolate Marshmallow Premium Ice Cream.
The product may contain peanuts, which is an allergen that is not declared on the label. There have been no reports of illness to date.
The recalled product, which comes in a 48-oz container with UPC code 020735420935 and Sell-by date 03/02/2023 on the bottom of the package, was sold in retail stores from April 14 – 19, 2022.
Customers with an allergy or sensitivity to peanuts who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers may contact Turkey Hill Dairy at (800) 693-2479 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST).
Turkey Hill Dairy of Conestoga, Pa., is recalling Chocolate Marshmallow Premium Ice Cream.The product may contain peanuts, which is an allergen that is...
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