Current Events in January 2025

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that Fitbit LLC, of San Francisco, California, has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty.

The settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by CPSC, resolves CPSC’s charges that Fitbit knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that its Ionic smartwatches contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard and created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to consumers.

During 2018 and 2019 and continuing into 2020, Fitbit received numerous reports of the Ionic smartwatches overheating while being worn by consumers, causing some consumers to sustain burns including second-degree and third-degree burns on their arms or wrists. 

Issued a firmware update

In early 2020, Fitbit initiated a firmware update to lessen the potential for battery overheating; however, Fitbit continued to receive reports of consumers suffering burns due to the product overheating.   

Despite possessing information that reasonably supported the conclusion that the smartwatches contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury, Fitbit did not immediately report the problem to the commission as required. 

The commission and Fitbit jointly announced a recall of the Ionic smartwatches on March 2, 2022. The recall stated that the firm had received at least 115 reports in the United States of the battery in the smartwatch overheating, with 78 reports of burn injuries in the United States including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns.

In addition to the $12.25 million civil penalty, the settlement agreement requires Fitbit to maintain internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), including enhancements made to its compliance program. 

Fitbit has also agreed to submit an annual report regarding its compliance program, internal controls, and internal audit of the effectiveness of compliance policies, procedures, systems and training.

About Fitbit

Acquired by Google in 2021 for about $2 billion, Fitbit is a well-known brand of wearable technology devices that track health and fitness data.

What they are:

• Activity trackers and smartwatches: Most Fitbits are wrist-worn devices that look like watches or bands.

• Health and fitness focus: They use sensors to track various metrics like steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more.

• Data syncing: Fitbits connect to smartphones or computers via Bluetooth to sync data to the Fitbit app, where users can view detailed information and track progress over time.

• Variety of models: Fitbit offers a range of devices with different features, styles, and price points to cater to various needs and preferences.

A number of consumer products produced in other countries would likely cost more if President Trump imposed tariffs on the countries where they are produced. That could include some popular items sold by consumer products giant Procter & Gamble.

 P&G’s chief financial officer Andre Schulten held out potential price hikes during a conference call with reporters when commenting on the company’s latest quarterly earnings release.

"Whatever the administration decides to do, we will be able to deal with," Schulten told the reporters.

But Schulten said raising prices would be a last resort. It might be possible, he said, to cut costs, reducing any price increase. And if P&G does raise prices, Schulten said it would be done on an incremental basis.

Some of P&G’s products

Here are just a few of the consumer products produced by P&G:

• Tide detergent

• Gillette razors

• Head & Shoulders shampoo

• Dawn dish soap

• Pampers disposable diapers

• Crest toothpaste

• Charmin toilet paper

Some of these products are produced overseas and imported into the U.S. However, P&G has invested heavily in U.S. manufacturing since 2019. The company also reportedly has the flexibility to alter some product ingredients should tariffs drive up production costs.

Meanwhile, it isn’t clear whether tariffs will be increased or by how much. Trump has hinted that he might impose a 10% on Chinese imports within a few weeks. He has also threatened to slap 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, in an effort to persuade companies to return manufacturing to the U.S.

Fires are still burning in Southern California, threatening and destroying homes in their paths. The latest outbreak has forced evacuations of thousands of people about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Fannie Mae, meanwhile, has announced a comprehensive set of mortgage assistance and disaster relief options for affected homeowners and renters. The initiative is aimed at providing support to those grappling with the aftermath of the natural disaster.

Cyndi Danko, senior vice president and chief credit officer for Single-Family at Fannie Mae, said Fannie Mae is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to assisting people affected by the fires. She urged residents to reach out to their mortgage servicers promptly for help.

Fannie Mae has outlined several relief measures under its guidelines for single-family mortgages affected by disasters. Homeowners can request mortgage assistance by contacting their mortgage servicer, as listed on their mortgage statement. 

12-month forbearance plan

Affected homeowners may be eligible to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months through a forbearance plan, during which late fees and foreclosure proceedings are halted.

In cases where direct contact with homeowners is not possible, mortgage servicers are authorized to offer a 90-day forbearance plan if they believe the property has been impacted by the disaster. In the period after forbearance, homeowners have options such as Disaster Payment Deferral and Fannie Mae Flex Modification to address any delinquencies without requiring a lump sum payment.

Fannie Mae also provides disaster recovery counseling services, accessible by calling 855-HERE2HELP (855-437-3243) or visiting their website. These services are free and delivered by HUD-approved housing counselors, offering personalized recovery plans, assistance with financial relief applications, and ongoing guidance for up to 18 months. Support is available in multiple languages to cater to diverse communities.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced a massive $1.065 billion judgment against Yellowstone Capital and its network of 25 lending companies she accused of being predatory. 

The settlement could deliver over $534 million in debt relief and at least $16 million in restitution to small businesses across New York and the U.S. that were targeted with illegal high-interest loans.

James’ suit against Yellowstone claimed the company disguised high-interest loans as merchant cash advances. These advances were purportedly structured as purchases of future revenues, but in reality, James said they imposed fixed daily repayments disconnected from the businesses' actual earnings. The suit charged the loans resulted in effective interest rates soaring up to 820% annually, far exceeding legal limits.

"Targeting small businesses with predatory loans and outrageous interest rates threatens the livelihoods of hardworking business owners and their employees," James said in a statement. 

Substantial financial relief

She said the settlement not only provides substantial financial relief but also marks a significant step in protecting small businesses from exploitative financial practices.

Among the affected businesses were City Bakery in Manhattan, which was forced to close due to the crippling debt cycle. The bakery, a staple in Union Square for nearly 30 years, succumbed to daily repayments exceeding $2,000, which it could not sustain.

The settlement requires Yellowstone to cease all collection efforts, vacate court judgments, and terminate liens on small businesses' properties. Additionally, the companies and their officers are permanently banned from the merchant cash advance industry. If they fail to adhere to the settlement terms, the immediate $16.1 million payment will increase to $30 million.

Another housing metric shows renters continued to get some relief in December, even as homebuyers faced increasing affordability hurdles.

According to the latest Realtor.com December Rental Report, the rental market experienced its 17th consecutive month of declining rents, with a year-over-year decrease of 1.1%, bringing the national median asking rent to $1,695. 

It was the first time since April 2022 that the median rent has fallen below $1,700. Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, says the decline can be attributed to supply and demand.

"We are reaping the benefits of the multi-family surge in housing starts that lasted throughout 2023, but as starts and completions slow, we anticipate seeing more balance in the rental market ahead," Hale said in a statement.

Hale said this balance is a welcome change for renters, signaling an end to the pandemic-era rental market spikes.

The nationwide absorption rate, which measures the share of newly built rental units leased within three months of completion, has fallen to 55%, about the same as 2019 levels. This suggests a more balanced market, as the influx of new multi-family construction helps stabilize rent prices. 

Rents have risen less than inflation

Since 2019, overall inflation has increased by 22.8%, while rents have risen by only 16%, highlighting the impact of increased housing supply on rent stabilization.

Despite the overall trend towards balance, affordable rentals continue to show stronger demand than their pricier counterparts. The absorption rate for affordable apartments stands at 56.3%, compared to 53.8% for more expensive units, underscoring the persistent need for affordable housing options.

As the rental market continues to adjust, renters may find relief in the form of more stable prices and increased availability, particularly in regions where new construction has been the strongest. However, the report said the demand for affordable housing remains a critical issue, highlighting the need for continued focus on developing accessible rental options.

ChrisDowa has issued a recall for 19,500 roller window shades because they violate federal regulations for window coverings and pose a strangulation and entrapment hazard. The shades were sold exclusively by Amazon.

The recalled roller shades have long operating cords that pose strangulation and entanglement hazards to children in violation of the federal regulations for window coverings. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the shades also violate labeling requirements for window coverings.

The roller blinds were sold in multiple colors with sizes ranging from a width of 20-27 inches and height of 72 inches. ChrisDowa is printed on the label sticker on the headrail.

What to do

Consumers should immediately put the window blind’s cords up and away from children and contact Shaoxingkeqiao Nenghaozhenfang to receive a free operating cord wand. Consumers must send a photo of the recalled product with the cord cut to recallchrisdowa@163.com. 

Once the firm receives the photo, consumers will receive a repair kit with installation instructions via Amazon or FedEx. The firm is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Noticing fewer health alerts from government agencies lately? That may be because of a government-issued pause in official health alerts.

The Trump Administration issued the pause on a variety of health communications going out from some of the nation’s top health and science agencies, according to reporting from The Washington Post.

The pause may in part be driven by the process of installing new appointees for senior management positions at departments such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

“HHS has issued a pause on mass communications and public appearances that are not directly related to emergencies or critical to preserving health,” a spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in an email to ConsumerAffairs. “This is a short pause to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization. There are exceptions for announcements that the HHS divisions believe are mission critical, but they will be made on a case-by-case basis.” 

"A dark harbinger"

The Center For Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) said the pause "will stifle the speech of government science and scientists, and is very likely a dark harbinger of what’s to come from this administration."

Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, also expressed its concerns about the pause.

“There is zero reason for standard public health communications that people rely on to stay safe to be paused, and for scientific meetings to be postponed or cancelled,” according to a statement released by Public Citizen on January 23. “The public needs and should expect a seamless transition between administrations for the timely communication of all essential public health information. A pause in these vital communications should never have happened and must fully end by February 1.”

In a memo the AP obtained, Dorothy Fink, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discussed with her staff leaders an “immediate pause” that the Trump administration had enacted on guidance, regulations, press releases, announcements, and social media posts — in addition to other communications — until they could be approved by a political appointee. The pause would be in effect until the end of the month, according to the memo, the AP reported.

HHS oversees the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and presumably communications from all those agencies are impacted by the pause. 

Which publications are affected?

A CDC spokesperson who responded to ConsumerAffairs initially did not respond to a follow-up question about which CDC publications are impacted by the pause. 

However, according to reporting from The Washington Post, the public messaging interruption also applies to the scientific publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) — as well as what is published in the Federal Register, the official daily publication for notices, rules and proposed rules of federal agencies as well as presidential documents such as executive orders.

This pause may be an opportunity for a strategic look at federal agency messaging to better engage people and protect health for everyone in our communities,” Dr. Ali Khan, former CDC outbreak investigator who currently works as dean of the University of Nebraska’s public health college, said in an email.

Khan added that the Trump administration is “very adept” at communicating with the American public and one of the criticisms of the COVID response was the “mismatch” between CDC and FDA messages to the public “and how those messages were delivered and interpreted.”

“The only concern would be if this was a prelude to a repeat of another major reason for the failed COVID response — disinformation,” he said.

Khan said that he was concerned about “manipulation of scientific communiques for partisan purposes.”

The Washington Post was the first to report the pause. A reporter from the publication spoke with close to 12 current and former officials and others familiar with the matter, at least some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.

ConsumerAffairs contacted a spokesperson for the FDA who directed us to contact HHS, however HHS did not respond to a request for comment and neither did NIH.

ConsumerAffairs was unable to contact the Office of Public & Media Affairs at The White House because the website is not currently operational (“Page not found”). 

Homeowners seeking to rebuild their homes after a devastating disaster may be surprised to find themselves in another conundrum – their home insurance doesn’t cover enough to help them move on with their lives and rebuild their devastated house.

They are underinsured.

Researchers who looked into the underinsurance phenomenon found that most homeowners lack enough coverage to rebuild their house after a total loss. By exploring the plight of 4,859 policyholders from 24 insurers in Colorado, where the December 2021 Marshall Fire took down more than 1,000 homes and 30 commercial buildings, researchers found that underinsured homeowners were more likely to sell off their home than rebuild it.

Wildfires in Southern California have already claimed close to 16,000 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, affecting people across various income streams and backgrounds. And with construction costs creeping up, it is unclear what rebuilding will look like for residents.

“Most people don’t have the money in the bank to rebuild a house,” said Mark Friedlander, corporate communications director for the Insurance Information Institute. “It makes a tragedy even worse.”

Friedlander reminds that most mortgage companies require homeowners to carry adequate insurance, and consumers can’t intentionally buy less required coverage. But most homeowners Triple-I surveyed in 2023 also didn’t anticipate having to experience a severe weather event.

According to the survey, 25% of homeowners didn’t believe their residence would be impacted by climate risk, and 42 percent said they didn’t believe they’d be impacted within the next five years. And only four in ten homeowners stated they completed some preventative measures on their homes, which could help mitigate damage and reduce cost.

Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, said the wildfire’s impact in Los Angeles will be “massive,” and while underinsurance is always a problem, she suspects it will only worsen in California.

“The whole point of insurance is to make our communities whole in times of crisis. If the policies aren’t doing that and we’re still paying through the nose for them, then what are we paying for?” she said. “It will be really important for regulators and potentially lawmakers to step in and make insurance companies meet their obligations.”

Making sure you’re not underinsured

Sharon Cornelissen, housing director at Consumer Federation of America, said it’s getting more difficult to get insured and shop around for affordable insurance options in disaster prone areas as insurers pull out. And insurance prices can vary year by year.

“It’s good for everyone to reexamine their coverage every now and then, to ensure they’re still fully insured for both the replacement value of their home and their property within that, their possessions within the home,” Cornelissen said. “Both should be covered by their policies.”

Cornelissen provided important tips for consumers who need to recheck or shop around for insurance policies:

• Ask what the policy excludes – Some policies do not cover flooding, wind events, or fires, and consumers may need to look at supplementary policies to help fill the gap

• Understand the high deductibles – While a higher deductible can mean a lower monthly payment, it has to fit the consumer’s budget and comfort so that it doesn’t become a problem once an event occurs. Cornelissen also reminds that the value of the home is not linked to property value, but to replacement value which is how much it would cost to rebuild the house in the case of total destruction. She advises that consumers check if they are covered for the full replacement value of the house.

• Shop around for the insurance – Even if a broker offers the best price on insurance, there may still be limitations. Compare prices and see if it is a good value for the protection you need.

For homeowners recovering from a disaster, Cornelissen also advises they take advantage of help from The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may qualify for additional help when they discover they are underinsured.

Federal safety regulators are stepping up their investigation of Ford's BlueCruise hands-free technology following two fatal crashes involving all-electric Mustang Mach-E models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is moving the status of the probe to "engineering analysis," a step needed before it could order a recall. The analysis will cover 2021-24 model years, which is about 129,222 cars, according to NHTSA.

In its analysis, NHTSA will investigate Ford's system limitations and "evaluate drivers’ ability to respond to scenarios that exceed system limitations," NHTSA said in documents. 

In total, 32 crashes and 2,004 non-crash reports on Ford vehicles were identified across manufacturer and ODI data sources, NHTSA said. 

More than 70 mph

In both fatal collisions, the Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicle was traveling over 70 miles per hour on a controlled-access highway during nighttime lighting conditions with hands-free BlueCruise engaged when it collided with a stationary vehicle.

Analysis of data imaged from the vehicles’ event data recorders demonstrates that in each incident, the driver did not apply the brakes or take evasive steering action, and no deceleration was initiated prior to impact.

Through the agency’s crash analysis, four additional frontal collisions were identified where a Ford equipped with BlueCruise impacted a stopped or slow-moving lead vehicle or another stationary object located in the travel lane.

Two of these four incidents involved BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles while the other two involved other Ford models.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A study conducted by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has identified another risk - cognitive impairment.

However, their study has revealed that intensive blood pressure management can significantly reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk, with benefits persisting long after the treatment has ended. The findings, published in Neurology, underscore the long-term cognitive benefits of aggressive blood pressure control.

The study, part of the National Institutes of Health-supported Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT MIND), involved 9,361 participants aged 50 and older across more than 100 clinic sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive treatment group with a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 120 mm Hg or a standard treatment group with a goal of less than 140 mm Hg.

Over a median follow-up period of seven years, cognitive assessments were conducted both in-person and via telephone, classifying participants into categories of no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or probable dementia. The results showed that those in the intensive treatment group had a sustained lower incidence of cognitive impairment compared to the standard treatment group.

Bolstered by previous research

The study builds on previous findings from the landmark SPRINT trial, which in 2015 demonstrated that intensive blood pressure management reduced cardiovascular disease and lowered the risk of death by 30-40% in individuals with hypertension. 

The trial was stopped early due to its success, leaving questions about the long-term effects on dementia. However, initial results from SPRINT MIND in 2019 indicated a significantly reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment for up to five years following the initial 3.3 years of intensive treatment.

Researchers say the latest findings extend these benefits over a longer period, showing a continued reduction in cognitive impairment rates for at least seven years. 

The December Consumer Price Index showed the cost of new and used vehicles has fallen over the last 12 months, but the cost of insuring cars and trucks continues to rise. However, insurance rates are higher on some vehicles than on others.

The Tesla Cybertruck not only carries a high price tag, but according to insurance comparison site Insurify it’s very costly to insure. The average annual full coverage premium on the Cybertruck is $3,392 per year — 45% more than the national average of $2,336, according to Insurify data.

There are two factors that influence the Cybertruck’s insurance premiums. The first is that it’s an electric vehicle. EVs typically cost more to insure.

The second is the price tag. Insurance rates are higher for very expensive vehicles because repair and replacement costs are so high.

Cheapest to insure

On the other end of the scale, the cheapest vehicles to insure are typically small SUVs or trucks. Car and Driver ranks them like this:

• Subaru Outback

• Honda CR-V

• Honda Pilot

• Ford Escape

• Honda Odyssey

• Ford F-150

• Jeep Wrangler

• GMC Sierra 1500

• Toyota RAV4

• Nissan Rogue

Location, location, location

Another factor influencing insurance rates is where you live. A recent ConsumerAffairs study identified these states as the most expensive for auto insurance:

But the study also found that age and gender are the biggest factors that influence car insurance rates. Eighteen-year-old men pay the most, but 35-year-old women actually pay up to 21% more than men of the same age with identical driving profiles.

Monkey Spit, of Nipomo, Calif., is recalling three barbecue sauce products because they contain undeclared allergens. The recall includes:

• Monkey Mop BBQ Sauce - because it may contain undeclared milk. Best by: 11/07/2026A

• Swamp Mob BBQ Sauce - because it may contain undeclared soy. Best by: 12/13/2025A

• Atomic Mop BBQ Sauce - because it may contain undeclared milk and wheat. Best by: 03/19/2026D

People who have allergies to milk/wheat/soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

The three recalled Monkey Spit BBQ Ssauces were distributed locally in retail stores on the central coast of California and through mail orders on the company’s website.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated after an FDA inspection. It was discovered that there were undeclared allergens not reveal on the product labels. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's packaging processes.

What to do

Production of the product has been suspended until the FDA and Monkey Spit are certain that the problem has been corrected.

Consumers who have purchased 12-ounce bottles of "Monkey Spit Mop BBQ Sauce, Monkey Spit Swamp BBQ Sauce and Monkey Spit Atomic Mop BBQ Sauce”, are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-714-514-8445 Monday through Friday 9am to 5 pm (PST) or karen@monkeyspithotsauce.com.