Money
Vermont moves to protect survivors from coerced debt
Vermont becomes the ninth state to enact specific protections against coerced debt, a growing form of economic abuse
James R. Hood
James R. Hood, an editor and consumer-affairs journalist with more than five decades of experience, has held senior editorial leadership roles at The Associated Press, United Press International, Zapnews and ConsumerAffairs.
Consumer Protection
Consumer sentiment at a low ebb; nearly half of Americans say they're worse off financially
The New York Fed’s monthly household survey shows the most pessimism since 2022 — and it lines up with the CPI print due Wednesday
Money
DoorDash, Instacart face FTC scrutiny over hidden delivery fees
The move follows a $60 million settlement with Instacart over allegations involving misleading “free delivery” claims and undisclosed fees
Health
Listeria outbreak tied to soft cheese kills one, sickens seven; more products may be affected
The outbreak started on New York's Long Island; pregnant women are at heightened risk
CPI is Wednesday, mortgage rates are stuck above 6.5 percent and the housing market is paying the price
The math is brutal for homebuyers, analysts say
Money
Summer electric rates are back, and consumers could pay more when they use power most
The seasonal pricing arrives as utilities pursue major rate increases that could add hundreds of millions of dollars to customer bills.
Consumer Protection
New York watchdog targets junk fees, subscription traps
The city is moving toward a first-in-the-nation “click-to-cancel” rule that would require subscriptions to be as easy to cancel as they are to sign up for.
Money
Trump targets unverified immigrants' bank accounts, tightening oversight of credit and bank accounts
The move could "debank" millions of immigrants, pushing them out of the mainstream banking system
Money
Banks cash in - overdraft fees climb above $12 billion after Trump, Congress slash consumer protection rules
About a quarter of Americans live in households that pay overdraft fees regularly
Health
Weight-loss drugs are creating a costly new problem for retailers: Clothing returns
Some retailers are responding with stricter return policies, higher restocking fees and expanded inventories of smaller sizes
Health
Is sunscreen really contaminated with heavy metals, like lead and arsenic?
They're naturally occurring elements so it's hard to escape them
AI/Privacy
Meta’s smart glasses may be getting facial recognition, reigniting privacy fears
The unreleased system could allow wearers to identify people in public and receive alerts when a face is recognized