Money
Sen. Warren pushes ‘Direct File’ bill to simplify taxes, cut filing costs for consumers
TurboTax, H&R Block are lobbying Congress to defeat the measure, as they have in the past
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.
Gas tops $4 as Iran war jolts oil markets, squeezing U.S. consumers
Analysts warn relief may take months—even if fighting eases
Grocery prices surge as lawmakers press feds to crack down on alleged price-fixing
War-linked supply shocks — including fertilizer disruptions — add new pressure on prices
Health
Media habits tied to vaccine hesitancy as measles cases surge, study finds
People who consume “new right” media are more than twice as likely to be vaccine-hesitant, researchers say
Consumer Protection
Social media scams fuel $2.1 billion in losses, FTC warns
Fraud Watch: Investment schemes, fake ads, and romance cons drive surge
Travel
Quiet skies or new hype? Electric 'air taxis' take first real shot at NYC commuters
Flights aim to address noise complaints and safety concerns tied to helicopters
Health
Peptide News Tracker
There's political pressure to loosen restrictions on peptides despite scientists' warning the safety and efficacy data are slim. FDA advisers vote to bring unproven peptides out of the shadows — and into compounding pharmaciesAn FDA advisory committee recommended allowing compounding pharmacies to make six popular peptides promoted for
Health
Artificial food dyes still being used, despite companies' pledge to kick the habit
States move ahead with transparency and disclosure laws
Insurance
Insurers warn companies against excessive cost-cutting that shifts risk to consumers
Company cutbacks can leave consumers exposed to higher price, disruptions and uncovered losses
Money
Waiting for your tariff refunds? Keep waiting ...
It's unlikely consumers will see a big (or even a small) refund for the outlawed Trump tariffs
Insurance
California advances bills to curb home insurance nonrenewals, force transparency on payouts
Measures would require clearer explanations for nonrenewals and give homeowners more time to fix issues and keep coverage
Seniors
Consumers confront Social Security chaos
A new Democratic report says staffing cuts at the Social Security Administration have led to massive delays and service breakdowns