Consumer Protection
America's top consumer complaints - what local and federal agencies are hearing
The overlap between scams, auto issues, housing, healthcare and debt problems is striking and tells a broader affordability-and-fraud story.
James R. Hood
Jim Hood is a grizzled veteran of the news business. After 14 years at the Associated Press, he founded Zapnews and ConsumerAffairs.com. In his dotage he runs The Outraged Consumer on Substack and ConsumerNews.ai.
Gas down, food prices up, shoppers spending, as Hormuz deal is signed
The Fed isn't celebrating and is signaling an interest rate hike, which sent stocks down
Seniors
If you want out of Medicare Advantage, a 12-month calendar is your best friend
Seniors are finding that insurers are denying prior authorization for long-term care and rehabilitation. Are they trapped? Some are, but not everyone.
Seniors
Leaving Medicare Advantage during your 12-month trial
A step-by-step consumer guide to protecting your right to a Medigap policy A ConsumerNews.ai consumer resource — June 17, 2026 As The Outraged Consumer and others reported earlier, many of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers are denying prior authorization for long-term and rehabilitative care. This is driving
Insurance
Trump plan for healthcare: borrow from your insurance company
UnitedHealth jumps on the idea but economists say it's "profoundly disconnected" from reality
Seniors
Medicare Advantage denials prompt federal rebuke; report finds 'shocking' rate of refusals for long-term care
UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health and Humana, often rejecting, more than 70% of requests
Money
When the grid goes down: Are home batteries worth the premium over standby generators?
A homeowner's guide for the post-tax-credit era
Money
Washington Post hit with class-action lawsuit alleging it used a decade of reader data to set higher subscription prices for its most loyal readers
Growing awareness of "surveillance pricing" lands a prominent defendant
Cars
Stellantis lots are overflowing again — and shoppers may benefit
It's a headache for Stellantis and dealers but can mean bigger discounts for buyers
Cars
Used car prices top $30,000 as new-vehicle demand snaps back, CarGurus says
New car prices climbing steadily towards $51,000
Money
Wholesale inflation hit a 4-year high, and that’s working its way towards consumers' wallets
Jobless claims hit a 4-month high, and traders rebuilt rate-hike bets even with strikes paused
Trump pulls back from Iran strikes and oil drops below $90 a barrel, but wholesale prices jump 6.5 percent, jobless claims hit a four-month high and the appeals court keeps the 10 percent tariff alive
By Perplexity For the first time in two weeks, the dominant consumer-news story Friday morning was de-escalation rather than escalation. President Trump canceled planned strikes against Iran late Thursday — with U.S. Navy crews about three hours from launch — and announced a framework deal could be reached "