Money
NYC freezes rents for 1 million apartments, reigniting a national debate
Rent regulation is rare in the U.S. but common in Europe, where caps are more common than outright freezes
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Seniors
Social Security checks could rise nearly 4% in 2027 — but seniors may not feel richer
A bigger COLA would reflect higher inflation, not a windfall
Health
Benadryl is still everywhere. Brain-health warnings haven’t slowed its use
The popular over-the-counter medicine is easy to buy, but geriatric experts have warned for years that diphenhydramine can be risky for older adults
National Safety Recalls - June 27
Top hazards today Treatlife smoke/CO detectors — Recalled because they can fail to alert consumers to a fire, creating a risk of serious injury or death. Sold on Amazon. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) Raychy children’s light-up sneakers — Recalled because accessible lithium coin batteries pose ingestion hazards;
Money
'We buy any house, even yours' - good idea, or not?
The "discount for cash" deal is standard in lots of business dealings, where both parties know what they're doing, but it's often a bad model for homeowners attracted by the notion of a fast, as-is sale.
Money
California drivers sue gas station chains, claiming AI helped inflate pump prices
A new class-action lawsuit says fuel-pricing software turned old-fashioned price fixing into an automated system
Money
The algorithm sets the price: how major U.S. newspapers personalize subscription offers — and what the Washington Post lawsuit means for the industry
The complaint is the first major test of so-called surveillance pricing in the U.S. news industry, but the practice is not unique to the Post.
Money
Mortgage rates climb back to 6.49 percent — Fed seen holding July, hiking September
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge surged to a three-year high of 4.1 percent in May, with core PCE at 3.4 percent — the most since October 2023.
Consumer Protection
CFPB overhauls complaint system, raising fears of new hurdles for consumers
The CFPB says it is cleaning up an overloaded complaint portal but consumer advocates are skeptical.
Cars
Slate bets Americans still want a cheap, simple truck
Slate Auto says its two-seat electric pickup will start at $24,950, making it one of the lowest-priced new vehicles in the U.S.
Seniors
Medicare opens first weight-loss coverage at $50 a month
A new pilot Medicare program, "set to continue through 2027, will allow older adults to access GLP-1 medications for $50 per month" — the first time the program will cover them specifically for weight loss,
Consumer Protection
Outraged consumers: They're fed up with broken customer service — and companies may be running out of excuses
Americans say they are spending more time, money and emotional energy trying to solve routine problems with airlines, banks, retailers, telecoms, health insurers and delivery companies.