Consumer costs shift as inflation data, housing and autos compete for wallets

Inflation, war, tariffs - there's nowhere for consumers to hide from rising costs.

National Safety Recalls - July 30

Galanz retro refrigerators head the recall list. They can catch fire.

Insurers make millions while homeowners wait for claim checks, analysis finds

Home insurers collectively earn an estimated $8.8 million in investment income for every additional day claim payments remain in their hands

Claim delayed? Build a paper trail regulators can use

It's important to stay on top of pending insurance claims, and to keep complete records in case of a dispute.

Justice Department retreats from landmark disability rights protections

Advocates fear weaker federal enforcement — combined with deep Medicaid funding reductions — could make community-based care an easier target for state budget cuts.

Hims & Hers 'shared sensitive health information' with ad platforms, FTC charges

Despite promising privacy, the telehealth provider shared consumer info with ad platforms, consumer protection agencies said.

America’s scam economy is costing households an estimated $1,009 a year

Americans’ true losses to online scams and other internet crimes may have reached $148.2 billion in 2025, the Consumer Federation of America estimates.

DoorDash is building its own delivery drones as the race to replace drivers accelerates

DoorDash has received federal approval to operate a commercial drone-delivery service and says it plans to begin deliveries this fall.

Will a drone be able to deliver to your home?

Drone delivery may sound as simple as ordering takeout, but whether a flying courier can reach your home will depend on where you live, what you order and whether the aircraft can find a safe place to lower the package.

Don’t renew Medicare Part D on autopilot

Heads up! A federal subsidy for Medicare Part D is ending. Your premium may be affected.

Medicare drug-plan premiums could rise as federal subsidies expire

The federal government will end a temporary program that has held down premiums for stand-alone Medicare Part D drug plans

Cyclospora balloons to 6,707 confirmed cases, largest in US history, Ford adds a recall, consumer confidence sinks

A string of negative news is reflected in a sinking consumer confidence rating.

Consumer Protection

FTC says ticket broker used fake accounts and virtual cards to scoop up 86,000 tickets

Elite Events and its owners agreed to pay $300,000 after allegedly bypassing ticket limits for more than 2,400 concerts, sporting events and other live shows

Consumer Protection

Primary sale or resale? How to tell before you buy tickets

Ticket websites do not always make it obvious whether you are buying directly from the venue or purchasing from a reseller who may have marked up the price.

Immersion water heaters pose an 'imminent danger' of fires, safety agency charges

Consumers are being warned about an "imminent hazard" posed by some immersion water heaters – portable devices that are often used to heat water quickly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today filed an imminent hazard action against the manufacturer and seller of Lakkzoom immersion water heaters,

Consumer Protection

Mass tort or class action? Why the difference matters

Not every lawsuit with thousands of plaintiffs is a class action. It's important to know the difference.

Health

J&J offers $5.5 billion to settle 76,000 talcum powder cancer claims

The proposed settlement would resolve nearly all remaining lawsuits alleging Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based powders caused ovarian cancer.

Travel

Delta and JetBlue roll out stripped-down premium fares

Pay a little bit less for sort of luxury travel is the latest travel mantra.

Health

Cyclospora outbreak balloons to record

The outbreak touches nearly the entire United States, extending to 41 states at last count.

Recalls

Ford recalls close to 1 million vehicles in a week

The safety story of the week is Ford's cascade. Ford Motor Co. has recalled close to 1 million vehicles in just the week ending July 24, Reuters reported via the Detroit Free Press.

AI/Privacy

When the defendant isn't human: AI systems are finding themselves at the center of lawsuits

A Delaware judge has allowed a defamation lawsuit against Google to move forward over allegedly false statements generated by its Bard AI chatbot.

AI/Privacy

Consumer groups want probe of AI voice-cloning app Speechify over fraud concerns

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has asked the FTC and state attorneys general to investigate whether AI voice-cloning platform Speechify is making it too easy for scammers to impersonate consumers.

Health

FDA advisers vote to bring unproven peptides out of the shadows — and into compounding pharmacies

An FDA advisory committee recommended allowing compounding pharmacies to make six popular peptides promoted for healing, weight control, endurance and anti-aging.

Consumer Protection

Trump’s CFPB nominee says he won’t eliminate the agency — but its future remains uncertain

Brian Johnson told senators that abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is “not my intention”