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Automotive
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Ford to add driver-assist features on Explorer, Fusion
May 11, 2012—Ford Motor says its first vehicles to have a full complement of driver-assist technologies will arrive at dealerships in fall 2012.
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Automakers eye electric vehicles that can be charged in 20 minutes
May 4, 2012—Electric vehicles that can be charged in just 20 minutes will arrive sometime in 2013, automakers tell Consumers Digest.
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Ford accepts preorders for 2013 Focus ST
May 3, 2012—A high-performance version of the Ford Focus now is available for preorder, and Ford Motor says it expects the model to arrive at dealerships in late summer 2012.
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Ford Focus Electric to debut at dealerships this month
May 2, 2012—Ford Motor’s first all-electric vehicle, the 2012 Focus Electric, will arrive at 67 dealerships in California, New Jersey and New York this month.
Appliances
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Caloric brand makes a comeback
May 1, 2012—An iconic, post-World War II appliance brand will be getting a 21st-century upgrade.
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Electrolux, LG and Samsung won’t face duties
April 18, 2012—Three overseas refrigerator manufacturers who faced allegations that they sold bottom-freezer models for less than U.S. market value won’t have to pay tariffs on their products that were imported and sold in the United States.
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Refrigerator import tariff could cost consumers
March 23, 2012—Three refrigerator manufacturers could face Department of Commerce penalties for selling imported refrigerators that were priced below market value.
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Whirlpool introduces slimmest French-door refrigerator
March 15, 2012—Whirlpool introduced the slimmest French-door bottom-freezer refrigerator.
Electronics
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Twitter to honor no-tracking requests by users
May 18, 2012—Twitter announced that it no longer will collect personal information from its users who don’t want their online behavior to be tracked.
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Small batteries pose greater risks for young children
May 16, 2012—A new study indicates that parents shouldn’t let young children play with electronic devices that use button-size batteries.
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Next iPhone could have 4-inch touch screen
May 16, 2012—Apple’s next iPhone likely will have a larger touch screen when it arrives later this year.
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LG to introduce Google TV-enabled TV models in May
May 9, 2012—LG Electronics on May 21 will launch a line of TVs that have the capability to show Google TV, according to Reuters.
Home
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Moen introduces kitchen faucet that operates by sensor
May 1, 2012—Moen introduced a kitchen faucet that activates with a wave of the hand.
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CFPB proposes clearer mortgage-servicing rules
April 12, 2012—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rules that would require mortgage servicers to be more transparent when they work with homeowners.
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Bank of America program gives underwater homeowners rental option
March 28, 2012—Bank of America introduced a pilot program that allows struggling homeowners to convert their mortgage to a 3-year lease agreement if they transfer the title to the bank.
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CFPB database provides answers to consumers’ financial inquiries
March 26, 2012—Consumers who have questions about credit cards and mortgages can find answers at an online database that Consumer Financial Protection Bureau established on March 22.
Health
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Annual prostate-cancer screening unnecessary, task force says
May 22, 2012—Men who don’t have a history of prostate cancer should avoid annual screenings for the disease, a government task force says.
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Study finds combat soldiers have brain-disease risk
May 17, 2012—Soldiers who are exposed to explosions during combat can develop the same degenerative brain disease that has been discovered in boxers and football players, a new study says.
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Skechers to pay $40 million for deceptive claims about footwear
May 16, 2012—Federal Trade Commission reached a $40 million settlement with Skechers USA today over allegations that the company made deceptive claims about the benefits of its “toning” footwear.
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Government launches program focused on Alzheimer’s disease
May 15, 2012—The federal government today launched an initiative that’s designed to help to find new treatments for Alzheimer’s by 2025.
Travel & Recreation
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American Airlines to phase out first-class seating on some planes
May 11, 2012—American Airlines will phase out the first-class seats on some of its international flights, according to a Dallas Morning News report.
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US Airways offers expedited service for check-in, boarding
May 7, 2012—US Airways passengers can pay extra for a service that expedites airport check-in and airplane boarding.
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Spirit to raise carry-on-baggage fees to $100 in November 2012
May 3, 2012—Spirit Airlines customers who don’t reserve their carry-on luggage before they arrive at the gate will pay a fee of $100 per bag beginning in November 2012.
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Allegiant Air to charge for carry-on baggage
April 3, 2012—Carry-on bags no longer get a free ride on Allegiant Air. For flight reservations that are made on or after April 4, Allegiant will charge a $35 fee to consumers who store a carry-on bag in the plane’s overhead bin.
Family
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Small batteries pose greater risks for young children
May 16, 2012—A new study indicates that parents shouldn’t let young children play with electronic devices that use button-size batteries.
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Report says sippy cups, pacifiers increase injury risk for toddlers
May 15, 2012— American Academy of Pediatrics says parents should wean toddlers from pacifiers and “sippy cups” because a new study indicates that doing so will reduce the risk of injury.
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MetLife to pay $188 million to beneficiaries in settlement
April 24, 2012—Metropolitan Life Insurance will pay out $188 million this year to beneficiaries of life-insurance-policy holders to settle claims that MetLife held on to unclaimed life-insurance policy payouts that should have been given to beneficiaries.
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Obesity during pregnancy could contribute to autism
April 9, 2012—Women who are obese during pregnancy face a higher risk of having a child who has autism, according to a new study.
Lawn & Garden
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EPA denies petition to ban common herbicide
April 10, 2012—Environmental Protection Agency rejected a request to ban a common herbicide that’s used in weed killers and other lawn-care products.
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Geographic region should factor into snowthrower purchase
Dec. 15, 2011—Consumers who seek a new snowthrower and aren’t sure whether to buy a single-stage model or a dual-stage model should take their geographic region into consideration, experts say.
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Husqvarna’s consumer products not affected by production delays
Oct. 26, 2011—In Husqvarna’s third-quarter financial results, the company reported that production issues that affected its manufacturing operations this year hasn’t had any effect on consumer products.
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John Deere dealerships to continue servicing walk-behind lawnmowers that it will discontinue in 2012
Sept. 22, 2011—Deere is stepping out of the outdoor-power-equipment arena and will discontinue the manufacture of its John Deere walk-behind lawnmowers and snowthrowers.
Money
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CFPB warns consumers against sweepstakes scam
May 14, 2012—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a warning to consumers about a potential sweepstakes scam.
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Congressman seeks investigation into debt collector’s practices
April 27, 2012—Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., wants the federal government to investigate whether one of the nation’s largest medical debt-collection agencies violated federal law.
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CFPB extends public-comment deadline
April 26, 2012—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has extended by 2 months its deadline for consumers to submit comments that are related to CFPB’s investigation of overdraft fees that banks charge to consumers.
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MetLife to pay $188 million to beneficiaries in settlement
April 24, 2012—Metropolitan Life Insurance will pay out $188 million this year to beneficiaries of life-insurance-policy holders to settle claims that MetLife held on to unclaimed life-insurance policy payouts that should have been given to beneficiaries.
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