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Are you trying to move more, sleep better or keep a closer eye on your health metrics? A smartwatch can help you track all that and more. And when it comes to smartwatches, it’s hard to beat the Apple Watch Series 11. It is also CNET’s top pick for the best smartwatch of 2026 and…
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If you are an Apple loyalist (and even if you aren’t), you know that the AirPods 4 are some of the best earbuds available on the market right now. The buds are popular for their compact design and spatial audio quality. But if, like me, you also hate paying full price, then here’s some good…
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Back-to-school season is always a great time to grab an Apple upgrade for yourself or the kid in your life, and today we’ve found great deals on AirPods. These earbuds are among the few products left untouched by the company’s recent price hikes. They’re also some of our favorite earbuds, as are their cousins in…
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July 21, 2026
The U.S. housing shortage remained at approximately 4.7 million homes in 2024, growing by just 43,000 units.
A surge in apartment construction helped housing supply nearly keep pace with the formation of new households.
The shortage continues to drive high prices, particularly in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco.
Americas housing shortage is one reason home prices remain stubbornly high. Since the 2009-10 housing market crash, residential construction has been about half of what it was before the crash.
But in good news for buyers, builders are starting to close the gap. In fact, a Zillow analysis shows the housing shortage has stopped growing significantly for the first time in years.
The housing deficit the gap between buyers and available homes totaled approximately 4.74 million units in 2024, an increase of just 43,438 homes from the previous year, according to the analysis.
That was a substantial improvement from 2022, when the shortage grew by nearly 257,000 homes, and 2023, when it increased by more than 159,000.
The country is not yet building its way out of the hole, but we stopped digging, Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy said.
The deficit is Zillows estimate of the difference between the number of families that may want their own homes and the number of housing units available to buy or rent. In 2024, an estimated 8.17 million families were doubling up, or sharing homes with people outside their families, while only about 3.43 million homes were available.
Construction boom helped stabilize supply
The total number of U.S. housing units increased by about 1.4 million in 2024. Zillow said the increase was fueled by the completion of more multifamily housing units than in any year in the previous half-century.
That new supply was almost enough to accommodate the years increase in households seeking housing. It marked an important change after nearly two decades of underbuilding that began following the 2008 financial crisis.
The additional supply also appears to be helping affordability, although buying a home remains difficult for many consumers.
Zillow estimated that 35.2% of homes listed for sale in May 2026 were affordable to a household earning the median income, up from 30.8% a year earlier.
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July 21, 2026
The FDA has withdrawn its report that a Taylor Farms lettuce sample tested positive for Cyclospora, saying the result was a false positive.
Taylor Farms says the reversal supports its position that no product testing has confirmed Cyclospora in its lettuce, but federal investigators say epidemiological and supply-chain evidence still points to the company.
The recall remains in effect, and consumers should not eat the affected iceberg lettuce even though the laboratory result was invalid.
Taylor Farms is pushing back against the suggestion that its lettuce has been conclusively identified as the source of a large Cyclospora outbreak after the Food and Drug Administration acknowledged that a supposedly positive product test was wrong.
The FDA reported July 18 that a sample of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico had tested positive for Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can cause prolonged diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
One day later, the agency reversed itself. FDA laboratory experts reexamined the results and concluded that the finding did not represent true amplification, meaning the test should be considered a false positive.
As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora, the FDA said in its updated investigation notice.
Taylor Farms quickly highlighted the mistake.
FDA informed Taylor Fresh Foods that one of its iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico tested positive for Cyclospora, the company said. Today, we were informed that FDA made a mistake, and this was a false positive.
Taylor Farms said the FDA apologized to the company, although the agency reportedly disputed that characterization. Regardless, the FDA has publicly acknowledged that the laboratory result was invalid and removed references to it from its earlier update.
Taylor Farms remains under investigation
The false positive does not fully clear Taylor Farms, however.
Federal health officials say their investigation was not based solely on the product test. The FDA said Monday that epidemiological evidence and product-tracing records continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico.
The agency said the erroneous test does not change the basis for the continuing investigation or the evidence supporting the companys voluntary recall.
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July 21, 2026
State Farm announced the record $5 billion policyholder dividend on Feb. 26, 2026.
Payments averaging about $100 per insured vehicle are scheduled to begin in late summer, but State Farm indicates distributions have not started yet.
The insurer credits stronger-than-expected 2025 financial results, falling repair costs and fewer collisions.
Back in February, State Farm announced it had set aside $5 billion to pay a dividend to its car insurance policyholders. A reader recently contacted ConsumerAffairs, saying they had not received a payment.
State Farm customers waiting for the companys promised auto insurance dividend may need to remain patient a little longer.
The insurers official dividend website says payments will begin in late summer 2026. As of July 20, the companys published information does not indicate that distributions have started.
State Farm announced the $5 billion dividend on Feb. 26, calling it the largest policyholder dividend in the companys 103-year history. The one-time payments will go to qualifying customers covering more than 49 million vehicles.
Average dividend $100
The payments will average approximately $100 per vehicle, but that does not mean every eligible customer will receive exactly that amount. State Farm says individual dividends will vary by state and by the premiums each customer paid in 2025.
According to the companys frequently asked questions, the payment will generally equal between 4% and 10% of the customers 2025 auto insurance premiums. Customers whose calculated payment is $10 or less will not receive a dividend.
Why State Farm is returning the money
State Farm said the dividend is possible because of the companys financial strength and stronger-than-expected auto insurance underwriting performance in 2025.
Underwriting performance reflects the relationship between the premiums an insurer collects and the money it spends on claims and related expenses. State Farm reported that declining auto repair costs and a reduction in the frequency of collisions improved its results.
Because State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is owned by its policyholders rather than outside shareholders, it can return a portion of its financial gains directly to qualifying customers.
In addition to the cash payments, the insurer said it had lowered auto insurance rates in 40 states by an average of 10%.
Consumer Daily Reports Article Count: 5977
Environmental News Articles Article Count: 45
Reviews Article Count: 2513
Vehicle News Articles Article Count: 727
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