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Consumer Resources

New figures show that concerns about cost lead the way in deterring people from buying an electric vehicle ...
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People are saving but are uncertain about the future By Mark Huffman Consumer News: Americans making little progress in planning for retirement of ConsumerAffairs June 10, 2026

Fewer than six in 10 Americans believe they are building a large enough nest egg for retirement, according to a new Transamerica Institute report.

Despite modest gains in retirement savings since the pandemic, confidence in achieving a comfortable retirement has remained unchanged.

Concerns about Social Security, healthcare costs, and outliving savings continue to weigh heavily on workers and retirees alike.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which created economic turmoil, Americans have litle progress toward achieving retirement security. Thats the conclusion of a new report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and Transamerica Institute.

The findings suggest that while more people are saving for retirement, many remain uncertain about their financial future.

The report, Life and Money: Retirement Security in the USA, analyzed retirement trends from 2020 through 2025 and found what researchers described as "lackluster" improvements in key measures of retirement readiness. The study is based on surveys of more than 60,000 Americans conducted over the five years.

One of the report's central findings is that only 59% of Americans believe they are currently building or have already built a retirement nest egg large enough to meet their future needs. While that represents a slight improvement from 55% in 2020, researchers say it is far from a sign that retirement security has substantially improved.

Retirement confidence has barely budged. Two-thirds of Americans, 66%, say they are confident they will be able to retire comfortably, the same percentage recorded at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Only about one in five respondents describe themselves as "very confident."
However, some encouraging signs

The study found some encouraging signs. Among workers who have not yet retired, the percentage saving for retirement increased from 65% to 69% over the five-year period. Median household retirement savings also rose, increasing from $44,000 in 2020 to $56,000 in 2025. Even so, researchers caution that those gains may not be enough to offset higher living costs and longer life expectancies.

Many Americans remain deeply worried about retirement. The survey found that 62% believe they could work throughout their careers and still fail to save enough for retirement.

An investigation finds 25% of packaged food exceeds safe levels By Mark Huffman Consumer News: Just how many food additives are you consuming each day? of ConsumerAffairs June 10, 2026

A joint investigation by Consumer Reports and the food-scanning app Yuka found that one in four popular packaged foods contained additive levels that exceeded safety thresholds established by experts.

Researchers tested 40 widely consumed products and found elevated levels of controversial additives and contaminants in snacks, drinks, and other processed foods.

Health experts say consumers can reduce exposure by choosing less-processed foods, reading ingredient labels, and using product-scanning tools to identify additives of concern.

When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., became Secretary of Health and Human Services, federal regulators began to take a closer look at the health of the U.S. food supply. Among the first steps the agency took was to target certain food dyes.

However, a new investigation by Consumer Reports and Yuka is suggesting that there is a lot more work to do. The results aredrawing attention to the sheer number of additives found in the U.S. food supply and raising concerns about whether current regulations adequately protect consumers.

The investigation examined 40 popular packaged food products sold in the United States and measured levels of eight controversial food additives. Researchers found that approximately 25% of the products contained additive levels that exceeded what experts consider safe daily intake levels over a lifetime. When contaminants were included, more than one-third of the products exceeded recommended thresholds.
A wide range of food products

Among the products cited in the investigation were popular snacks, candies, flavored drinks, and processed foods marketed to both adults and children. Investigators reported finding elevated levels of additives such as synthetic food dyes, preservatives, and other ingredients that have been linked in scientific studies to potential health concerns, including behavioral effects in children, DNA damage, and increased cancer risk.

The findings align with longstanding concerns among food safety advocates about differences between U.S. regulations and those in other countries. Many additives permitted in American foods face stricter limits overseas, while some ingredients allowed in the United States have been banned or heavily restricted in Europe.

Elon and Oprah arent endorsing those weight-loss pills By Mark Huffman Consumer News: Celebrity endorsement  continue to flourish online of ConsumerAffairs June 10, 2026

Fraudulent online advertisements have increasingly used the names, images, and fabricated endorsements of celebrities to promote dubious investment schemes, miracle health products, and fake giveaways.

High-profile figures including Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Kelly Clarkson, and Martin Lewis have publicly warned consumers that they never endorsed the products or services featured in the ads.

Experts say advances in artificial intelligence and deepfake technology have made celebrity impersonation more convincing, contributing to billions of dollars in consumer losses worldwide.

While its true that some celebrities are influencers, you cant believe every pitch that claims to be a celebrity endorsement. Scroll through social media or browse the web, and youll find many familiar names and faces promoting investment opportunities, health supplements, weight-loss products, and other offers.

The problem is that many of those endorsements are entirely fabricated.

Most recently, debunking site Snopes exposed a ruse in which Bill Gates is hawking an Alzheimers cure. He most definitely is not.

Over the past several years, scammers have exploited the popularity and credibility of celebrities by creating fake advertisements that falsely suggest public figures support products or services they have never used or endorsed. In many cases, the ads use manipulated photographs, fabricated quotes, and, more recently, artificial intelligence-generated videos that appear authentic at first glance.
Elon is everywhere

Among the most frequently targeted celebrities is entrepreneur Elon Musk. Fraudsters have repeatedly used his image and likeness to promote cryptocurrency investments and trading platforms, often promising unrealistic returns. Regulators and consumer advocates have warned that many of these schemes are designed to steal money from unsuspecting investors.

Television personality Oprah Winfrey has also been the subject of numerous fraudulent advertisements. Her name has been attached to weight-loss products, dietary supplements, and miracle cures despite her repeated denials of any involvement. Similar have falsely claimed endorsements from television personalities Dr. Phil and Shark Tank investors.

In the United Kingdom, financial journalist Martin Lewis has become one of the most prominent victims of endorsement fraud.

Buyers defied growing economic uncertainty By Mark Huffman Consumer News: Existing home sales posted the strongest showing of 2026 in May of ConsumerAffairs June 10, 2026

Existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May from both April and a year earlier, reaching the strongest pace since December.

The median existing-home price climbed to a record $429,300 for the month of May, marking 35 consecutive months of annual price gains.

Housing affordability improved nationwide as mortgage rates remained below year-ago levels and inventory edged higher.

Despite growing economic uncertainty and rising prices, the U.S. housing market gained significant momentum in May. Sales of existing homes jumped by 3.2% from the previous month and from a year earlier, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The gain marked the fastest sales pace of 2026 and the highest level since December.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said more Americans are entering the housing market as affordability conditions improve. While mortgage rates have risen modestly in recent months, they remain below levels seen a year ago and are close to long-term historical averages, helping support buyer demand.

The increase in sales was broad-based. Transactions rose in the Northeast, Midwest, and South on a month-over-month basis, while activity in the West was unchanged. Compared with May 2025, sales increased in the Midwest, South, and West but declined in the Northeast.

Inventory also expanded. The number of homes available for sale reached 1.55 million units in May, up 3.3% from April and slightly higher than a year ago. That represented a 4.5-month supply of homes at the current sales pace, unchanged from the previous month.
Home prices are still rising

Home prices continued to rise, though at a more moderate pace. The national median existing-home price for all housing types reached $429,300 in May, up 1.3% from a year earlier and the highest median price ever recorded for the month of May. The increase extended a streak of annual price gains to 35 consecutive months.

Single-family homes accounted for much of the markets growth. Sales in that segment rose 3.5% from April to an annual rate of 3.8 million units, while condominium and co-op sales were unchanged month over month. Median prices increased in both categories.

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% from April By Mark Huffman Consumer News: Energy prices fueled inflation in May of ConsumerAffairs June 10, 2026

Consumer prices rose 0.5% in May, pushing the annual inflation rate to 4.2%, the highest level since 2023.

Energy costs accounted for more than 60% of the monthly increase, led by a 7% jump in gasoline prices.

Shelter, airline fares, medical care, and communication services also increased, while motor vehicle insurance and household furnishings declined.

Inflation accelerated again in May, as higher energy prices pushed consumer costs sharply higher, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The CPI rose 0.5% in May after increasing 0.6% in April. Over the past 12 months, prices climbed 4.2%, up from a 3.8% annual rate in April.

Energy was by far the biggest driver of inflation. The energy index increased 3.9% during the month and accounted for more than 60% of the overall increase in consumer prices.

Gasoline prices posted one of the largest increases, rising 7.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis in May after increasing 5.4% in April. Fuel oil prices rose another 3.8%, while electricity prices increased 0.6%. Natural gas was one of the few energy categories to decline, falling 0.5%.

Over the past year, energy prices have surged 23.5%, with gasoline prices up 40.5% and fuel oil prices nearly 59% higher than a year ago.
Housing costs add to the pain

Housing costs continued to put upward pressure on inflation. The shelter index rose 0.3% in May, with rents increasing 0.4% and owners' equivalent rent climbing 0.3%. Shelter costs were up 3.4% over the past 12 months.

Food prices increased 0.2% during the month. Grocery prices rose 0.1%, while restaurant prices increased 0.3%.

Among grocery categories, nonalcoholic beverages posted one of the largest gains, increasing 0.6%, as coffee and tea prices rose 1.1%. Cereals and bakery products increased 0.4%, while fruits and vegetables rose 0.2%.
Where prices fell

Some food categories moved lower. Dairy products fell 0.6%, led by a 2.9% decline in cheese prices. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs slipped 0.2%.

Excluding food and energy, so-called core inflation rose a more moderate 0.2% in May and was up 2.9% from a year earlier.

Several service categories recorded notable increases. Airline fares jumped 2.7%, communication services rose 1.3%, personal care costs increased 1.0%, and hospital services climbed 0.7%.


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