Prices are the pump are already lower than they were last year

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Global oil prices are projected to decline sharply, with Brent crude expected to average $59/bbl in late 2025 and $50/bbl in early 2026, driven by strong inventory builds.

• U.S. gasoline prices are forecast to fall, averaging $3.10/gal in 2025 and dropping to $2.90/gal in 2026, with most regions paying below $3/gal.

• Gasoline expenditures as a share of disposable income will reach their lowest level since at least 2005 (excluding 2020), easing financial pressure on U.S. households.

As the price of nearly everything has seemed to rise, gasoline prices have been a bright spot for consumers. Gas costs less than it did a year ago, and the U.S. The Energy Information Administration expects that trend to continue, with motorists seeing relief at the pump over the next 18 months.

In its September 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook, the agency projects that average U.S. gasoline prices will slide from about $3.10 per gallon this year to $2.90 per gallon in 2026.

The decline reflects steep drops in crude oil prices. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is forecast to fall from $68 per barrel in August to $59 in the final quarter of 2025, before dipping to around $50 early next year.

Rising output from OPEC+ members and other major producers like the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Guyana is pushing inventories to levels not seen in years.

GasBuddy counts 17 states with average prices below $3 per gallon fewer than weve seen in recent months, Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, said in the companys blog. However, with the transition back to winter gasoline just a week away for most areas, those increases may be short-lived, with potential relief arriving toward the end of the month. Additionally, OPEC+ announced an increase in oil production starting in October, which could help keep oil prices lower for longer.

Lowest gas costs in decades

With fuel prices trending lower, American households are expected to spend a historically small share of their income on gasoline. The EIA estimates that gasoline expenditures will fall below 2% of disposable personal income this yearthe lowest level since at least 2005, outside of the pandemic-driven collapse in 2020.

That shift could free up billions of dollars in consumer spending for other goods and services. The decline in gasoline costs comes on top of steady growth in disposable incomes, which have risen by about 4% annually since 2022.

Demand will likely increase

For the first time in several outlooks, the EIA now expects U.S. gasoline consumption to tick up in 2026. The reversal is driven partly by a larger-than-expected working-age population and the stimulative effect of lower prices. Vehicle miles traveled are projected to rise 0.7% next year, translating into a 0.3% increase in fuel use.

Although gasoline demand in the U.S. has been relatively inelastic historically, the EIA estimates that the scale of the expected price decline will modestly boost consumption.

One economist thinks weve been in a rolling recession since 2022

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced a staggering downward revision of 911,000 fewer jobs than initially reported between April 2024 and March 2025, marking the largest such adjustment on record.

• The biggest employment reductions occurred in leisure and hospitality (-176,000), professional and business services (-158,000), and retail trade (-126,200), among other sectors.

• The revision intensified political tensions, with critics labeling BLS data manipulation. Yet economists emphasize that these adjustments are routine, based on more complete administrative data, with final benchmark figures expected in February 2026.

If youve felt that the economy has been in worse shape the last couple of years than economists were telling us, youre probably right.

In a dramatic revision, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revealed that the American economy added 911,000 fewer jobs in the year through March 2025 than originally reported. This marks the largest preliminary downward adjustment in U.S. employment history, more than double last years revision.

The revision slashes previously reported average monthly job gains from approximately 147,000 to just over 70,000a sobering reflection of a labor market far weaker than presumed.

Where the most jobs were lost

Data show substantial losses across key industries:

Other areas, such as manufacturing and information, also saw notable adjustments.

Politics meets statistics

The timing of the revisions sparked intense political criticism. President Trump, who recently dismissed BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, cited the revisions to criticize the agency, claiming the data had been "rigged" to harm his administration, although no credible evidence supports this accusation.

In light of the major revision, the August employment report showing a smaller-than-expected addition of just 22,000 jobs could be cause for concern. However, Michael Wilson, chief U.S. equity strategist and CIO for Morgan Stanley, is less concerned.

In a note, Wilson said the U.S. has likely been in a rolling recession since 2022. The good news, according to Wilson, is that he believes the economy is now transitioning to a recovery phase. Wilson concludes that employment data is perhaps the most backward-looking of all the economic series, failing to show the state of the economy in real time.

Sixteen products added to the recall because they may contain microbial contamination

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• DermaRite Industries has expanded its July 16 recall to include additional lots and products due to potential contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex.

• The contaminated products may cause serious, life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, while healthy users may face localized skin infections.

• The recall covers a wide range of moisturizing, antiseptic, antifungal, skin protectant, and hand hygiene products (e.g., 4-N-1, DermaCerin, Gel Rite, Lantiseptic, Renew line, and others) distributed across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

DermaRite Industries is expanding its recall of some of its moisturizing and antiseptic skin products, initiated on July 16, due to potential microbial contamination identified as Burkholderia cepacia complex. The recall has expanded to include additional products and lots.

Burkholderia cepacia complex in these products may result in serious and life-threatening infections if the products are used by immunosuppressed individuals or by people attending to immunosuppressed individuals.

For healthy individuals with minor skin lesions, the use of the product may result in local infections, whereas in immunocompromised individuals the infection could spread into the blood stream, potentially leading to life-threatening sepsis.

The recalled products

The products included in this expanded voluntary recall include:

• 4-N-1 is a no-rinse wash cream intended to temporarily protect and help relieve chafed or cracked skin

• DermaCerin is a skin protectant moisturizing cream indicated to temporarily protect and help relieve dry, chapped, or cracked skin. It also helps protect skin from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

• DermaFungal is an OTC antifungal cream intended for the treatment and prevention of most athletes foot, jock itch, and ringworm. It relieves itching, scaling, cracking, and discomfort associated with these conditions.

• DermaKleen is an OTC healthcare antiseptic lotion soap with Vitamin E indicated for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin.

• DermaMed is an OTC skin protectant intended to dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, oak, or sumac, or other skin irritations.

• DermaSarra is an OTC external analgesic indicated for temporary relief of itching associated with minor skin irritations due to dry skin, insect bites, detergents, or sunburn.

• Gel Rite is an OTC instant gel hand sanitizer with vitamin E used to decrease bacteria on the skin. It is recommended for repeated use.

• Hand E Foam is an OTC foaming hand sanitizer with vitamin E used for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin. It is recommended for repeated use.

• KleenFoam is an OTC antimicrobial foam soap with Aloe Vera indicated for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin after changing diapers, after assisting ill people, or before contact with a person under medical care or treatment.

• Lantiseptic is an OTC skin protectant indicated to temporarily protect minor cuts, scrapes and burns. It helps prevent and temporarily protect chapped or cracked skin.

• PeriGiene is an OTC antiseptic cleanser indicated for use in the perineal area.

• PeriGuard is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help relieve and prevent rashes and irritation due to wetness from incontinence. It also protects chafed skin due to irritation and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Dimethicone is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help treat and prevent diaper rash, protect minor skin irritations associated with diaper rash, and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Periprotect is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help treat and prevent diaper rash, protect minor skin irritation associated with diaper rash, and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Skin Repair is an OTC Skin cream indicated to temporarily protect and help relieve chapped or cracked skin. It is beneficial for face, hands, body and legs.

• UltraSure is an OTC anti-perspirant & deodorant indicated to reduce underarm wetness.

What to do

The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico.

DermaRite has notified its distributors and customers by e-mail to immediately examine available inventory and destroy all affected products in accordance with each facilitys process.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can call Sedgwick at 888-943-5190 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm EDT or email dermarite5186@sedgwick.com.

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product or have questions about whether the product was used in their healthcare facility.

Findings from a recent study show how dormant oral bacteria may provide a significant health risk

• Findings from a recent study found that bacteria from the mouth can hide inside artery plaque for years without causing problems.

• When these bacteria wake up, they can trigger swelling and weaken the plaque.

• This weakening can cause the plaque to burst, leading to a blood clot and possibly a heart attack.

Youve probably heard that high cholesterol is the main villain behind heart attacks.

New research, however, suggests an intriguing twist: some heart attacks may actually be set off by bacterial troublemakers hiding in your walls.

Scientists from Finland and the U.K. discovered that certain oral bacteria, nestled inside artery plaques, might stay silent for years only to awaken and launch an inflammatory attack when triggered.

Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking. Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material DNA from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques, researcher Pekka Karhunen said in a news release.

The study

What did researchers do to uncover this surprising connection?

To figure this out, the scientists looked at plaque samples from people who had died suddenly from heart problems, as well as from patients having surgery to clear blocked arteries. They searched for traces of bacteria especially a common type found in the mouth called streptococci by testing the genetic material inside the plaque.

The findings

The researchers discovered that bacteria from the mouth were hiding in almost half of the artery plaque samples they tested.

These bacteria werent scattered randomly they were sitting in slimy clusters called biofilms. While the biofilms were intact, the bodys immune system mostly ignored them, so they didnt cause much trouble.

But in plaques that had ruptured the kind that can trigger a heart attack the story looked very different. Here, the bacteria had broken free from their hiding spots. Once released, they seemed to wake up the bodys defense system, setting off inflammation that made the plaque cap weaker.

A weak cap is more likely to tear, which can cause a clot to form and block blood flow to the heart.

For everyday people, the takeaway is that heart health may not only be about cholesterol and diet it might also have something to do with hidden bacteria. The research is still early, but it opens the door to new ideas for preventing heart attacks, such as ways to spot these bacteria in advance or treatments that stop them from causing damage.

Experts found that nutrient-rich grain foods whether whole or enriched can boost diet quality, metabolic health, and accessibility.

• A fresh analysis of over 14,000 Americans diets found that both whole and enriched/refined grain foods can offer excellent nutrition and affordability.

• Researchers used two scoring systems CFQS-3 and NRF9.3g to single out healthy grain foods based on nutrient density, then linked those choices to better overall diet quality and metabolic markers.

• Folks who ate more of these nutrient-packed grain foods tended to have healthier eating habits, lower obesity rates, and better insulin levels all without paying more.

Grains often get caught in a debate: are refined products like white bread or cereals bad, or are whole grains the clear winners?

A new study published in Nutrients challenges that oversimplified idea.

By analyzing diets of more than 14,000 Americans (20172023), researchers discovered that both whole and enriched/refined grain foods like certain breads, cereals, and tortillas can be healthy grain foods when you look beyond labels and focus on nutrient content and affordability.

Healthy grains are a critical component of healthy diets, Dr. Adam Drewnowski,Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, said in a news release.

Our evaluation took whole grain content into account, along with fiber, vitamins and minerals. By delivering key nutrients such as fiber, iron, B vitamins and folate, grain foods can make a meaningful contribution to healthier eating patterns among all population groups.

How researchers defined and measured healthy grain foods

The researchers used two advanced scoring tools to evaluate grain foods:

• CFQS-3 (Carbohydrate Food Quality Score-3): This one gives points based on fiber level, whole-grain content, and added sugar. A grain gets up to three points if its fiber-rich, low in added sugar, and has plenty of whole grains.

• NRF9.3g (Nutrient Rich Food index for grains): This score balances nine nutrients (think protein, fiber, B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin E) to encourage against three to limit (added sugar, sodium, saturated fat). The highest-scoring third of foods were considered healthy.
  

Using those models, researchers sifted through 1,244 grain food items from USDA nutrient data and national surveys. They then looked at how peoples intake of these healthy grain foods connected to overall diet quality, nutrient intake, affordability, and metabolic health outcomes like obesity and insulin levels.

The results

• Better diet quality and nutrient intake: People eating more of these identified healthy grain foods scored higher on overall diet quality and consumed more fiber, protein, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

• Both whole and enriched grains count: Not just whole grains some refined or enriched items, like fortified cereals and certain breads, also scored highly and helped improve nutrient intake.

• Part of broader healthy habits: These consumers also tended to eat more fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins suggesting healthy grain choices often go hand in hand with overall healthy diets.

• Links to better metabolic health: Adults who consumed more healthy grain foods had lower rates of obesity and lower fasting insulin levels two important metabolic indicators.

• Affordable options: Importantly, these healthier grain foods were no more expensive and in some cases even less costly than less healthy alternatives, based on national price data.