Consumer News: Airlines must now give refunds for canceled flights instantly

Heres what market experts are saying

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Golds surge is driven by strong safe-haven demand, central bank buying, and expectations of easier monetary policy, as investors seek stability amid inflation, debt concerns, and geopolitical risks.

• Experts warn of growing risks at record highs, including overvaluation, possible policy tightening, and speculative excess that could trigger short-term pullbacks or corrections.

• Analysts remain divided while some forecast further gains, others caution that the rally may be overextended and advise investors to research carefully and seek professional guidance before buying at current levels.

In case you hadnt noticed, gold prices have been on a tear lately, closing this week above $4,200 an ounce. Silver prices have also spiked.

So, is it too late to hop on the bandwagon? The short answer is, probably. But opinions among financial market analysts are more nuanced.

First, lets look at whats driving the current rally:

1. Safe-haven demand & geopolitical risk
   The metals benefit from uncertainty: inflation, debt stress, trade tensions, supply chain disruptions, and global geopolitical risk are pushing more capital into perceived stores of value.

   • HSBC just raised its average gold forecasts for 2025 and 2026, citing stronger safe-haven demand.

   • Goldman Sachs says the gold rally is grounded more in fundamentals (central bank buying, investor demand) than pure speculation.

   • Ray Dalio has argued for favoring gold over U.S. Treasury notes in this environment.

2. Central bank accumulation & institutional flows
   One of the more durable supports for gold is that central banks continue to buy it, irrespective of short-term price moves.
   Large inflows into gold ETFs also reinforce momentum.

3. Potential for easier monetary policy & opportunity cost dynamics
   Gold (and to a lesser extent silver) becomes more attractive when real interest rates are low or falling. If central banks pivot toward easing, non-yielding assets may gain relative appeal.

4. Supply / industrial demand (especially for silver)
   Silver has a dual role its a commodity with industrial applications (electronics, solar panels, etc.) as well as a precious metal. Tightness in supply or strong industrial demand can amplify swings.

Here are the risks for gold

• Valuation stretch / mean reversion
  Gold has already moved strongly upward. There is a risk of a pullback or consolidation if expectations of monetary easing, inflation, or geopolitical stress dissipate.

• Policy shifts and central bank actions
  If the U.S. Fed or other central banks adopt more hawkish stances, real rates could rise and reduce the appeal of non-yield assets.

• Irrational exuberance / speculative froth
  Some may worry that part of the rally is driven by momentum chasing rather than fundamentals.

• Competition from other assets
  If equities recover or yields become more attractive, capital could rotate out of safe havens.

Silver risks (higher than gold):

• Higher volatility / lower liquidity
  Silvers market is smaller and more fragmented, meaning big flows or speculative moves can swing prices more violently.

• Less institutional / central bank support
  Silver is not held by central banks in any meaningful size, unlike gold. That makes it more dependent on industrial and investor demand. Goldman Sachs has explicitly warned that silver is riskier than gold.

• Cyclicality
  Because silvers industrial demand is more important, it can suffer more in economic slowdowns.

• Market anomalies and structural issues
  Recent reports of borrowing rates reaching 40%, LondonNew York price premiums, and backwardation in silver futures suggest stress in market structure.

Meanwhile, analysts are scrambling to update their forecasts that have been blown away over the last two weeks. For example, JPMorgan recently forecast gold could reach $3,675 by the end of 2025. The price today is over $4,300.

In short, the market is in uncharted waters. There are dozens of YouTube videos predicting a lot more upside for precious metals, but markets rarely go up in a straight line forever. Before making any investment at these levels, it is wise to do plenty of research and consult with a trusted and objective financial advisor.

But the second straight weekly decline isnt enticing that many buyers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Mortgage rates have declined for the second straight week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 6.27% (down from 6.30%) and the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 5.52% (down from 5.53%), according to Freddie Mac.
• Lower rates have encouraged more refinancing activity, while increased housing inventory and slower price growth are creating slightly better conditions for homebuyers.
• Homebuyer activity remains muted, as high sale prices, economic uncertainty, and concerns about job security continue to weigh on demand.

Mortgage rates dipped this week for the second week in a row. Freddie Mac reports its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.27% this week, down from 6.3% the previous week.

Mortgage rates inched down this week and have held relatively steady over the past several weeks, said Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac. Importantly, homeowners have noticed these consistently lower rates, driving an uptick in refinance activity. Combined with increased housing inventory and slower house price growth, these rates also are creating a more favorable environment for those looking to buy a home."

Current rates

• The 30-year FRM averaged 6.27% as of October 16, 2025, down from last week when it averaged 6.30%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.44%.

• The 15-year FRM averaged 5.52%, down from last week when it averaged 5.53%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.63%.

Despite the falling rates, buyers arent showing up in big numbers. According to real estate brokerage Redfin, slightly slower mortgage rates havent been enough to overcome other challenges.

According to the companys research, buyers are still sitting on the sidelines due to stubbornly high sale prices and economic uncertainty. The median home-sale price is up 1.9% year over year, the second-biggest increase in six months, keeping payments elevated, even though theyre down from their all-time high. At the same time, the government shutdown and concerns about tariffs are adding to economic uncertainty for many.

Buyers are hesitant because of concerns about job security and high mortgage rates, said Jo Chavez, a Redfin Premier agent in Kansas City, Mo. Even though rates have come down from their peak, a lot of people are waiting for sub-6% rates before they buy. And in Kansas City, where there are tens of thousands of government jobs, furloughs and potential layoffs are hitting hard.

As a result, pending home sales are moving lower, falling 1.2% year over year, the biggest decline in over five months. Homes are also taking a long time to sell, with the typical home sitting on the market for 48 days before going under contract, a week longer than last year.

Spot the red flags before you click buy and avoid a return later

• Shoppers are on track to return $850 billion in 2025and nearly 1 in 5 of those returns started online.
• Before you buy, do a quick auditzoom customer photos, read specs (fabric/fit/materials), check the size chart, scan newestreviews, confirm seller/return policy, and Google the exact model number.
• The payoff: Fewer duds, fewer UPS drop-offs, and more keepers that fit, match, and actually work at home.

According to the National Retail Federation, shoppers are expected to return a whopping $850 billion in merchandise in 2025. Almost 20% of those returns are from online sales.

When shopping online, there are some glaring clues that many shoppers miss which often leads to a return. Spot the right signs and your odds of keeping it go way up.

Temu and Shein quality check: a real-world guide

Lets start with Temu and Shein. If youve ever ordered from either highly popular Chinese website, you know that quality can be an issue.

Many shoppers end upreturning stuff because the pictures never match what theyactually get. Always assume that their product photos lie.

What looks like linen, cotton, or jersey is often a polyester blend. Zoom in on all of the photos to try and see what youre actually getting.

Shoe sizes on Temu and Shein are all over the map as well, so treat every pair like a new brand. Open the size chart every single time, never assume its mens or womens just because of the listing title. The safest anchor is your European size (its more consistent across factories). For example, a womens U.S. 9 usually maps to EU 40.

Also, be sure to read the product description carefully and see if the customer reviews match their official description. If theres any discrepancy, move on.

But most importantly, always check if customers have left photos in their reviews. Many shoppers will post photos to show the quality or lack thereof. These photos are your best clue to what youll actually get.

Fool proof your Amazon purchase

Always try to buy items that are shipped and sold directly by Amazon, not a third-party seller. Its usually safer as some sellers have wonky return policies and their products can be hit or miss in terms of quality.

Also, before you add to cart, click on the reviews and check out the Reviews with images to get a visual on what youre getting. Then I like to filter reviews by Newest and 3-star (or lower) to surface any real problems fast.

Amazon reviews are notoriously fake so I tend to ignore most 5-star reviews and focus on the 3-star or lower. And by sorting by Newest you get reviews from what the product looks like now, not some version from 2 years ago.

Lastly, copy the exact model number and Google it to make sure youre not grabbing last years version at an inflated price.

Dont trust the glam shots on Target.com

Do not trust the pretty pictures on Targets site. Get in the habit of always clickingDetails and Specifications to see the actual fabric, fit, and care. Veteran Target shoppers swear that their photos oversell their products.

Also, before you buy clothes or shoes, tap How does it fit? and scan the reviews filtered to Runs small/large. A couple minutes investigating beats a return trip later.

Buying an Only-at-Target item? Google the national model on the brands site so you know whats different. Sometimes items made specifically for Target have different specs, so a little research can avoid a surprise and subsequent return.

Measure twice, ship once: your Wayfair survival kit

Returning large items like couches or bed frames to Wayfair.com can be a real pain. To avoid a return, youll want to check the following three measurements every time you buy furniture online.

• The overall dimension of where youre putting the item in your home.
• The seat/leg clearance, which is the usable space your body (or stuff) needs around a seat.
• The narrowest doorway or stair youll have to navigate.

I recommend actually tapingout the dimensions on your floor, then use Wayfairs View in Room feature in their app to make sure you like the item in your space before you buy.

Also, many of Wayfairs products offer a free fabric swatch that theyll mail out so you can test the color, texture, and feel before buying.

Final thought

While I talked about some specific online stores, its safe to assume these tips apply to whatever website youre shopping at. Same playbook, different logorun these checks and youll keep more of what shows up.

Automatic braking in new cars credited with improvement in some areas but not others

• AAA testing shows big gains in nighttime pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) performance from 0% in 2019 to 60% in 2025.

• High-visibility clothing helped in some cases, but in others, caused PAEB systems to stop detecting pedestrians entirely.

• AAA urges automakers, regulators and drivers to address ongoing risks, as most pedestrian deaths occur after dark.

Nighttime braking systems show progress but not perfection

AAAs latest research into Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) systems reveals marked improvement since its 2019 study but also underscores continuing shortcomings, especially in low-light conditions.

Working with the Automobile Club of Southern Californias Automotive Research Center, AAA tested four 20242025 sedans on a closed course, using a robotic adult pedestrian crossing at 25 mph. The vehicles were evaluated in both daylight and darkness, and with pedestrians dressed in regular or ANSI Class 3 high-visibility gear the reflective apparel typically worn by roadside assistance workers.

Results showed that nighttime PAEB impact avoidance improved from 0% in 2019 to 60% in 2025, signaling major technological gains. Yet, when the pedestrian wore high-visibility clothing, performance varied dramatically: in some cases, systems improved detection, while in others, they completely failed to recognize the pedestrian.

These improvements are promising, but theres more work to do, said Greg Brannon, AAAs director of automotive engineering research. Most pedestrian fatalities happen at night, and inconsistent detection even with high-visibility clothing shows that systems need further refinement to truly save lives.

Fatalities rising despite safety advances

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,314 pedestrians were killed and more than 68,000 injured in 2023. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that pedestrian deaths in the U.S. have surged by over 80% in the past 15 years, mostly on urban arterial roads after dark.

The danger extends to roadside assistance workers, who wear high-visibility clothing yet face significant risks from passing traffic. From 2020 through 2024, an average of 23 roadside assistance providers were struck and killed annually while working along U.S. highways.

AAAs advice for drivers and pedestrians

AAA emphasizes that pedestrian detection systems are only driver aids not substitutes for alertness. Drivers should:

• Stay focused and avoid distractions, especially at night.

• Obey speed limits and never drive impaired or drowsy.

• Understand their vehicles safety systems by reading the owners manual.

• Slow down and move over for emergency or disabled vehicles.

Pedestrians should also remain vigilant using sidewalks and crosswalks, avoiding distractions, and taking extra care at night, even when wearing reflective gear.

Call for manufacturers and regulators to act

AAA is urging automakers to enhance the reliability of PAEB systems under nighttime conditions and test them against a wider range of clothing types. Regulators and standards organizations, the group says, should include more nighttime scenarios in testing protocols to improve real-world pedestrian protection.

Test details

The evaluation included the 2024 Honda Accord, 2025 Toyota Camry, 2025 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2025 Tesla Model 3. Tests were conducted at Californias Minter Field Airport under controlled, dry, and well-lit conditions designed to simulate standardized advanced driver-assistance testing.

Apple unveils M5 MacBook and iPad; Logitech announces digital pencil

New Apple MacBook Pro

New Apple iPad Pro

Apple alsointroduced the new iPad Pro featuring theM5 chip. Featuring a next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core, M5 delivers a big boost in performance for iPad Pro users, whether theyre working on cutting-edge projects or tapping into AI for productivity. The new iPad Pro delivers up to 3.5x the AI performance than iPad Pro with M41 and up to 5.6x faster than iPad Pro with M1.2 N1, the new Apple-designed wireless networking chip, enables the latest generation of wireless technologies with support for Wi-Fi 7 on iPad Pro.

Logitech Muse

Logitech today announced the availability of Muse, a digital pencil for Apple Vision Pro that enhances the way users work, create, and collaborate. Muse combines cutting-edge technology with effortless functionality to offer users precision and natural interaction for spatial computing.

Featuring precise tracking in six degrees of freedom (6DoF), low-latency, and real-time haptic feedback for tactile immersion and intuitive controls for natural interaction, Muse enables new professional workflows that take full advantage of spatial computing with Apple Vision Pro. From navigating spatial apps with pinpoint accuracy and annotating intricate designs to advancing technical projects in fields like engineering, architecture, design, or science, Muse equips users to turn ideas into reality with precision and ease.