Consumer News: Legislation to overturn medical debt rule draws blowback

Homes may become more affordable, but rents may rise

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The U.S. housing market is poised for a Great Housing Reset beginning in 2026, marked not by a sudden correction but by gradual normalization.

• Affordability is expected to improve as wage growth finally outpaces home-price gains for the first time since the Great Recession.

• Redfin forecasts modest increases in home sales, rents and refinancing activity, alongside major demographic and policy shifts driven by high housing costs.

The U.S. housing market is approaching what real estate brokerage Redfin calls the Great Housing Reseta years-long transition toward more normal levels of pricing, sales and affordability after a decade of volatility. According to the real estate brokerages annual forecast, the reset will take shape in 2026 as mortgage rates ease, wages rise and home prices cool to their slowest growth pace in years.

Rather than a dramatic correction or recession, Redfin expects the market to unwind gradually. This will be the first prolonged period since the Great Recession when incomes consistently outpace home prices, the report notes.

Redfin expects the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to average 6.3% in 2026, down from 6.6% in 2025. A softer labor market will likely prompt Federal Reserve rate cuts, nudging mortgage rates into the low-6% range but not dramatically lower. Persistent inflation risks and the absence of a recession scenario will keep policymakers from slashing rates beyond what markets already expect.

Affordability finally starts to improve

For the first time in well over a decade, wages are expected to grow faster than home prices. Redfin projects the median U.S. home price will rise only 1% year over year, held in check by high borrowing costs and a cooling economy.

Lower mortgage rates combined with modest price growth mean monthly payments should rise more slowly than incomes. That shift will draw some buyers back into the market, though many will still find homeownership out of reach.

Existing-home sales are forecast to increase 3% in 2026, reaching an annualized pace of 4.2 million. Lower rates should contribute to a stronger spring buying season compared to 2025, when rates hovered near 6.8%.

Still, Redfin cautions that a truly robust rebound remains unlikely. High costs, economic uncertainty, and a labor market disrupted by AIparticularly for white-collar workerswill keep many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

Rents climb as apartment supply shrinks

Renters should expect 2% to 3% increases by years end as demand for apartments rises and new construction slows. The boom in multifamily development during 20212022 has tapered off, meaning fewer units are coming online.

Competition for rentals will intensify, especially as many Americans continue renting rather than buying. In markets such as South Florida and Southern California, however, stricter immigration enforcement may temper rent growth.

The affordability crunch is also altering household structures. Redfin predicts more multigenerational living, more adult children living with parents, and more friends buying homes together under formal agreements.

Family sizes may shrink as well. With economic pressures rising and housing costs stubbornly high, the long-running decline in U.S. fertility is expected to continue.

Renovations that support multigenerational livinglike separate suites and flexible spacesare poised to be one of 2026s biggest design trends, according to a recent Thumbtack survey of renovation professionals.

A bipartisan priority

After an election year in which young voters prioritized housing costs, Redfin expects rare bipartisan alignment. The report suggests President Trump may declare a national housing emergency, while lawmakers on both sides support measures to boost supply.

Pro-housing YIMBY policies continue to gain traction. Proposed legislation including the Yes in My Backyard Act and the Build More Housing Near Transit Act aims to streamline construction and encourage denser development. Other ideas, such as relaxed zoning for ADUs and even a 50-year mortgage, may attract political interest, though Redfin argues only time will meaningfully improve affordability.

With roughly one-fifth of homeowners holding mortgages above 6%, a dip in rates could spark a refinancing boom. Redfin forecasts refi volume to jump more than 30%, reaching about $670 billion in 2026.

Homeowners are also expected to tap into record levels of housing equity$181,000 for the typical mortgaged homeownerto fund renovations. Staying put and upgrading will be more appealing than buying in many markets.

Winners and losers

Regions near New York City and the Great Lakes are expected to outperform the national market, thanks to relative affordability, climate stability and proximity to employers. Smaller Midwestern metros will continue attracting graduates seeking stable, blue-collar career paths as AI reshapes entry-level office work.

By contrast, markets that boomed during the remote-work era, such as Nashville, Austin and much of coastal Florida, may struggle. High insurance costs, climate risks and a return-to-office shift will leave some sellers accepting losses.

The condition can be serious, but it's rare and treatable

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Infant botulism is a rare but treatable neurological condition caused by Clostridium botulinum spores growing inside a babys intestines.

• A nationwide ByHeart infant formula recall in November 2025 drew new public attention to the condition; the FDA continues to investigate.

• Despite recent headlines, infant botulism remains extremely uncommon, and with prompt treatment, survival rates range from 98100%, according to experts at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

Infant botulism a condition many parents had never heard of until late 2025 has recently come under intense scrutiny. In November, the infant formula manufacturer ByHeart voluntarily recalled all formula products after a link to infant botulism was identified. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing to investigate the incident, which marks the first time a U.S. formula product has been associated with infant botulism.

While the news has heightened concern among parents and caregivers, medical experts stress that infant formula in the U.S. is typically very safe, held to strict FDA manufacturing standards. And importantly, infant botulism itself is both rare and highly treatable.

Infant botulism is fortunately quite rare, and its treatable with a highly effective antidote, said Dr. Colleen Kraft, pediatrician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Most babies recover fully with timely care.

Below is a breakdown of what infant botulism is, how contamination can occur, and what parents should watch for, featuring insights from CHLA specialists Dr. Kraft, Dr. Leigh Maria Ramos-Platt, neurologist, and Dr. Eni Jano, neonatologist.

What is infant botulism?

Infant botulism occurs when Clostridium botulinum spores enter a babys digestive system and begin producing a toxin that interferes with nerve function and muscle control. Babies under one year old are vulnerable because their gastrointestinal tracts are still developing.

Babies gastrointestinal tracts are not mature, and they don't have the natural bacterial flora that older children and adults have, explains Dr. Ramos-Platt. This is why ingesting even a few spores can cause the bacteria to colonize and grow in their gut.

About 95% of cases occur in infants younger than six months.

Where do these spores come from?

Infant botulism has several possible sources:

Honey: Honey is the most widely known risk. Babies under 12 months should never consume it.

Food or Formula: Very rarely, contamination can occur during improper handling, manufacturing, or storage. The ByHeart recall falls into this category, though such incidents are extraordinarily uncommon.

Soil and Dust: Certain areas of the U.S., including California, western states, and parts of the Northeast, naturally harbor more C. botulinum spores in the soil. Construction, excavation, and other activities that stir up dirt can release spores into the air.

There are only a few places in the U.S. we consider hotspots, said. Ramos-Platt. Doctors trained in California, for example, tend to have the most experience with infant botulism because it's endemic in our soil.

Symptoms: What parents should look for

Infant botulism is rare and can be hard to recognize. Some doctors may see only one case in their entire career.

Common symptoms include:

• Constipation

• Poor feeding (difficulty suckling or swallowing)

• Weak or muffled cry

• Progressive muscle weakness, often starting in the face

  • Drooping eyelids

  • Reduced facial expressions

  • Floppy arms and legs

  • Poor head control

  • Pupils that respond slowly to light

Telltale signs for us are growing muscle weakness, constipation, and slow-to-respond pupils, said Ramos-Platt. There are very few things it can be besides infant botulism when seeing this combination of symptoms.

Symptoms can appear days to weeks after exposure.

What to do if you suspect infant botulism

Infant botulism is a medical emergency:

• If your child shows symptomsespecially muscle weaknessgo to an emergency department, preferably one specializing in pediatrics.

• If your baby is not symptomatic but may have been exposed, contact your pediatrician for guidance.

How doctors diagnose the condition

A pediatric teamoften including neurologists and neonatologistswill examine the infant and may order tests such as:

• EEG (monitoring brain activity)

• EMG (measuring nerve and muscle response)

If botulism is suspected, doctors can perform stool or blood tests, though stool testingwhich is most accuratecan take up to a week. Crucially, treatment can begin immediately, even before test results return.

Infant botulism has a remarkably high recovery rate. Treatment centers on Botulinum Immune Globulin, known as BabyBIG, an antitoxin administered intravenously.

The company said the move is being taken to enhance security

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fidelity Investments has introduced a new policy restricting financial advisors ability to access or manage clients 401(k) accounts directly.

• The change affects thousands of independent advisors who previously relied on view-only or limited-access tools to guide retirement planning.

• Fidelity cites security and compliance concerns, while advisors warn the move could disrupt client service and financial planning workflows.

Fidelity Investments has rolled out a new policy limiting third-party financial advisors from accessing clients 401(k) accounts held on the platform, a shift that is already sending shockwaves through the wealth-management industry.

The restriction, which quietly began taking effect in recent weeks, eliminates the ability of many independent advisors to view balances, holdings, or transaction histories for employer-sponsored retirement plans managed by Fidelity.

The company confirmed the policy change in a statement, calling it a security-driven update intended to strengthen protections around workplace retirement assets. According to Fidelity, unauthorized or indirect advisor access to 401(k) data has created compliance concerns as cybersecurity expectations increase across the financial sector.

But advisors, many of whom learned of the shift from clients who suddenly received access-revocation alerts, say the change goes far beyond security housekeeping. For years, advisors have relied on data aggregation tools or permission-based portals to incorporate 401(k) accounts into holistic planning. Those tools are now being throttled or shut off entirely.

What financial advisors are saying

Independent advisors argue that the new restrictions will leave millions of savers without coordinated oversight of their full financial picture. Without access to 401(k) data, planners must depend on clients to manually provide balance snapshots or upload statements, methods that advisors contend are prone to delay and inaccuracy.

Several advisors speculated that the move may be tied to increased competition between Fidelitys in-house advisory services and independent financial planners. Fidelity denied those claims, saying the policy applies uniformly across channels.

For clients, the practical effect depends on how their advisor previously accessed their 401(k). View-only aggregation connections through third-party tools appear to be the most heavily impacted. Some employer plans also maintain proprietary access rules, which may further limit visibility.

Employers sponsoring plans are beginning to receive questions as well. Plan administrators say they have not been formally advised by Fidelity to notify participants, leaving advisors to explain the new restrictions themselves.

How to still win Christmas on a budget this year

• New tariffs on imported toys are pushing prices up, thinning inventory, and making big-name brands harder to find

• Shoppers will see fewer familiar brands, sneaky shrinkflation in the box, and higher prices on in-demand hot toys

• Parents can push back by shopping early, checking whats actually in the box, choosing non-tariff or secondhand options, and stacking every discount on tariff-heavy toys

Parents heading into the toy aisle this year may that notice something is off, even if they cant quite put a finger on it. The number of toys on the shelf looks a little thinner and brand-name favorites are harder to find.

And the part that hurts the most is that under $20 toy somehow rings up closer to $30.

A new wave of tariffs on imported goods, especially toys and other kid gifts, is already working its way into prices across the country.

In Edmonds, Washington, the owner of longtime local shop Teris Toybox told KOMO News that her costs are up 30% to 50% this year. Everything has just skyrocketed, she said, adding that shes had to order less and raise price tags to stay afloat.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. holiday spending is on track to top $1 trillion for the first time this year, with average shoppers planning to shell out around $890 each. But a growing share of that money is going to higher prices and not more toys for the kids and tariffs is one of the main factors at play.

What this looks like in the toy aisle

For the average shopper not paying attention to the complexities of the current tariff situation, heres what you should expect this year:

• Thinner inventory. Retailers in multiple states say theyve cut back orders or delayed re-stocking certain toy lines because theyre more expensive. This includes Barbie, Tonka, Care Bears, Hot Wheels, and Hasbro hot toys.
• Fewer familiar brands. When tariffs make a favorite brand more expensive, some stores are forced to swap in cheaper, lesser-known brands from other countries. So instead of Lego sets from Denmark, or German Playmobil playsets, you might find knock-offs from countries not as affected by tariffs.
• Quiet shrinkflation. Instead of hiking the sticker price on a big play set, some manufacturers will just cut whats inside the box. Expect things like fewer cars in a race set, fewer outfits in a fashion doll pack, or fewer accessories in a kitchen or workbench toy. All done while keeping the price the same.
• Higher ceiling on hot toys. For in-demand hot toys (and brands) that people will buy regardless of price, retailers have more room to raise prices without losing sales.

Meanwhile, overall holiday spending is still expected to be strong. Forecasters expects retail sales in November and December to grow about 3.7% to 4.2% over last year.

So, the takeaway is that parents still want to buy their kids the toys on their wish list, even if it means getting less toy for the money.

What parents can do right now

Unfortunately, you cant personally rewrite tariff policy before Christmas hits. But you can definitely shop more strategically in an effort to get around the tariffs.

Here are a few smart ways to push back:

1. Shop early for must-have imports

If your kid wants a specific branded doll, building set, or electronic toy thats likely made in China, dont wait until the last minute.

Between tariffs and thinner inventory, theres a decent chance it wont get cheaper as we get closer to Christmas morning. It might actually sell out entirely and leave you stuck buying it on eBay for 4x the retail price.

Pro tip: When youre shopping online, on the product page, scroll to the details or specs section to see where they toy is made. If its from China and the price feels high, open a new tab and search the same type of toy with made in USA added to your search. Youll often find a similar, tariff-safe option, that costs less. Your kid will never notice the brand swap.

2. Compare whats in the box, not just the price

When youre comparing similar toys across stores (or versions from last year vs. this year), be sure to check the following:

• How many pieces are included.
• Whether accessories (extra tracks, figures, etc.) are the same.
• If the value pack really has more, or just a bigger box with more air in it.

Shrinkflation is a lot easier to hide in toy packaging than on a grocery shelf so make sure you know what youre getting.

3. Look for non-tariff alternatives where it doesnt matter to your kid

There are some toy categories where brand isnt super important.

This includes things like puzzles, basic blocks, art supplies, tickets to local attractions, and craft kits.

When buying these, consider the following:

• Buy toys made in the U.S. and avoid tariffs altogether.
• Shop local toy shops that feature smaller domestic toy makers.
• Look for experience-based gifts (museum passes, classes, tickets) that dont depend on imports at all.

I think its a very smart move to save your brand loyalty for the one or two big gifts your child will really notice.

Pro tip: If your kid has a non-negotiable big gift this year, lock that in first at the best price you can find. Then you can build the rest of your list around more tariff-safe stuff (U.S./EU-made toys, puzzles, craft kits, experiences). By doing it this way, youre only paying the tariff tax on one or two things instead of everything under the tree.

4. Use secondhand for big-ticket items

Things like play kitchens, wagons, train tables, and ride-on toys often survive multiple families.

Check local buy/sell Facebook groups, consignment shops, and refurbished marketplaces before you pay full, tariff-inflated prices on this stuff.

5. Stack every discount you can on tariff-heavy toys

If you are buying something that you know is tariff-exposed do the following:

• Try to combine store coupons with loyalty rewards or cash-back offers.
• Always compare multiple retailers, including buy-online-pick-up-in-store options.
• Dont forget to factor in shipping costs as the best base price isnt always the best total price.

Bottom line: higher prices are already baked into mosttoys this holiday, even if the box looks exactly the same as last year. This means its time to change your strategy and save some money in the process.

How to snag daily deals and stretch your holiday budget all month long

• Dollar General is running a 24 Days of Savings promotion from December 124, with a new featured deal every day.

• Deals include big discounts on holiday dcor, food, everyday essentials, gifts and more often deeply discounted brand-name items.

• Offers are in-store only; keeping an eye on the retailers app, website, or store signage each week is the best way to catch the daily drops while supplies last.

Dollar General is rolling out its holiday 24 Days of Savings starting December 1.

For 24 days straight through December 24 (Christmas Eve), shoppers can check their local Dollar General store for a new mega deal each day offering deep discounts on holiday dcor, gifts, food, household items and more.

Serving others is at the heart of everything we do, Bryan Wheeler, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, said in a news release.

Were proud to offer everyday essentials alongside fun finds that help make the season brighter. Dollar General is committed to helping our customers celebrate the season without compromising on value.

The deals

Heres a sampling of some of the one-day deals you might spot:

• 50% off 6' pre-lit holiday trees, assorted varieties

• 30% off Roblox gift cards

• 2 for $3 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (must buy two, assorted varieties)

• $1.50 Pepsi or Mountain Dew two-liter, assorted varieties

• $5 True Living tote, 18 gallon

• $4.50 DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizza

• $1 holiday gift bags and wrapping paper

• $15 jumbo plush

• 50% off Roughneck tools

On top of the daily deals, Dollar General will continue to offer over 2,000 items at just $1 for the holiday season.

We recognize the dollar price point is important in helping customers stretch their budget, especially at the end of the month when funds may be limited, Wheeler added. Our $1 finds include great stocking stuffers, gift wrap, ornaments, and more.

Tips for shopping smart this december

Because the deals change every day and are while supplies last, its a good idea to:

• Check the Dollar General app, website or store signage weekly deal lists are announced ahead of time.

• Visit early in the day, especially for hot-ticket items like holiday trees, plush toys, or tools they tend to go fast.

• Combine the daily deal with Dollar Generals ongoing sale items you might score even deeper discounts on other essentials while youre there.