Consumer News: Ford recalls Nearly 30,000 F-150 Lightning trucks over steering risk

Similar to the VW "Dieselgate" scandal, it's a black eye for Benz.

Mercedes-Benz will pay a $150 million settlement for concealing emission-cheating devices on its cars and trucks. Consumers who owned one of the affected models will get $2,000 each.

In the settlement with 48states and two U.S. territories, prosecutors said that Mercedes manufactured, marketed,advertisedand distributed nationwide more than 211,000 diesel passenger cars and vans equipped with software defeat devices thatoptimizedemission controls during emissions tests, while reducing those controls outside of normal operations.

The states allege the defeat devices enabled vehicles to farexceedmanylegallimits of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, a harmful pollutant that causes respiratory illness and contributes to the formation of smog. Mercedes allegedly engaged in this conduct to achieve design and performance goals, such as increased fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance, that it was unable to meet whilecomplying withapplicable emission standards.

Mercedes concealed the existence of these defeat devices from state and federal regulators and the public. At the same time, Mercedes marketed the vehicles to consumers as environmentally-friendly and in compliance with applicable emissions regulations.

Time to pay up

Thesettlement requires Mercedes-Benz to pay $120 million to the statesimmediatelyupon the effective date of the settlement. Anadditional$29,673,750 will be suspended and potentially waived pending completion of a comprehensive consumer relief program.

The consumer relief program extends to the estimated 39,565 vehicles,which as of Aug.1, 2023,had not been repaired or permanently removed from the road in the United States. Mercedes must bear the cost of installing approved emission modification software on each of theaffected vehicles. The company must provide consumers with an extended warranty and will pay consumers $2,000 per subject vehicle.

The company must alsocomply withreporting requirements and reforms toitspractices, including a prohibition on any further engagement in unfair or deceptive marketing or sale of diesel vehicles, misrepresentationsregardingemissions and compliance.

Todays settlement follows similar settlements reached previously between the states and Volkswagen, FiatChryslerand German engineering company Robert Bosch GmbH over its development of the cheat software. Automaker Fiat Chrysler and its subsidiaries paid $72.5 million to the states in 2019. Bosch paid $98.7 million in 2019. Volkswagen reached a $570 million settlement with the states in 2016.

Read the complainthereand the judgementhere.

New warnings link low drink prices to rising chronic disease worldwide

• The World Health Organization says alcohol and sugary drinks are getting too cheap, and thats bad for public health.

• WHO wants governments to significantly raise and redesign taxes to make these drinks less affordable and reduce disease.

• Higher taxes can improve health and raise money for health services, helping prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and injuries.

Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages might seem like everyday treats, but according to a new announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO), their low prices are doing more harm than youd think.

The WHO recently released global reports showing that cheap sodas, sweet drinks, and alcohol are contributing to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and injury especially among young people.

The reason? In most countries, taxes on these products are too low or poorly designed to keep up with inflation and income growth, so theyve become more affordable over time and that encourages people to drink more.

Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a news release.

"By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services.

What WHO is recommending and why it matters

The WHO isnt just pointing fingers its offering a solution. Its reports call for governments to raise and rethink taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks, so their prices reflect the real cost they impose on health systems and communities.

Here are some of the issues the WHO highlighted:

• Many harmful drinks escape taxation: While sodas are often taxed in about 116 countries, other high-sugar products such as fruit juices, sweetened milks, and ready-to-drink coffees often arent. That means people can swap to these options without a tax penalty.

• Alcohol remains too cheap in many places: Even though around 167 countries tax alcoholic beverages, taxes often havent kept pace with the cost of living or incomes. Wine, for instance, isnt taxed at all in some countries.

• Low taxes mean more consumption: And more consumption is linked with preventable diseases and injuries that burden families and health systems alike.

What consumers need to know (and do)

So, what does this mean for consumers?

• Prices may rise:If your country adopts stronger health taxes, you could see higher prices on soda, sweetened drinks and alcohol in the coming years. Thats partly the point costing more can help curb overconsumption.

• Health benefits may follow:Higher prices have been linked with lower consumption and better health outcomes in places that have tried similar taxes.

• Awareness matters: Knowing how your government taxes these products can empower you to support policies that promote public health or make informed choices about how much and how often you indulge.

In short: this isnt just about prices at the checkout. Its about shaping habits and protecting health one tax at a time.

Experts share how to spot risks, set limits, and guide teens toward healthier tech use

• Experts say chatbots can support learning and creativity, but relying on them for emotional support or advice can pose risks for teens mental health and development.

• Warning signs of problematic AI use include emotional reliance on chatbots, distress when access is limited, and pulling away from real-world relationships.

• Clear limits, open conversations, and encouraging offline relationships help teens build a healthier relationship with AIwithout fear or overreaction.

For todays teens, turning to an AI chatbot for answers or even comfort can feel as natural as texting a friend. But for parents, the rise of AI as a source of advice and companionship brings understandable concerns about emotional development, mental health, and online safety.

While AI tools can offer convenience and support, experts warn that unchecked use may sometimes do more harm than good. Thats especially true if teens begin relying on chatbots instead of trusted adults, friends, or mental health professionals.

To help parents make sense of it all, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Adam Chekroud, co-founder and president of Spring Health, and Alvin McLean, dean of the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences at National University. They share expert-backed guidance on how parents can stay involved, recognize red flags, and help teens build a healthier relationship with AI without fear or overreaction.

Risks of asking AI for advice

The experts shared some of the top risks associated with teens using AI for advice or companionship:

• Mistaking AI-generated responses for legitimate clinical guidance

• Becoming overly reliant on chatbots for validation or support using them as a substitute for human connection or professional care

• Eroding trust in professional mental health care

Because chatbots are always available and nonjudgmental, they can unintentionally reinforce avoidance of difficult emotions or conversations, McLean explained. There is also the risk of misinformation, oversimplified advice, or responses that lack nuance around mental health, relationships, or self harm, which can be especially harmful for adolescents who are still developing critical thinking skills and emotional regulation.

Confusing AI tools with therapists also raises privacy concerns, increases the likelihood of missed clinical red flags, and can erode trust in professional mental health care over time, Chekroud continued.

Is there healthy AI use?

The short answer: yes.

Healthy use looks curious and functional, such as asking questions, brainstorming ideas, or using AI for schoolwork or creativity, McLean said.

Healthy exploration of AI occurs when teens use it to satisfy curiosity, support learning, or gather information and can question, explain, or fact-check the responses they receive, Chekroud said. In these cases, AI is one tool among many, not a primary source of guidance or emotional support.

Signs of problematic use

On the other hand, parents should know the signs of problematic AI use to look for:

• Secrecy about AI use

• Excessive time spent chatting

• Emotional attachment to the chatbot

• Distress when access is limited

• Relying on AI for reassurance, advice, or connection they would typically seek from people

• Increased isolation

• Reduced interest in real-world relationships

• Noticeable changes in mood or behavior

Warning signs can include withdrawal from friends or family, using the chatbot as a primary source of advice for personal or emotional issues, or expressing that the AI understands me better than people do, McLean said.

Setting boundaries around AI use

The experts agree that its important for parents to set boundaries and limits around their kids AI use, highlighting that AI is not a substitute for human connection.

Parents should set clear expectations around when, why, and how AI tools are used by their children, McLean said. This can include time limits, device-free periods, and guidelines that AI should not be used for mental health advice, relationship decisions, or crisis support.

Teens are still developing judgment and may interpret AI-generated responses as facts or truth, Chekroud said. Reinforcing that AI is a supplementnot a replacementfor human connection, trusted adults, or professional care helps reduce the risk of emotional reliance and misuse.

Life outside of chatbots

One of the biggest pieces of advice for parents: reinforce to kids that there is life outside of AI chatbots.

Encouraging extracurricular activities, shared family time, and in person social experiences helps reinforce that meaningful connection comes from human interaction, McLean said. Modeling balanced technology use and having regular conversations about emotions, stress, and decision-making also reduces the likelihood that teens will turn to AI as their primary outlet.

Another tip from Chekroud: normalize awkwardness.

Teens often turn to AI because it feels safer than being vulnerable with people, he said.Parents can reinforce that awkwardness is part of learning and growth, not a sign of failure.

Most categories moved higher; restaurant prices rose as well

• Grocery prices saw their biggest monthly jump in more than three years in December, new federal data show.

• Most supermarket food categories posted increases, even as egg prices dropped sharply.

• Restaurant prices rose at the same pace as grocery costs, adding pressure to household food budgets.

Think it's getting expensive eat out? It is, but it turns out it's getting more expensive to eat at home too. That's the conclusion of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which found that grocery prices recorded their largest month-to-month increase in more than three years in December.

The food-at-home index rose 0.7% for the month, more than double the 0.3% increase recorded in September, the most recent month of Consumer Price Index data before the government shutdown. It marked the steepest monthly rise since late 2022, when grocery prices climbed 0.7% in both August and September. The last time prices rose faster was July 2022, when food-at-home costs jumped 1.3%.

On a year-over-year basis, grocery prices were up 2.4% in December, indicating continued though uneven inflation pressure at the supermarket.

Most grocery categories moved higher

Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased month over month in December, underscoring the broad-based nature of the price gains.

The other food at home category posted the largest monthly increase, rising 1.6%. Dairy and related products climbed 0.9%, while cereals and bakery products rose 0.6%. Prices for fruits and vegetables increased 0.5%, and nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.4%.

The only category to decline was meats, poultry, fish and eggs, which fell 0.2% over the month. That drop was driven largely by egg prices, which plunged 8.2% in December.

Annual increases led by beverages and proteins

Year-over-year data show nonalcoholic beverages recorded the largest annual increase, rising 5.1% compared with December a year earlier. Meats, poultry, fish and eggs followed with a 3.9% increase, despite the recent monthly decline.

Other food at home rose 2.7% year over year, while cereals and bakery products increased 1.5%. Fruits and vegetables posted a modest annual gain of 0.5%.

Dairy and related products were the only grocery category to decline on a yearly basis, falling 0.9% from December 2024.

Restaurant prices also rise

Food prices increased beyond the grocery aisle. The overall food index rose 0.7% in December, matching the monthly increase for food away from home. Restaurant prices also climbed 0.7%, signaling that consumers are facing higher costs whether they cook at home or eat out.

The December data suggest that while food inflation has slowed from its 2022 peak, price pressures remain persistent and uneven across grocery categories and dining options.

The sneakiest price hikes are the ones you barely notice

• Tiny increases, real impact: Late-2025 price hikes of just $1$3 per service quietly added up, pushing many households $15$30 higher per month.

• Built on inertia: Auto-renewals and staggered hikes make people more likely to accept higher bills than cancel or downgrade.

• A hidden budget drain: Because nothing changes except the price, subscription creep often goes unnoticed until costs have already climbed.

If it feels like your monthly bills keep slowly rising even though you havent added any new subscriptions, youre not imagining things.

The second half of 2025 delivered another round of quiet price hikes across streaming and music services, often framed as small adjustments that were easy to overlook.

While these price increases were small, they can quickly add up to you spending $15$30 more per month without changing anything.

This slow, almost invisible pattern is what consumer advocates call subscription price creep and its become one of the most common budget leaks we often ignore.

The streaming and music services that got more expensive

Several major platforms raised their prices in the back half of 2025, continuing a multi-year trend of steady increases:

• Netflix Raised prices across multiple monthly plans, with price increases of $1 for the plan with ads, and $2 for the Netflix Premium plan.
• Disney+ Increased prices in September 2025 on both ad-supported ($2 increase) and ad-free plans ($3 increase).
• HBO Max Rolled out higher pricing to both ad-free ($1.50 increase) and with-ads plan ($1 increase) in October 2025.
• Paramount+ Raised rates on both Essential and Premium tiers by $1 per month.
• Peacock Increased prices mid-2025 by $3 per month for both their ads and ad-free subscription.
• Spotify Recently announced $1-2 monthly price increases for their Individual, Duo, Family, and Student plans.

None of these changes were dramatic on their own and thats the point. They hope you dont notice or shrug it off because the amount is so small.

They rely on customers tolerating these small increases because canceling feels like way more work than its worth.

Why subscription price creep works so well

Subscription pricing is built on inertia. Once you have a service set to auto-renew, most people stop actively evaluating whether its still worth the cost. They just go along with it and rarely reevaluate.

Companies know this, which is why these price increases are usually small, staggered, and timed months (or even a year) apart from each other.

Plus, many households now have overlapping streaming services with similar libraries, making it harder to justify each one, yet harder to cancel because no single service feels like it meets all their needs.

The result is a budget problem that doesnt feel urgent until you finally add everything up and are forced to ask yourself if you really need all of these services.

How to lower your subscription costs:

The good news is that you dont need to cancel every music and streaming service to save real money.

You just need a solid strategy to deal with the subscription world that we now find ourselves living in.

1. Do a real subscription audit

Pull the last two months of your bank or credit-card statements and list every recurring charge.

Its really easy to forget the services you signed up for, especially if you joined a streaming service so your kids would have something to watch, and you rarely use it yourself.

Pro tip: Sort charges alphabetically so the small services ($5$10) dont get overlooked. Those small ones can add up fast and be real budget busters.

2. Rotate services instead of stacking them

Keep in mind that you dont need every streaming service at once. This is especially true if youre only holding onto one becausea new season of your favorite show is going to be released in a few months.

Keep one or two that you regularly watch, cancel the rest, and re-subscribe only when a show you actually want to watch drops a new season.

Pro tip: Set a calendar alert for the end of a series or season so you cancel before the next billing cycle.

3. Downgrade before you cancel

Ifyoure hesitant to quit a service, check whether a cheaper tier is viable.

For example, ad-supported plans, HD instead of 4K, or individual vs. family makes a lot of sense and the savings are bigger than you think.

Pro tip: A cool little bonus is that downgrading can trigger retention offers where some services will email you a cheaper deal to win you back to the more expensive plan.

4. Make sure family plans are earning their keep

Keep in mind that most family plans only make sense if every slot is being actively used.

If someone on the plan isnt watching or listening, consider a downgrade to a cheaper plan.

Pro tip: Check usage once every 30 days. If a slot isnt used, drop the extra spot before you get charged again.

5. Look for bundles from your phone or internet provider

This is one of the biggest overlooked savings opportunities and can dramatically offset rising subscription costs:

Mobile carriers:

T-Mobile - Did you know that T-Mobile offers streaming perks with some unlimited plans?

For example, right now you can get Netflix Standard for free, and Apple TV+ for just $3/month. Then if you opt for their unlimited Experience Beyond plan, you can get Hulu (with ads) at no extra charge.

Verizon - Verizon lets you add Netflix and HBO Max (with ads) for just $10/month on eligible wireless plans.

You can also get Disney+ Premium, ESPN+, and Hulu (the Disney Bundle), for just $24.99/month with the 5G Get More or 5G Play More plans.

Internet and cable bundles:

Cable and Internet providers such as Xfinity, Optimum, AT&T, and Verizon Fios offer packages that combine your internet, mobile, and TV streaming perks into one bill at a lower total cost than paying for each separately.

Some even let you bundle Netflix with ads, Peacock, and Apple TV+ for a low monthly fee through options like Xfinitys StreamSaver bundle.

Pro tip: Even if your provider doesnt include free streaming, they may offer bill credits or steep discounts on services you already pay for. For this reason, be sure to always check your account perks page for any deals.

6. Be cautious with annual plans

Annual subscriptions can definitely save you money, but only if you know youll use the service all year. So obviously dont pay the annual price upfront if you know your viewing will be it or miss, or if youre only interested in one show.

Keeping your plan monthly gives you flexibility if your viewing habits change, or if you literally only want to watch the 2nd season of Landman on Paramount+.

7. Cap your subscription spending

Its smart to give yourself a hard-cap monthly limit on subscriptions (e.g., $50 or $75).

Then when these small price increases push you over that number, you have to downgrade or cancel something. This turns subscription management into a decision rather than a setup autopay and forget about it situation.