Consumer News: Medicare finalizes steep drug price reductions

Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of data centers in the U.S.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Dominion Energy says its upcoming $11-a-month rate hike is driven by grid upgrades and inflation not Virginias rapidly growing data-center industry.

• Critics note that Virginia hosts one of the nations largest concentrations of data centers, which consume massive amounts of electricity and have raised public concern about grid strain.

• Modern data centers especially those built for AI can use power equivalent to tens of thousands of homes, prompting ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, cooling, and reliance on cleaner energy.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a utility rate increase for Dominion Energy customers that will add about $11 to the average monthly electric bill starting in January.

Critics were quick to point out that Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of data centers in the country, but Dominin said that had little effect on the rate. Instead, it said grid upgrades and inflation are responsible for the increase, not data centers which have been a hot topic of conversation lately.

If you arent exactly clear about what data centers do, you probably arent alone. A data center is a specialized building full of computers (servers), storage systems, and network equipment that store, process, and move digital information for things like websites, cloud storage, streaming, and AI. Its essentially the physical internet behind online services.

Data centers, by their very nature, increase electricity demand. They use a lot of electricity mainly because:

• They run thousands to tens of thousands of powerful servers at once, often 24 hours a day, so the core computing load is huge.

• All those servers generate a lot of heat, so large cooling systems (air conditioning, fans, or liquid cooling) must run constantly to keep the equipment from overheating.

• They need extra infrastructure that also draws power: backup batteries and generators, power conversion equipment, networking gear, security systems, and building systems.

• Modern AI and other highperformance computing tasks are especially energyintensive, so newer data centers built for AI can use as much power as a small city.

Whats typical?

A typical modern data center uses on the order of a few to a few dozen megawatts of power continuously, which is like tens of thousands of homes running at once. Operators are trying to make them more efficient by improving cooling, tightening how power is delivered and measured (PUE), using smarter software, and shifting to renewable energy.

How much energy is typical?

Large hyperscale facilities can easily use 20100+ MW, and some planned AI-oriented campuses are being designed for hundreds of megawatts or more. Small commercial data centers with a few hundred to a couple thousand servers usually draw about 15 megawatts (MW) of power. That is roughly comparable to the average usage of several thousand U.S. homes, depending on local consumption

Across the whole country, U.S. data centers together used about 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, a bit over 4% of all U.S. power use, and that share is expected to more than double by 2030.

Key efficiency metric (PUE)

• The main yardstick for efficiency is Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), which is total facility power divided by the power used just by the IT equipment (servers, storage, networking).

• A perfect data center would have a PUE of 1.0; many older facilities were around 2.0 or worse, while efficient modern and highperformance centers try to get close to 1.2 or below, meaning most power goes into actual computing rather than overhead like cooling and lighting.

Whats being done to cut energy use?

• Better cooling: Operators are switching from basic air conditioning to more efficient methods such as hot/cold aisle containment, liquid cooling directly to chips, and using outside air or water (free cooling) when climate allows, which can cut cooling energy by 1050%.

• Smarter operations: Software and AI are used to balance workloads, power down idle servers, and tune cooling in real time so the data center does not run all systems at full power unnecessarily.
  Cleaner power and design: Many large data center operators sign longterm contracts for wind or solar, build onsite generation or storage, and design buildings, power distribution, and equipment layouts specifically to reduce losses and improve efficiency.

Mobile devices and AI-powered shopping tools played a role in the shift to digital

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday 2025 a 9.1 % increase from the previous year.

• On Thanksgiving Day alone, online spending hit $6.4 billion, reflecting robust early-holiday demand.

• Mobile devices and AI-powered shopping tools played a major role, driving a surge in online traffic and influencing many purchases.

Deep discounts offered by onlineretailers appear to have overcomeconsumers worries about inflation. This years Black Friday proved to be historic for online retail Americans spent an unprecedented $11.8 billion shopping from their computers, phones, and tablets.

That total, released by Adobe Analytics, reflects a 9.1 % increase compared with 2024, even as economic pressures such as inflation and job market uncertainty linger.

The surge began earlier than ever: on Thanksgiving Day alone, online transactions reached $6.4 billion, showing strong early engagement in holiday shopping.

Whats driving the shift to digital?

A growing number of shoppers are embracing convenience and technology over battling crowds. Analysts pointed to the rise of AI-powered shopping tools and mobile commerce as key factors behind this years record haul.

Over half of online Black Friday purchases reportedly came through mobile devices, underscoring just how dominant smartphones and tablets have become for holiday shopping.

Despite economic headwinds including higher prices and concerns about debt many consumers remained committed to hunting for deals. Some even used flexible payment options like buy now, pay later to spread out costs.

Still, even with higher spending, many shoppers said they were purchasing fewer items per transaction likely a response to sticker shock and cautious budgeting.

What it means for the holidays

The record-breaking online sales set a strong tone for the rest of the 2025 holiday season. Analysts expect continued growth through Cyber Monday and beyond, especially if retailers continue offering deep discounts and shoppers remain drawn to the convenience of online and mobile shopping.

For shoppers, this years Black Friday suggests an evolving retail landscape one where technology, convenience, and value increasingly shape the way Americans buy gifts and holiday essentials.

FDA signals sweeping changes in vaccine policy

FDA vaccines chief says internal review found 10 child deaths linked to Covid shots
Shift would remake flu immunization strategy and tighten standards for all vaccines
Public-health experts question the claims and warn of confusion, lack of evidence

The Food and Drug Administration is moving ahead with plans to upend its approach to immunizations for respiratory illnessesincluding seasonal flu vaccines. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an attorney with no medical training, is a longtime vaccine skeptic.

The latest development is an email sent to FDA staff by the agencys vaccines division director, Dr. Vinay Prasad, claiming that 10 children had died as a result of Covid vaccination, the Wall Street Journal reported. He did not provide evidence, methodology or case details to support the claim, which he said was based on initial analysis of reports submitted to an FDA safety-monitoring system. Such reports, experts note, can be incomplete, unverified or inaccurate.

Prasad wrote that the revelation marked the first time the U.S. FDA will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children, adding: The truth is we do not know if we saved lives on balance. The email also criticized Biden-era vaccine mandates.

Policy shift follows broader changes under HHS leadership

The proposal is the latest in a series of dramatic shifts on vaccine policy under Kennedy's leadership.

Kennedy has already announced that the U.S. would drop recommendations for pregnant women and children to receive Covid shots. In September, a vaccine advisory panel he reassembled voted to scrap affirmative recommendations for adults; instead, Covid vaccination would be left to individual decision-making between clinicians and patients.

The changes outlined in Prasads email would have far-reaching effects. He said the FDA will revise the annual flu vaccine framework, calling the current model a catastrophe of low-quality evidence. Manufacturers would be required to submit larger studies on multiple vaccines administered at once, and the agency would demand broader clinical trials before expanding approvals to populations such as children and pregnant women.

Prior promises will be null and void, he wrote regarding vaccine approvals in pregnancy.

Experts question data and warn of public confusion

The claims also drew pushback from infectious-disease specialists. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said Prasad should have published any findings in a peer-reviewed journal where scientists could vet the evidence.

You dont know what data he has. What does this do? All it does is scare people, Offit said. Its just dangerous and irresponsible.

Previous analyses by the U.S. government, the World Health Organization and independent researchers have found serious side effects from Covid vaccines to be rare, with benefits generally outweighing risks. A 2023 meta-analysis reviewed four reported child deaths following Covid vaccination; two involved children with complex medical histories, one childs autopsy showed a flu infection, and a fourth case remained under review.

Vaccine makers respond cautiously

A spokesman for Moderna pointed to a September statement saying the company was aware of no new safety concerns, including deaths, related to its Covid vaccine. Pfizer and Novavax, which also supply vaccines to the U.S., did not respond to inquiries.

The proposed FDA overhaul is likely to reshape how vaccines are evaluated, developed and recommended in the U.S.and to spark fierce debate over the evidence used to guide those decisions.

Black Friday urgency pushes consumers to spend more

• Black Friday promotions trigger urgency and impulsive online buying

• Convenience features like one-click checkout fuel overspending and debt

• Experts urge shoppers to add friction, track triggers and plan purchases

Americans spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday last year, according to Adobe Analytics, reflecting the powerful psychological pull of deep discounts and limited-time offers. Retail researchers say the annual surge in promotions creates a sense of urgency that can override financial caution. When shoppers are convinced a deal is fleeting, they are more likely to buy first and think later.

The widespread use of one-click checkout, stored credit-card information and buy now, pay later loans amplifies that impulse. These tools promise convenience and instant gratification a quick dopamine spike that often comes before consumers take a moment to consider whether a purchase is necessary. As a result, many shoppers overspend during the holidays and wind up carrying debt well into the next year.

Experts warn of psychological triggers behind holiday purchases

Financial therapists say the mechanics of Black Friday deals intentionally play on emotional vulnerabilities. Sales can serve as an outlet for stress, boredom or a desire for reward, especially during a busy and sometimes emotionally charged holiday season. Without guardrails, these forces can push consumers into patterns of unhealthy spending.

Nathan Astle, a certified financial therapist, recommends removing the runway for impulse purchases by deleting stored payment information from online accounts, apps and mobile wallets, in a New York Times report. Anything that makes spending slightly less convenient reduces the likelihood of overspending, he said.

Other experts advise adding intentional delays to the buying process. Strategies include setting a 24-hour waiting period before making any discretionary purchase or listening to a full song before pressing the checkout button a small pause that can interrupt the emotional rush that leads to impulse buying.

Small behavioral shifts can rein in holiday overspending

Researchers say introducing points of friction can help curb automatic spending behaviors. For in-store shoppers, this can mean carrying items by hand instead of using a cart, intentionally limiting how much can be purchased. For online shoppers, creating wish lists instead of loading items into a cart can often provide the same sense of satisfaction without completing the purchase.

Planning ahead also makes a significant difference. Financial counselors recommend making a list of what you truly need and noting regular prices before Black Friday begins. Armed with this information, shoppers are better able to determine whether a discount is genuine or artificially inflated.

Another key step is identifying personal triggers whether certain product categories, social-media ads or influencer recommendations. Unfollow or mute accounts that nudge you toward impulse buys, and steer clear of haul videos that glamorize excessive consumption.

Understanding emotional spending improves long-term habits

Experts emphasize that holiday overspending is often a symptom of deeper emotional patterns. Keeping a money journal can help shoppers recognize what they were feeling before, during and after each purchase. That awareness can reveal hidden motivations such as loneliness, stress or boredom that fuel unnecessary spending.

While Black Friday deals promise big savings, financial counselors say the best bargain may be slowing down long enough to understand the forces driving your decisions.

Tips to avoid holiday overspending

• Delete saved payment info: Removing stored cards and one-click options forces a pause before you buy.

• Use a 24-hour rule: Wait one day before purchasing anything that isnt essential.

• Add friction: Carry items in-store instead of using a cart, or create an online wish list instead of adding to your cart.

• Make a must-have list: Decide what you actually need before sales begin and note regular prices to spot real deals.

• Identify your triggers: Mute influencers, skip haul videos and avoid product categories that tempt you.

• Play a buying pause song: Listen to one full track before checking out online to disrupt impulse spending.

• Keep a money journal: Track what you buy and how you feel before and after purchases to catch emotional spending patterns.