Consumer News: Auto Safety Recall Derby - Week of March 9

Will other states take the same action?

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Maryland has become the first state to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores

• The new law targets the use of personal data to set individualized prices

• Supporters say it protects consumers, while retailers warn of unintended consequences

Maryland is breaking new ground in consumer protection, becoming the first state in the nation to prohibit so-called surveillance pricing in grocery stores a practice that uses shoppers personal data to charge some consumers higher prices than others.

Gov. Wes Moore signed the legislation into law this week, marking a significant shift in how retailers can use customer information. The measure bans grocery stores from adjusting prices based on data such as a shoppers purchase history, location, income level or online behavior.

Supporters say the move is designed to ensure transparency and fairness at a time when digital tools are increasingly shaping the shopping experience.

What is surveillance pricing?

Surveillance pricing refers to the use of algorithms and consumer data to set different prices for different shoppers, even for the same item. While retailers have long used loyalty programs and coupons to offer discounts, critics argue that newer technologies could allow companies to quietly charge higher prices to certain customers based on what they are willing or able to pay.

Maryland lawmakers said the practice raises concerns about privacy and potential discrimination.

"People deserve to know what price is on the shelf, and the price on the shelf is exactly the price they are going to pay at the checkout," Moore said at the signing ceremony.

"People deserve to know that the price that they pay is not different (from) the customer who walked in just before them, or different from the customer who walked in right after them. People deserve to know that their data will not be used against them to charge them more."

What the law does

The new law prohibits grocery retailers from using personal data to determine individualized pricing in-store or online. It does not ban traditional sales, coupons or loyalty rewards programs, as long as those discounts are applied uniformly and transparently.

Retailers are still allowed to collect customer data, but they cannot use it to set different base prices for identical products.

Violations could result in fines and enforcement actions by the states consumer protection office.

Industry concerns

Retail groups have raised concerns about how the law could affect innovation and pricing strategies. Some argue that data-driven pricing can help stores manage inventory, reduce waste and offer targeted discounts to shoppers.

They also warn that broadly restricting data use could limit personalized deals that many consumers value.

Consumer advocates say the risks outweigh the benefits, especially if shoppers are unaware that prices may vary based on their personal profiles.

A potential model for other states

Marylands law comes as policymakers across the country take a closer look at how companies use consumer data. While dynamic pricing is common in industries like travel and ride-sharing, its expansion into everyday essentials like groceries has drawn increased scrutiny.

Advocates say other states may follow Marylands lead if concerns about fairness and transparency continue to grow.

The price of regular gas is up 27 cents in recent days

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Oil prices are rising due to the Strait of Hormuz disruption during the Iran war, limiting global crude supply and pushing gasoline prices higher.

• U.S. gas prices have jumped 27 cents in a week to a $4.30 national average, with much higher prices in some states like California ($6.01).

• Experts warn prices could keep climbing and remain volatile as geopolitical tensions persist and energy markets react to ongoing uncertainty.

As the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, due to the Iran War, millions of barrels of Persian Gulf crude remain in lockdown. Thats driving up the global price of oil, which in turn continues to push gasoline prices higher.

The price of Brent crude oil hit $126 a barrel this week before drifting slightly lower. WTI crude, produced in the U.S., rose to $106 a barrel. Thats having a big impact on U.S. gasoline prices, which have remained volatile since the start of the war with Iran.

Average gasoline prices rose in 39 states over the last week, with the national average moving higher, while diesel prices declined in most states, offering a brief divergence at the pump, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, writing in the GasBuddy blog.

However, that divergence may prove short-lived. Oil prices have been climbing again as markets react to renewed geopolitical tensions and the cancellation of talks between the U.S. and Iran. As a result, gasoline prices are set to rise further this week, with diesel expected to follow. Many inland statesincluding those in the Great Lakes and Plainscould see average gas prices climb to their highest levels since 2022, while price-cycling markets may also experience another round of hikes in the next few days.

Increasingly expensive fuel

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas today is $4.30 a gallon. Thats a seven-cent increase since Wednesday and a 27-cent increase over the last week.

While $4.30 a gallon is the average, motorists in many states are paying much higher. The average price in California is $6.01 a gallon, the highest in the nation.

Motorists in Mississippi are getting the biggest break, paying only $3.77 a gallon. But a year ago, the average price was $2.67 a gallon.

Looking ahead, GasBuddy expects continued volatility in energy prices. With negotiations stalled and restrictions still in place, the energy data firm says markets will continue to react quickly to any signs of escalation or renewed diplomatic efforts.

The persistence of supply-side risksparticularly in key transit routes and export infrastructuresuggests oil prices could remain supported in the near term, even as sentiment shifts rapidly with each new headline, the company said.

Social media is no substitute for advice from a medical professional

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A growing number of users are turning to TikTok for health advice often with unintended consequences.

• Experts warn that cyberchondria, or anxiety fueled by online symptom searching, is rising in the age of endless scrolling.

• Medical professionals say misinformation and self-diagnosis on social media can worsen mental health and delay proper care.

For millions of Americans, a troubling symptom no longer triggers a call to the doctor; it leads to a scroll through TikTok.

Short-form videos promising quick explanations for everything from ADHD to rare neurological disorders have turned the platform into an informal diagnostic tool. But according to a recent Wisephone blog post, that trend is helping fuel a modern form of health anxiety known as cyberchondria, where repeated online searches amplify fear rather than provide reassurance.

Cyberchondria isnt new, but its scale is. Defined as excessive online health searching that worsens anxiety, the condition thrives in an environment where endless information accurate or not is just a swipe away.

From curiosity to anxiety

The Wisephone blog describes a familiar pattern: a user notices a minor symptom, searches for answers, and quickly encounters alarming possibilities. Instead of relief, the result is escalating worry and compulsive checking.

That cycle is what distinguishes cyberchondria from casual Googling. Rather than resolving uncertainty, repeated searches reinforce it, often pushing users toward worst-case scenarios.

Social media accelerates the process. TikToks algorithm delivers highly engaging, bite-sized health content that can make rare conditions feel common and relatable. Critics say this environment encourages self-diagnosis without medical training, particularly among younger users.

The misinformation problem

Doctors say the biggest risk isnt just anxiety its accuracy.

Unlike vetted medical sources, TikTok videos are created by anyone, meaning misinformation can spread quickly. The Wisephone blog warns that acting on unverified advice can lead to unnecessary panic or even harmful decisions.

Research backs that concern. Studies have shown that social media exposure can even influence physical symptoms. In some cases, clinicians have linked spikes in certain disorders such as tic-like behaviors to prolonged exposure to related TikTok content.

At the same time, experts acknowledge a paradox: social media has also helped reduce stigma around mental health and encouraged people to seek help.

Why the trend is accelerating

Several factors are converging:

• Endless content loops keep users searching and scrolling

• Algorithmic amplification prioritizes emotionally engaging often alarming videos

• Information overload makes it difficult to distinguish credible sources

The result is what researchers describe as a perfect storm for health anxiety in the digital age.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberchondria appeared to intensify as people sought constant updates and reassurance online.

What experts recommend

Mental health experts outline simple strategies to break the cycle:

• Limit symptom searches to a single, focused session

• Avoid repeated scrolling through health content

• Stop searching if anxiety increases

• Always verify information with a licensed medical professional

Those recommendations echo broader medical advice: the internet can be a useful starting point but it should never replace professional care.

A digital-age diagnosis

As TikTok continues to shape how people consume information, healthcare professionals are grappling with a new reality: patients often arrive with self-diagnoses formed online.

Cyberchondria highlights a deeper issue not just access to information, but how that information is delivered and interpreted.

In an era where Dr. TikTok is always on call, the challenge isnt finding answers. Its knowing which ones to trust.

Nationwide, prices rose 0.1% in March

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. home prices rose just 0.1% in March, marking the third straight month of minimal gains.

• Annual price growth slowed to about 1.7%1.9%, the weakest on record dating back to 2012.

• Prices declined in 13 major metro areas, with the biggest drops in Texas markets.

Are home prices going up or going down? It all depends.

In some markets where prices surged during the pandemic, prices are now falling. But in some other markets, where demand has remained steady, home prices are still rising.

So, when you hear that home prices rose 0.1% in March, thats the national average of the top housing markets taken together.

In a new analysis, real estate brokerage Redfin reports that March prices were up roughly 1.7% from a year earlier the slowest year-over-year growth since Redfin began tracking the data in 2012.

Demand pressures weigh on prices

The sluggish growth reflects softer demand, as many prospective buyers have stepped back from the market. Elevated mortgage rates rising from about 6% to 6.4% in March combined with economic uncertainty, have reduced affordability and dampened buyer activity.

Redfin economists say these pressures are putting a lid on price growth, contributing to what they describe as an early-stage reset in the housing market.

Supply constraints prevent price declines

Despite weaker demand, home prices have not fallen nationally, largely because inventory remains constrained. Some homeowners are opting not to sell into a softer market, limiting the number of new listings and helping support prices.

There are still more sellers than buyers overall, but the gap has narrowed as both sides hesitate amid uncertain conditions.

Regional disparities widen

While the national trend shows slight growth, local markets are diverging. Prices fell month over month in 13 of the largest U.S. metro areas, with the steepest declines in Fort Worth and Austin, Texas.

At the same time, some markets posted notable gains, including Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, and San Francisco, highlighting uneven conditions across the country.

Market reset underway

The latest data suggests the housing market is transitioning away from the rapid price growth seen during the pandemic era toward a more balanced environment.

Slower price increases could eventually improve affordability and draw some buyers back, but for now, high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty continue to restrain activity, keeping home price growth near historic lows.

Fears of contamination and chemicals may have been unfounded

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FDA tested more than 300 infant formula samples in its largest-ever safety study.

• The vast majority showed undetectable or very low levels of contaminants.

• The agency plans continued testing and potential new limits for chemicals in formula.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)released results from what it called the largest and most comprehensive testing of infant formula ever conducted in the United States, finding that most products meet high safety standards despite trace levels of contaminants.

The agency analyzed more than 300 samples of infant formula sold nationwide, generating over 120,000 data points as part of a sweeping review of chemical contaminants. The testing screened for heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, as well as pesticides, PFAS forever chemicals, and phthalates.

According to the FDA, the overwhelming majority of samples contained either undetectable or very low levels of contaminants, reinforcing that the U.S. infant formula supply is safe for consumers. In many cases, contaminant levels were below federal drinking water standards.

Meet high safety standards

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the findings show most products meet high safety standards, while emphasizing that even small exposures remain important for infants.

The testing effort is part of the FDAs broader Operation Stork Speed initiative and its Closer to Zero program, both aimed at reducing contaminants in foods consumed by infants and young children. The initiative was launched amid heightened scrutiny of infant formula safety following past recalls and reports of contaminants.

Work continues

Despite the reassuring results, the FDA said it plans to continue working with manufacturers to further reduce contaminant levels and may establish formal limits for certain chemicals in infant formula. The agency also intends to expand ongoing surveillance, including testing newer products entering the market.

Experts say the findings provide reassurance for parents but also show the need for continued oversight. Some have called on regulators to set clear national standards for contaminants in infant formula to ensure consistent safety benchmarks going forward.

The FDA said it will release additional data from follow-up surveys as part of its commitment to transparency.