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Public perception shifts as new data challenges long-held assumptions

• More Americans now believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than traditional cigarettes.

• Researchers analyzed a decade of national survey data to track changing perceptions.

• Major public health events appear to have influenced how people view vaping risks.

E-cigarettes were once widely marketed and often perceived as a safer alternative to traditional smoking. But that perception may be changing.

A new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center finds that an increasing number of U.S. adults now believe e-cigarettes are actually more harmful than conventional cigarettes.

The perception that e-cigarettes are more harmful than cigarettes has been linked to both a decreased willingness to use e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and an increased likelihood of switching from vaping to smoking. Understanding the ramifications of this perception change represents a critical consideration when developing cessation strategies, researcher David Gerber, M.D., said in a news release.

How the study was conducted

To understand how opinions have evolved, researchers analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a large, nationally representative survey sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

The study included responses from 20,771 U.S. adults collected over a 10-year period, from 2012 to 2022. Because the survey is conducted regularly with different participants each year, it allowed researchers to track trends over time across a broad cross-section of the population.

Researchers also used a statistical approach called interrupted time series analysis. This method helped them examine whether major public health events like anti-vaping campaigns or the outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries were associated with shifts in how people perceived the risks of e-cigarettes.

What the study found

The results show a clear and significant change in public opinion over the past decade. In 2012, only about 2.8% of adults believed e-cigarettes were more harmful than traditional cigarettes. By 2022, that number had jumped to 30.4%.

At the same time, the share of people who viewed e-cigarettes as less harmful dropped sharply from about 50.7% to 16.7%.

The study also found that these shifts were not random. Changes in perception were closely linked to major public health events, including national anti-vaping campaigns and the 2019 outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

Overall, the findings suggest that public opinion around vaping is evolving quickly and that messaging and real-world events can play a powerful role in shaping how people assess health risks.

Understanding how events like this shape peoples beliefs is key to guiding public health policy and future tobacco control strategies, researcher Alexander Wu, B.S. said in the news release.

Splitting up can mean delayed retirement, shrinking savings, and a tougher financial road ahead

• Divorcing after age 50 can derail retirement plans, often forcing people to delay retirement, split already-limited savings, and take on new debt.

• Women tend to face greater financial challenges in gray divorce, with lower incomes, fewer savings, and less time to recover before retirement.

• Early financial planning is criticalexperts say prioritizing retirement assets, avoiding rushed decisions, and creating a new post-divorce plan can help protect long-term security.

Divorce is never easy but when it happens later in life, the financial ripple effects can be especially hard to navigate.

Often called gray divorce, splits after age 50 are becoming more common, and they can significantly disrupt carefully laid retirement plans. Instead of entering retirement with a shared financial cushion, many individuals suddenly find themselves dividing decades of savings, managing debt on a single income, and rethinking when or if they can afford to stop working.

The impact is often even more pronounced for women. Research shows that womens household income can drop sharply after a late-life divorce, and their standard of living may take a longer-term hit compared to men. With less time to rebuild savings and a greater likelihood of having taken career breaks or earned less over time, women can face steeper financial challenges heading into retirement.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with financial expert Tracey Stofa, Managing Director and Head of Private Client Group at Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., who helped break down the risks and planning ahead that can make a meaningful difference in protecting long-term financial security.

Financial pitfalls

Stofa explained that divorcing later in life can lead to some unexpected financial pitfalls for many consumers.

Gray divorce can hit at a time that isnt ideal for most adults, she said. Youre nearing retirement, and theres not a huge window to rebound and rebuild your wealth/savings.

What often happens, and what our research reinforces, is that splitting assets often means splitting already finite retirement savings, sometimes cutting them in half or worse. Many people also underestimate the compounding impact of legal fees, new housing costs, and taking on fresh debt, which can quietly chip away at long-term financial security.

Delaying retirement

One of the most important things to think about when divorcing later in life: how will this affect your decision to retire?

A gray divorce doesnt just delay your retirement, it moves the timeline entirely, Stofa explained. If you were building wealth and saving for your retirement, the fallout of a divorce causes many people to shift to maintaining stability and can feel like survival mode.

In reality, it can often mean youll earn less, save less or even claim Social Security earlier than anticipated, all of which can leave a lasting impact on your retirement income instead of just postponing it.

Women are more affected than men

Stofa explained that many times, women are affected disproportionately more than men when it comes to divorces in later life.

Often women enter gray divorce with less of a financial cushion, and thats not by accident, she said. Many have spent years focusing on their family over career growth or managing finances jointly, so when everything gets split, they are starting from a much more vulnerable position.

What makes it more challenging too is that safety nets they relied on, like their partners income, retirement accounts or health coverage can vanish overnight. You can end up facing both an emotional transition as well as a financial one, where the margin for error is much smaller and the path to recovery is often a lot longer.

Thinking about your financial future

Stofa recommends that consumers take the time to really think about their financial futures when handling their divorce proceedings. She shared her best tips here:

• Treat retirement assets as one of the key parts of the negotiation, not merely an afterthought.

• Work with professionals who actually understand the nuances of dividing retirement accounts. This will ensure legal mechanisms are properly executed, and they will help you avoid early withdrawals that trigger taxes and penalties.

• Rebuild a clear post-divorce financial plan quickly, including a revised retirement timeline and realistic savings strategy.

For many gray divorcees, its hard not to make reactive financial decisions, from piling on new debt to downsizing way too quickly, Stofa said.

Its that kind of urgency that locks in long-term financial consequences. A better approach is to do your best to slow down and prioritize stabilizing cash flow initially where you can, because the decisions you make in the first year after a gray divorce typically shape your financial trajectory for years to come.

Why more drivers are choosing used cars

• Buy used the smart way: Focus on value, not just price check history reports with Bumper or Carfax and avoid cars with unclear maintenance records.

• Ignore the monthly payment trap: Dont let long loans make cars feel affordable focus on total price and avoid paying for a car longer than itll last.

• Keep your car longer (biggest savings): A paid-off car is your best financial asset maintain it, set aside fake payments, and avoid jumping back into a loan too soon.

Walking onto a dealership lot and driving off in a brand-new car just isnt realistic for most people anymore. Prices are pushing $50,000, interest rates are still high, and wages havent exactly kept up. So, people are adapting.

According to a new survey from Bumper, 76% of respondents said they purchased their car used, and most of those vehicles are already paid off.

It might feel like a compromise, but its actually a smart financial move if you approach it the right way.

Heres how to make this shift work in your favor.

Buy used, but dont buy blindly

Used cars are cheaper for a reason, but that doesnt mean you should just grab the lowest price you see. The goal is value, not just savings upfront. Look for vehicles with reasonable mileage (ideally under 50,000) and more importantly, solid maintenance records.

Before you commit, run a vehicle history report using a tool like Bumper or CarFax. This can help uncover hidden issues like past accidents, title problems, or odometer rollbacks. These are the kinds of things that can turn a great deal into a money pit fast.

If a seller cant provide clear history or seems vague about maintenance, thats your cue to walk.

Dont fall for the monthly payment trick

This is where a lot of people lose money without realizing it. Dealers love to focus on the monthly payment because it makes expensive cars feel affordable. Stretch a loan to 72 or 84 months, and suddenly that car fits your budget.

But the reality is that youre paying more overall for a car thats losing value every year.

Instead, focus on the total out-the-door price. Thats the number that actually matters. A slightly higher monthly payment on a shorter loan is almost always the better move financially.

Pro tip: If the loan lasts longer than the car is likely to stay reliable, youre setting yourself up to pay for a car thats already on its last legs.

Keep your current car as long as possible

This is where the biggest savings happens. If your car is already paid off, youre in a great position. No monthly payment means you can redirect that money toward maintenance, savings, or just breathing room in your budget.

And modern cars are built to last. A well-maintained vehicle can easily go well past 150,000 miles. Instead of upgrading, invest in keeping your current car in good shape.

Things like brakes, tires, and routine service cost money, but theyre still far cheaper than starting a new loan.

Pro tip: Treat your paid-off car like it still has a payment. Set aside $100$200 a month of the payment money into a separate savings bucket for future repairs or your next car. When something breaks, youre covered. And when its finally time to upgrade, you can pay mostly (or fully) in cash and skip the loan altogether.

Be careful with 'almost new'deals

Certified pre-owned cars can sound like the best of both worlds, but the pricing doesnt always make sense. If a used car is priced close to a new one, youre not really saving much, and youre still taking on the downsides of buying used.

As a general rule, if the price is within about 10-15% of new, its worth reconsidering.

The agency took action against three companies this week

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FTC launched a nationwide Made in the USA enforcement sweep targeting deceptive origin claims.

• Three companies face law enforcement actions for allegedly misleading consumers about where products were made.

• The move signals intensified crackdown amid growing scrutiny of patriotic marketing claims.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new enforcement sweep targeting deceptive Made in the USA claims, bringing legal action against three companies it has accused of misleading consumers about the origin of their products.

In a press release, the agency said the cases involve businesses that allegedly marketed or labeled goods as American-made when they were not, violating federal truth-in-advertising laws.

The FTC did not frame the actions as isolated cases but as part of a broader initiative to protect consumers and ensure fair competition for domestic manufacturers. Officials said false origin claims can mislead shoppers who specifically seek to support U.S. workers and businesses.

Made in the USA claims are subject to strict standards. Under FTC rules, products advertised as American-made must be all or virtually all produced domestically, meaning that final assembly and nearly all components must originate in the United States.

Wider crackdown on misleading claims

The sweep comes amid heightened federal focus on country-of-origin labeling. A March 2026 executive order directed the FTC to prioritize enforcement against companies making unsubstantiated Made in America claims, signaling a tougher regulatory environment.

The FTC has increasingly used sweeps and coordinated actions to address deceptive practices across industries, similar to past initiatives targeting misleading claims related to artificial intelligence and other emerging marketing trends.

Regulators say false Made in the USA claims harm not only consumers but also businesses that legitimately manufacture products domestically.

Consumer demand for American-made goods remains strong, making such claims a powerful marketing tool but also one that can easily be abused. Enforcement efforts are intended to ensure that companies making these claims can substantiate them and that consumers can trust product labeling.