Consumer News: Gas prices may have leveled off, at least for now

Dont be too quick to RSVP

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning consumers about a new phishing scam using fake digital invitations sent from compromised email accounts.

• The scam tricks users into clicking RSVP links that may steal login credentials or install malware on devices.

• Officials urge consumers to verify invitations directly with senders and avoid entering passwords through invitation links.

If you get an email from a friend or family member inviting you to an event, dont rush to accept it. It could be one of the latest schemes cooked up by scammers.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has warned his constituents about a new phishing scam that uses fake digital invitations to steal personal information and compromise online accounts.

According to the attorney generals office, scammers are sending emails that appear to come from friends or acquaintances inviting recipients to events, conferences,or birthday parties through online invitation platforms. The emails typically contain a link prompting users to view an invitation and RSVP.

Sunday said recipients who click the links may be asked to sign in using Google, Apple, Microsoft, or similar online accounts. Entering login credentials can result in email accounts being compromised or malware being installed on devices.

Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to appear more credible and trustworthy, Sunday said in a statement. If you receive an unexpected invitation that requires you to log in or provide personal information, take a moment to verify it directly with the sender that extra step can protect your personal data and prevent serious harm.

Red flag

The attorney generals office emphasized that legitimate invitation services generally do not require users to sign in simply to view invitations. Officials also advised consumers to be cautious of generic invitations and to hover over links before clicking to confirm they direct users to legitimate websites.

Consumers are encouraged to verify invitations through a phone call or text message to the sender before responding. Officials said legitimate invitations will not ask users to enter passwords and rarely require downloads.

Anyone who believes their email account may have been compromised should immediately change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious emails to their provider as phishing attempts, according to Sunday.

The bars were sold nationwide online and through select retailers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Spring & Mulberry has expanded a voluntary recall of several chocolate bar flavors because of possible Salmonella contamination.

• The recall now includes eight flavors sold nationwide online and through select retail partners since September 2025.

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat the affected products and to seek refunds or replacements.

Spring & Mulberry has expanded its voluntary recall of select chocolate bars after routine testing revealed possible Salmonella contamination in finished products, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Raleigh, North Carolina-based chocolate company initially recalled only its Mint Leaf chocolate bars on Jan. 12. The company has now broadened the recall to include additional flavors produced during the same time period on the same equipment.

The affected products were sold nationwide online and through select retail stores beginning Sept. 15, 2025. The recalled items can be identified by specific lot numbers printed on the back of the packaging and inner flow wrap.

The expanded recall includes the following products and lot codes:

• Earl Grey (#025258)

• Lavender Rose (#025259, #025260)

• Mango Chili (#025283)

• Mint Leaf (#025255)

• Mixed Berry (#025275, #025281, #025337)

• Mulberry Fennel (#025345)

• Pecan Date (#025261, #025265, #025267, #025268, #025339, #025343)

• Pure Dark Minis (#025273)

What to do

Consumers who purchased the affected products should not eat them, but safely discard them or return them for a refund. According to the company, the contamination risk was first identified after routine third-party testing by a contract manufacturer detected Salmonella in finished products. Spring & Mulberry said the recall was expanded in consultation with the FDA because Salmonella contamination can be intermittent and difficult to detect.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause more severe complications.

The company said there have been no confirmed illnesses or adverse health effects linked to the recalled chocolate bars. Consumers are advised not to consume the products and instead discard them or contact the company for a refund or replacement.

7-hydroxymitragynine is an alkaloid found in kratom

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• 7-hydroxymitragynine, a potent compound derived from kratom, is being sold in convenience stores and smoke shops nationwide under names such as legal opioid and gas station heroin.

• Health experts warn the substance can cause addiction, respiratory depression, seizures, and potentially fatal overdoses, especially when combined with other drugs.

• Regulators and lawmakers are increasingly targeting high-potency products that contain concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine, arguing they pose risks far beyond traditional kratom leaf products.

A powerful psychoactive substance legally soldin gas stations, vape shops, and online is drawing growing scrutiny from health officials, who warn it may represent a new public health threat in the rapidly expanding supplement market.

The compound, known as 7-hydroxymitragynine often shortened to 7-OH is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia. But unlike traditional kratom powders or teas, many newer products contain concentrated forms of the chemical that experts say can act more like a potent opioid than an herbal supplement.

The products are often marketed with names such as legal morphine, 7-OH tabs, or gas station heroin, reflecting both their availability and their powerful effects.

"Scientific evidence shows that kratom carries real risks that are often downplayed or misunderstood, said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, in an April post on The Conversation.

Kratoms rising use over the past decade coincided with the opioid crisis, as people searched for alternatives to prescription opioids. Because kratom comes from a plant and is marketed as natural, many people wrongly assumed it was safe. That belief helped fuel its use. Today, about 1.7 million Americans report using kratom each year.

What is 7-hydroxymitragynine?

Kratom leaves contain dozens of alkaloids, but two compounds are primarily responsible for the plants psychoactive effects: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

While mitragynine is the dominant alkaloid in natural kratom leaf, 7-hydroxymitragynine is significantly more potent at opioid receptors in the brain. Scientists say it binds to the same receptors targeted by prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

In traditional kratom products, the amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine is typically very small. However, manufacturers are increasingly producing concentrated extracts or synthesized versions that dramatically increase potency.

Some products are sold in tablet, gummy, or liquid shot form and may contain doses far exceeding what naturally occurs in kratom leaves.

Rising reports of harm

Poison control centers and emergency physicians have reported increasing cases involving kratom extracts and concentrated 7-OH products. Reported symptoms include rapid heart rate, agitation, severe sedation, vomiting, seizures, and respiratory depression.

Addiction specialists warn that consumers may underestimate the risks because the products are often sold alongside energy drinks, nicotine vapes, and dietary supplements rather than behind pharmacy counters.

Health experts are particularly concerned about young adults and people recovering from opioid addiction who may view the products as a safer alternative to illicit opioids. Some users report developing tolerance quickly, leading them to consume larger amounts. Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, muscle aches, nausea,and depression.

Regulatory gray area

Federal regulators have struggled to keep pace with the rapidly evolving market.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned consumers against using kratom products, citing concerns about contamination, addiction,and toxicity. However, kratom remains legal at the federal level, though several states and municipalities have imposed restrictions or bans.

Concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products occupy an even murkier space. Some lawmakers argue the products exploit loopholes in supplement laws while delivering opioid-like effects.

Several states are considering legislation that would specifically restrict or ban synthetic or highly concentrated 7-OH products while still allowing traditional kratom leaf products.

Industry analysts say artificial intelligence will soon make PCs more expensive

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Artificial intelligence is increasing demand for memory chips, processors, and other components used in both AI data centers and consumer PCs.

• Analysts and manufacturers warn laptop and desktop prices could rise between 10% and 40% over the next two years as shortages worsen.

• Budget computers may be hit hardest, with some low-cost models disappearing entirely as manufacturers prioritize higher-margin devices.

Artificial intelligence may soon make buying a personal computer significantly more expensive, as the global rush to build AI infrastructure strains supplies of the same chips and memory used in everyday laptops and desktops.

Industry analysts say soaring demand from AI data centers is creating shortages of DRAM memory, NAND flash storage, and advanced processors, pushing up costs throughout the PC supply chain. Major computer makers including Dell, Lenovo, and HPhave already warned customers about higher prices and tightening inventories.

The trend marks a dramatic reversal from decades of falling computer prices, when improvements in manufacturing steadily made PCs cheaper and more powerful each year. Analysts quoted by CBS News said the cost of computers, software,and accessories has recently risen at the fastest sustained pace in decades.

Enormous computing appetite

At the center of the problem is AIs enormous appetite for computing power. Companies including Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon are spending billions of dollars building massive AI data centers packed with specialized processors and high-speed memory. Those systems require many of the same components used in consumer electronics.

Manufacturers have increasingly shifted production toward lucrative AI hardware, leaving fewer chips available for traditional consumer products. According to reports from Toms Hardware and The Guardian, memory makers such as Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory used in AI servers instead of lower-cost memory for consumer devices.

Research firms cited by PCWorld said some PC makers are preparing for price increases of 15% to 20%, while other analysts predict mainstream laptop prices could climb as much as 40% if shortages intensify.

Budget computers may see the sharpest rise

Budget computers appear especially vulnerable. The Guardian reported that laptops selling for under $500 could become increasingly rare, because rising memory and storage costs leave manufacturers with little profit margin.

Some companies have already begun adjusting product lineups. Apple recently discontinued its lowest-priced Mac mini after memory costs surged, raising the entry price for the product by $200.

The shortages are also reshaping the broader PC market. Motherboard manufacturers, including Asus and MSI, are reportedly facing steep sales declines as consumers postpone upgrades amid higher prices and limited component availability.

Economists say AIs influence extends beyond computers themselves. Goldman Sachs recently identified AI-driven hardware demand as one of several new inflationary pressures affecting consumers, alongside rising electricity use from energy-hungry data centers and higher prices for AI-enabled software services.

Industry experts believe the pressure may continue for years. Several reports project that memory shortages could persist through 2027 as semiconductor manufacturers race to expand production capacity.

For consumers, the result could mean paying substantially more for new PCs, while getting fewer upgrades in storage and memory than in previous years. Analysts say buyers may increasingly turn to refurbished machines or delay replacing older systemsas the AI boom reshapes the economics of personal computing.