Consumer News: Household debt increased in the first quarter, but credit card debt declined

That could put even more upward pressure on gas prices

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned that global oil shortages are beginning to emerge as the Iran war disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

• Energy executives and analysts say prolonged supply disruptions could trigger higher gasoline prices, inflation, and slower economic growth worldwide.

• Consumers may soon feel the impact through rising fuel costs, more expensive airline tickets, and higher prices for everyday goods transported by truck, ship, and air.

One of the immediate effects of the Iran war was a sharp rise in gasoline prices. But one industry executive is warning that things could get worse.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth is warning that the global economy could be headed toward a new energy shock as the war involving Iran continues to disrupt oil shipments through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Wirth said the world is starting to experience physical shortages of oil as supplies tighten and strategic reserves are increasingly tapped to stabilize markets.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, handles roughly 20% of the worlds crude oil shipments. Continued disruptions in the region have raised fears of a prolonged supply crunch similar to the oil crises of the 1970s. Wirth said the economic impact could ultimately rival those historic energy shocks.

We will start to see physical shortages, Wirth said, according to multiple reports, adding that economies are going to have to slow as demand adjusts to constrained supply.

Most likely to affect Asia

Industry analysts say Asia is likely to feel the effects first because many countries there rely heavily on Persian Gulf oil. Europe could follow if disruptions continue, particularly in jet fuel and diesel markets.

Shortages are less likely in the U.S. But even though the United States is a net exporter of crude oil, American consumers are still expected to face higher prices because oil is traded globally.

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $4.51 a gallon. It was $2.98 on February 28, the day before the war started.

Supplies are falling fast

The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil inventories are falling at one of the fastest rates on record. Some analysts estimate that worldwide stockpiles have dropped by hundreds of millions of barrels since the conflict escalated.

For weeks, consumers have seen the impact at the pump. National average gasoline prices have climbed sharply over the past several weeks, while jet fuel prices have surged even faster, putting pressure on airlines and shipping companies.

Economists warn that rising energy costs often spread quickly through the broader economy because fuel affects transportation, manufacturing, and food distribution. That could mean higher grocery prices, increased delivery costs and more expensive travel in the months ahead.

Facebook and Instagram have come under increasing pressure

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Plaintiffs in multiple lawsuits allege Meta knowingly profits from scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.

• Consumer advocates and regulators claim fraudulent ads have led to significant financial losses for users, particularly older Americans.

• Meta says it actively removes scam content and invests heavily in fraud detection technology, but critics argue enforcement remains inadequate.

An increasing number of scammersreach their victims on social media, and at least one platform is facing mounting legal pressure from consumers, advocacy groups, and regulators. Multiple lawsuits have claimed that Meta has failed to stop scammers from using Facebook and Instagram advertisements to defraud users.

The lawsuits, filed in several jurisdictions over the past year, accuse Meta of allowing fraudulent advertisements to proliferate on its platforms while continuing to profit from advertising revenue generated by bad actors. Plaintiffs argue that Metas advertising systems inadequately screen advertisers and that the company ignored repeated warnings about scam activity.

One of the latest actions is a suit by Santa Clara County, Calif. The action, filed by County Counsel Tony LoPresti, claims that the company has profited from "a vast ecosystem of scam ads" that have defrauded senior citizens and other vulnerable people.

In April, the Consumer Federation of Americasued Meta, alleging the company misled users about scam advertisements.

Most common

Many of the complaints center on investment , fake celebrity endorsements, cryptocurrency schemes, and fraudulent online storefronts that allegedly duped users into handing over money or personal information. Some plaintiffs claim they lost thousands of dollars after clicking on advertisements that appeared legitimate because they were hosted on Facebook or Instagram.

Consumer protection advocates say the issue has become increasingly serious as scammers exploit Metas sophisticated targeting tools to reach vulnerable users. Older adults, in particular, have reportedly been frequent targets of fraudulent financial advertisements.

The legal actions come amid broader scrutiny of large technology companies and their responsibility for harmful or deceptive content distributed through automated advertising systems. Regulators in several countries have been examining whether social media companies should bear greater liability for paid scam promotions appearing on their platforms.

Metas response

In response, Meta has defended its anti-fraud efforts, saying it removes millions of scam-related accounts and advertisements every year. The company says it uses artificial intelligence, human moderators, and partnerships with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to identify and block fraudulent activity.

Scammers are relentless and constantly evolving their tactics, Meta said in a statement responding to criticism. We continue to invest substantial resources into protecting users and preventing fraudulent ads from appearing on our platforms.

However, critics argue that the companys moderation efforts remain reactive rather than preventive. Some lawsuits allege that scammers were able to repeatedly purchase new advertisements even after earlier campaigns had been flagged or removed.

Legal experts say the cases could test the extent to which online platforms can be held responsible for advertisements created by third parties. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has historically shielded internet companies from liability for user-generated content, but plaintiffs contend that paid advertising may fall into a different legal category because platforms directly profit from distributing the material.

If courts allow the cases to proceed, the litigation could have significant implications for the digital advertising industry and potentially force stricter verification standards for online advertisers.

The lawsuits also reflect growing public frustration over online fraud, which has surged in recent years. According to federal consumer protection agencies, Americans lost billions of dollars to internet last year, with social media platforms increasingly cited as common points of contact between scammers and victims.

The disease has already been linked to multiple deaths and several confirmed infections

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Andes strain of hantavirus is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person, making it far more alarming to public health officials than typical rodent-borne hantaviruses.

• An outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has been linked to at least 11 confirmed or probable cases and three deaths across multiple countries.

• Health authorities say the overall public risk remains low, but the long incubation period and international travel involved in the outbreak have triggered a global tracing and quarantine effort.

An outbreak of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus aboard an expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has prompted an international public health response, with officials racing to track passengers scattered across more than 20 countries.

The outbreak, centered on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, has already been linked to multiple deaths and several confirmed infections. What makes the situation especially concerning is that the virus involved Andes hantavirus is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading directly between humans.

Health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have all issued alerts or launched monitoring efforts tied to the incident.

What is Andes hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses typically spread to humans through contact with infected rodents, especially exposure to rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. In the Americas, hantavirus infections can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness that can rapidly progress to respiratory failure.

Most hantavirus strains are not known to spread between people. Andes hantavirus first identified in Argentina in the 1990s is the exception. Researchers have documented limited person-to-person transmission in previous outbreaks in South America, generally involving close and prolonged contact with infected individuals.

According to the CDC, transmission typically requires exposure to respiratory secretions or other bodily fluids from someone who is already symptomatic.

Symptoms can initially resemble the flu, including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, patients develop pneumonia-like symptoms and acute respiratory distress. The fatality rate for serious hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases is estimated at roughly 38%.

There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the disease.

Why the cruise ship outbreak is worrisome

The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius is unusual for several reasons.

First, cruise ships provide the kind of close, prolonged contact that could facilitate the limited human-to-human spread associated with Andes hantavirus. Passengers often share dining spaces, cabins, tours, and ventilation systems for days or weeks at a time.

Second, the ship carried passengers and crew from 23 countries, greatly complicating efforts to trace potential exposures after some travelers disembarked before the outbreak was recognized.

WHO officials say symptoms among infected passengers developed between early and late April, but hantavirus was not confirmed until early May.

That delay matters because Andes hantavirus has a long incubation period anywhere from four days to six weeks, and in some cases longer.

As a result, health authorities are now monitoring travelers across multiple continents for signs of illness. Some passengers have been transferred to specialized quarantine or biocontainment facilities in the United States and Europe.

The outbreak has also triggered concern because investigators have not found clear evidence of rodents aboard the ship, raising questions about whether at least some transmission occurred between people rather than directly from infected animals.

What its not

Despite widespread attention and comparisons on social media, infectious disease experts stress that Andes hantavirus is far less transmissible than COVID-19.

WHO officials and epidemiologists note that the virus does not appear to spread easily through casual contact or airborne transmission in the same way the coronavirus does. Instead, transmission generally requires sustained close interaction.

Public health agencies currently assess the broader risk to the general population as low.

The product tested positive for bacteria contamination

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Pharmacal has recalled one lot of MG217 Multi-Symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream after testing found contamination with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

• The recalled product was sold nationwide online and in retail stores, including Amazon and H-E-B.

• Consumers are urged to stop using the cream immediately and discard it, although no adverse events have been reported so far.

Pharmacal has issued a nationwide recall of one lot of its MG217 Multi-Symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream after the product tested positive for contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria commonly associated with staph infections.

The recall affects six-ounce tubes bearing lot number 1024088 and an expiration date of November 2026, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The cream, marketed for relief of eczema symptoms including itching, redness, dryness and irritation, was sold nationwide through retail outlets and online sellers, including Amazon and H-E-B.

FDA warns of serious infections

FDA officials warned that use of contaminated topical products can lead to localized skin infections and, in some cases, more serious or life-threatening complications. People with weakened immune systems, compromised skin barriers, burns or underlying skin disorders may face a higher risk of severe infection.

Pharmacal said it has not received any reports of adverse reactions linked to the recalled cream.

MG217 products are widely used for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema symptoms and include creams, ointments and shampoos containing ingredients such as coal tar or colloidal oatmeal.

Consumers who purchased the recalled eczema cream should stop using it immediately and dispose of the product. The company advises anyone experiencing symptoms or complications after use to contact a healthcare provider.

Customers with questions about the recall can contact Pharmacal at 800-558-6614 or by email at aimho@pharmacalway.com.