Consumer News: Here are the vehicles experts say provide the best fuel economy

But prices are at the highest level since 2022 and may not have peaked

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The national average price for regular gasoline stood at about $4.52 a gallon on Monday, May 18, according to AAA, with California topping $6 a gallon while some Southern states remained near $4.

• Analysts say geopolitical tensions, strong global demand for U.S. fuel exports and seasonal refinery pressures are keeping prices elevated heading into summer.

• Industry experts expect continued volatility through the summer, though forecasts for later in 2026 still point to lower prices if supply disruptions ease.

AAA, which tracks gasoline prices in all 50 states, reports the national average price of regular gas is starting the week at $4.51 a gallon, the same as the day before. Its actually a penny lower than last Monday.

But todays average price is more than $1.50 per gallon higher than the day before the start of the Iran war. Industry analysts warn that relief may be limited as the summer driving season gets underway.

Prices vary dramatically by region, with California averaging more than $6.15 a gallon, while Texas and several Gulf Coast states were still below $4.

The increase reflects a combination of geopolitical instability, seasonal refinery issues and robust international demand for U.S. energy products.

Iran war was a game-changer

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said global supply disruptions have transformed what was expected to be a relatively calm year for fuel prices into a volatile market.

The same oil we rely on can be moved anywhere in the world, De Haan told Business Insider, noting that record U.S. exports are contributing to tighter domestic supplies.

Industry analysts say tensions affecting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have intensified concerns about global crude supplies, pushing up oil and gasoline futures. Refiners are also transitioning to more expensive summer fuel blends, while maintenance and outages at some U.S. refineries have tightened gasoline inventories.

West Coast feels the most pain

The Energy Information Administrations latest fuel update showed particularly steep prices on the West Coast, where California gasoline averaged more than $7.22 a gallon in some regions. Diesel prices also remain elevated nationally, averaging about $5.64 a gallon.

Analysts warn that diesel prices could become an even larger economic problem because diesel fuels trucking, rail transportation and agriculture. MarketWatch reported that diesel prices are nearing record highs, raising concerns about broader inflation pressures as transportation costs work their way through the economy.

Despite the recent spike, some forecasters still believe prices could ease later in the year if geopolitical tensions stabilize and refinery operations normalize.

GasBuddys annual outlook released earlier this year projected a 2026 national average gasoline price below $3 a gallon, though that forecast was issued before the latest Middle East disruptions intensified.

The products were sold in 17 states

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Straus Family Creamery has recalled select flavors and sizes of its organic ice cream because of the possible presence of metal fragments.

• The affected products were distributed in 17 states beginning May 4, according to the FDA.

• Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled products and instead discard them and request a replacement voucher.

Straus Family Creamery has recalled several flavors of its Organic Super Premium Ice Cream after discovering the potential presence of foreign metal material in certain production runs, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Petaluma, Calif.-based dairy company said the recall involves limited lots of pint and quart containers distributed to retailers in 17 states beginning May 4. No injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

The recalled products include specific production runs of Vanilla Bean, Strawberry, Cookie Dough, Dutch Chocolate and Mint Chip ice cream varieties. The products can be identified by their best by dates printed on the bottom of the containers.

Affected products

Affected products include:

• Vanilla Bean pint containers with best-by dates of Dec. 23 and Dec. 28, 2026

• Strawberry quart containers with a best-by date of Dec. 24, 2026

• Strawberry pint containers with a best-by date of Dec. 25, 2026

• Cookie Dough pint containers with a best-by date of Dec. 26, 2026

• Dutch Chocolate quart containers with a best-by date of Dec. 27, 2026

• Mint Chip pint containers with a best-by date of Dec. 30, 2026

Straus Family Creamery said it notified the FDA and is working with retailers to remove the affected products from store shelves. The company said the recall was initiated out of an abundance of caution and that corrective actions have been implemented.

Consumers are advised not to return the recalled ice cream to stores. Instead, they should discard the products and submit a request through the companys website to receive a replacement voucher.

Research suggests weight-loss operations may offer stronger long-term cardiovascular benefits

• A new Mayo Clinic study compared bariatric surgery with GLP-1 weight-loss medications in adults with obesity.

• Both treatments improved cardiovascular health, but surgery was linked to larger reductions in long-term heart disease risk.

• Researchers say the findings support a more personalized approach to obesity treatment rather than viewing medications and surgery as competing options.

For years, bariatric surgery was often seen as a last-resort option for people struggling with obesity. But as newer GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have surged in popularity, doctors and researchers have been taking a closer look at how these treatments compare especially when it comes to long-term health, not just the number on the scale.

Now, a new study from Mayo Clinic suggests that while both approaches can improve cardiovascular health, bariatric surgery may provide a greater reduction in long-term heart disease risk. The research, published in the journal Annals of Surgery, focused on adults with obesity and examined how different treatment approaches affected estimated cardiovascular risk over time.

"This study reinforces that obesity treatment should be viewed as a strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk, not just body weight," researcher Omar Ghanem, M.D. said in a news release.

"It supports a more individualized, patient-centered approach where treatment decisions are based on long-term health impact."

The study

The researchers analyzed outcomes from 812 adults with obesity who were treated between 2020 and 2023 within a large U.S. health system.

Of those participants, 579 underwent metabolic or bariatric surgery, while 233 received GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.

Rather than simply measuring pounds lost, investigators looked at changes in estimated cardiovascular disease risk, including both 10-year and lifetime risk calculations. They also tracked changes in body weight after treatment. The study was observational, meaning researchers reviewed real-world patient outcomes instead of assigning participants to treatments in a randomized trial.

What the study found

According to the findings, both treatments improved cardiovascular risk profiles, but the changes were more substantial among people who underwent surgery.

Lifetime cardiovascular risk declined by 8.6% in the surgery group, compared with 1.7% among patients treated with GLP-1 medications.

Researchers also found that surgery produced greater overall weight loss. On average, patients who had bariatric surgery lost nearly 28% of their body weight, while those taking medications lost about 11%.

The study also found that larger amounts of weight loss were closely tied to greater reductions in cardiovascular risk, particularly among patients who lost more than 20% of their body weight after surgery.

Researchers emphasized that the findings should not be interpreted as an argument against medications. Instead, they say both treatments have an important role in obesity care.

"Rather than thinking of these treatments as competing options, we should view them as complementary tools," says Dr. Ghanem. "Both surgery and medications play important roles in reducing long-term cardiovascular risk, and the right approach depends on the individual patient."

The authors noted that additional long-term studies are still needed to evaluate outcomes such as heart attacks, strokes, survival rates, and how durable medication-related weight loss remains over time.

Research suggests weight-loss operations may offer stronger long-term cardiovascular benefits

• A new Mayo Clinic study compared bariatric surgery with GLP-1 weight-loss medications in adults with obesity.

• Both treatments improved cardiovascular health, but surgery was linked to larger reductions in long-term heart disease risk.

• Researchers say the findings support a more personalized approach to obesity treatment rather than viewing medications and surgery as competing options.

For years, bariatric surgery was often seen as a last-resort option for people struggling with obesity. But as newer GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have surged in popularity, doctors and researchers have been taking a closer look at how these treatments compare especially when it comes to long-term health, not just the number on the scale.

Now, a new study from Mayo Clinic suggests that while both approaches can improve cardiovascular health, bariatric surgery may provide a greater reduction in long-term heart disease risk. The research, published in the journal Annals of Surgery, focused on adults with obesity and examined how different treatment approaches affected estimated cardiovascular risk over time.

"This study reinforces that obesity treatment should be viewed as a strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk, not just body weight," researcher Omar Ghanem, M.D. said in a news release.

"It supports a more individualized, patient-centered approach where treatment decisions are based on long-term health impact."

The study

The researchers analyzed outcomes from 812 adults with obesity who were treated between 2020 and 2023 within a large U.S. health system.

Of those participants, 579 underwent metabolic or bariatric surgery, while 233 received GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.

Rather than simply measuring pounds lost, investigators looked at changes in estimated cardiovascular disease risk, including both 10-year and lifetime risk calculations. They also tracked changes in body weight after treatment. The study was observational, meaning researchers reviewed real-world patient outcomes instead of assigning participants to treatments in a randomized trial.

What the study found

According to the findings, both treatments improved cardiovascular risk profiles, but the changes were more substantial among people who underwent surgery.

Lifetime cardiovascular risk declined by 8.6% in the surgery group, compared with 1.7% among patients treated with GLP-1 medications.

Researchers also found that surgery produced greater overall weight loss. On average, patients who had bariatric surgery lost nearly 28% of their body weight, while those taking medications lost about 11%.

The study also found that larger amounts of weight loss were closely tied to greater reductions in cardiovascular risk, particularly among patients who lost more than 20% of their body weight after surgery.

Researchers emphasized that the findings should not be interpreted as an argument against medications. Instead, they say both treatments have an important role in obesity care.

"Rather than thinking of these treatments as competing options, we should view them as complementary tools," says Dr. Ghanem. "Both surgery and medications play important roles in reducing long-term cardiovascular risk, and the right approach depends on the individual patient."

The authors noted that additional long-term studies are still needed to evaluate outcomes such as heart attacks, strokes, survival rates, and how durable medication-related weight loss remains over time.