Consumer News: Insurance denials for brand-name drugs climbed sharply over six years, study finds

Dollar General CEO says financially strained consumers are watching every penny

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos says persistent inflation and volatile fuel prices are squeezing the companys low-income customers.

• Shoppers are visiting stores more often but purchasing fewer items during each trip, a pattern associated with financial distress.

• Consumers earning more than $100,000 are also shopping at Dollar General more regularly as they look for lower prices.

Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos is offering a sobering assessment of the American consumer: Low-income households remain under intense financial pressure, while a growing number of higher earners are also searching for bargains.

Speaking during the discount retailers second-quarter earnings call, Vasos said Dollar Generals core customers are still employed and have seen some income gains. But those gains are being swallowed up by persistent inflation and volatile gasoline prices.

The consumer obviously is strained, Vasos told analysts. He said gasoline prices approaching or exceeding $4 a gallon put additional pressure on household budgets, particularly among Dollar Generals lower-income shoppers.

The strain is showing up in how people shop. Customers are coming to Dollar General more frequently but spending less on each visit, Vasos said.

Instead of making large trips to stock up on food and household supplies, consumers are buying only what they need for the next few days. Vasos said customers are watching every penny because they are uncertain about what the following week may bring.

That behavior can be a sign that households are managing their purchases around paychecks, government benefits or the remaining money in their bank accounts. Smaller, more frequent purchases may help families control immediate spending, but they can also prevent them from taking advantage of lower unit prices on larger packages.

Financial pressure spreads to higher earners

Dollar Generals observations are not limited to its traditional low-income customers.

Vasos said the company continues to attract middle- and upper-middle-income shoppers, including households earning at least $100,000 a year. Those customers initially visited Dollar General only occasionally, but they are now shopping there on a more regular basis.

They are also buying more than groceries and household necessities. The company said higher-income customers are purchasing seasonal merchandise, toys, home products and other discretionary goods.

The trend suggests that concerns about the cost of living have spread beyond the lowest income groups. Even consumers with relatively high salaries appear to be comparing prices more carefully and shifting some purchases to discount stores.

Dollar Generals more than 2,000 products priced at $1 or less have become especially important. Its Value Valley assortment, consisting of more than 600 rotating $1 products, posted comparable-sales growth of more than 16% during the quarter. The company plans to expand its $1 offerings during the fall and holiday shopping seasons.

A warning signand a business opportunity

The consumer pressure has been good for Dollar Generals sales. The retailer reported that second-quarter net sales increased 5.2% from a year earlier to $11.3 billion. Same-store sales rose 3.5%, including a 2% increase in customer traffic and a 1.5% increase in the average transaction.

Net income climbed nearly 34% to $550.3 million. The company raised its full-year forecast and now expects net sales to grow between 4% and 4.3%.

The results present a contradiction: Dollar General is performing well partly because many of its customers are not.

Its sales provide only one view of the economy, since the chain disproportionately serves rural communities and households with modest incomes. Still, its extensive customer base and more than 21,000 stores give the company a close-up view of day-to-day consumer behavior.

The picture described by Vasos is not one of collapsing demand. People are still working and spending. But they are becoming more cautious, buying in smaller quantities and increasingly choosing stores and products based on price.

Manufacturers dispute that the drugs caused their injuries.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Patients are suing Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging their diabetes and weight-loss drugs caused sudden, sometimes permanent vision loss.

• European regulators classify the eye condition NAION as a very rare side effect of semaglutide, the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

• The companies dispute the allegations, and questions about causation and adequate warnings remain central to the litigation.

Patients who say they suffered sudden vision loss after taking popular diabetes and weight-loss medications are pursuing lawsuits against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging the manufacturers failed to adequately warn them about a potentially devastating eye condition.

The lawsuits concern nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, which occurs when inadequate blood flow damages the optic nerve. The resulting loss of vision can be permanent.

Federal cases have been consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before U.S. District Judge Karen Spencer Marston. The litigation encompasses allegations involving Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Trulicity, Mounjaro and Zepbound, according to a July 2 court order.

The medications do not all contain the same active ingredient, an important distinction when evaluating evidence about potential risks.

What the suits claim

Plaintiffs allege failures to warn, defective design and breaches of warranties. Consolidating their cases allows common pretrial issues to be handled together; it does not establish that the drugs caused their injuries. The December 2025 transfer order created a separate proceeding for vision-loss claims, distinct from litigation over gastrointestinal injuries.

In July, Marston ordered early evidence gathering and legal arguments on whether the medications can cause NAION and on issues involving warning adequacy and federal law. Her order reported more than 130 cases in the proceeding at that time.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny the allegations and dispute that the evidence establishes a causal connection, according to The Wall Street Journals September 19 report.

The regulatory picture adds another dimension to the lawsuits.

Regulatory issues

In June 2025, the European Medicines Agencys safety committee concluded that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide. Its review covered clinical trials, observational studies, postmarketing reports and other evidence.

Several large studies suggested approximately twice the risk among adults with Type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide compared with those not taking it. In absolute terms, that translated into approximately one additional case per 10,000 people treated for one year, according to the EMA.

That finding applies specifically to semaglutide and should not automatically be extended to every medication named in the lawsuits.

Scientific uncertainty also remains. A 2026 consensus statement from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society describes a possible small increase in risk, while noting that some studies found no association. Much of the evidence comes from observational research, which has limitations in determining cause and effect. The groups recommend individualized discussions about starting, continuing or discontinuing treatment.

For patients, the immediate concern is recognizing symptoms. The EMA advises anyone experiencing sudden vision loss or rapidly worsening eyesight while taking semaglutide to contact a doctor without delay. It recommends stopping semaglutide if NAION is confirmed.

Patients concerned about the lawsuits should discuss their individual risks and treatment benefits with their prescriber. Sudden changes in vision warrant prompt medical evaluation.

Wendys largest franchisee files for bankruptcy as sales slump

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Meritage Hospitality Group, one of Wendys largest U.S. franchisees, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while operating 314 Wendys restaurants.

• The franchisee blamed falling sales, high beef costs, heavy discounting and other pressures that drove its restaurant-level earnings sharply lower.

• The restaurants are expected to remain open during the restructuring, but the bankruptcy could result in additional closures or sales to other franchise operators.

Wendys is facing another challenge in its efforts to revive its struggling U.S. business: one of its biggest franchise operators has filed for bankruptcy.

Meritage Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 protection Sept. 17 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. The Grand Rapids-based company operates 314 Wendys restaurants in 15 states, representing about 5% of the burger chains U.S. restaurant system.

Meritage employs about 9,000 people and says it intends to keep its restaurants operating and continue paying employees while it restructures. The company is seeking debtor-in-possession financing to fund operations during the bankruptcy process.

But the filing is potentially significant for Wendys because it provides a glimpse at the financial pressures facing the people who actually operate the chains restaurants.

Profits fell sharply

Meritage's financial problems intensified as sales and restaurant profitability deteriorated.

Its revenue fell 7.6% in fiscal 2025, from $668.8 million to $617.7 million, while same-store sales dropped 7.2%. The company went from an $8 million profit in 2024 to a $31.5 million loss in 2025.

Store-level earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization fell 48% in 2025, pushing restaurant profitability to its lowest level in about 30 years.

Conditions continued to deteriorate this year. During the six months ending June 28, Meritage's revenue declined 14% from the same period a year earlier, while same-store sales dropped 8.3%.

The franchisee cited several factors, including declining customer traffic, discounting, marketing issues and rising food costs. Beef was particularly painful: Meritage said its average beef cost jumped 18.9% from a year earlier during the three months ending June 28.

Wendys is also owed millions

The bankruptcy creates a direct financial issue for Wendys.

A Wendys affiliate is Meritage's largest unsecured creditor, with a claim of about $24.9 million in deferred franchise fees, according to bankruptcy reporting.

The dispute may be broader. QSR Magazine reported that Wendys sent Meritage a notice on Sept. 16 purporting to terminate its franchise agreements and lease occupancy rights. Meritage disputes whether the termination is effective and maintains that the franchise agreements remain part of its bankruptcy estate.

That dispute could become important in determining what happens to hundreds of restaurants.

What happens to the restaurants?

For now, consumers shouldn't assume their local Wendys is about to close just because it is operated by Meritage.

Chapter 11 is designed to allow a business to continue operating while reorganizing its finances. Meritage says it intends to do that.

But its Wendys portfolio has already become smaller. Meritage has closed about 60 underperforming Wendys locations since late 2025 as part of an effort to improve profitability.

Bankruptcy could lead to more changes. Possible outcomes include closing additional weak restaurants, selling locations or entire markets to other franchisees, reducing Meritage's overall Wendys footprint or restructuring its debt so it can continue operating a smaller group of restaurants.

A warning sign for Wendys

Perhaps the bigger issue is what Meritage's bankruptcy says about Wendys overall franchise system.

Franchised restaurant chains rely heavily on the financial health of their operators. Wendys collects royalties and other fees, but franchisees generally shoulder restaurant-level expenses such as food, wages, rent, utilities and debt.

That means franchisees can feel the impact of declining traffic and rising costs particularly quickly.

Meritage's troubles come as Wendys itself is dealing with weakening sales. U.S. same-restaurant sales have declined as the company competes for increasingly price-conscious fast-food customers. Restaurant Dive reported that Wendys is pursuing a turnaround under CEO Robert Wright.

Meritage's bankruptcy raises the question of whether other Wendys franchisees are encountering similar pressure.

A new analysis found prices moving up and down frequently at major online retailers

• Amazon recorded more than 116,000 price changes: This is based on a new analysis among 12 products tracked during 2025.

• Price changes aren't always bad news: About half of Amazon's tracked changes were price decreases.

• Don't assume today's price is a good one: Checking price history, comparing retailers, and setting price alerts can help you avoid overpaying.

See something you want on Amazon? You might want to think twice before immediately clicking "Buy Now," as the price may not stay put.

A new analysis from web data company Decodo tracked prices at more than 120 e-commerce websites and found frequent price changes at some of America's biggest retailers.

Amazon led the list with 116,509 price changes during 2025, followed by Walmart with 68,926, Kroger with 55,601, Target with 39,386, and Best Buy with 30,188.

But there's an important detail behind those eye-popping numbers. Decodo didn't track every product sold by these retailers, instead it selected 12 products from each. They used six higher-priced items and six lower-priced. Then they checked their prices every four hours throughout the year.

And prices weren't simply going up; they definitely fluctuated both ways.

At Amazon, 49.8% of the changes were increases while 50.2% were decreases. That means frequent price changes is good news for consumers willing to do a little homework as it creates opportunities to save.

Here are five ways to take advantage of constantly changing online prices.

1. Check the price history

A big red "SALE" banner doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a great deal.

Before making a significant purchase, look up what the product has sold for previously.

Price-tracking websites and browser extensions can show whether a $299 item regularly drops to $249, for example. If it does, that supposed $279 sale suddenly doesn't look so impressive.

Pro tip: Pay attention to the lowest recent price, not just the manufacturer's suggested retail price. An inflated comparison price can make an ordinary price look like a bargain.

2. Set a price alert and let the deal come to you

If you don't need something today, don't keep checking Amazon to see whether the price has dropped. Amazon can do it for you with Alexa for Shopping its built-in AI shopping assistant.

Here's how to set a target-price alert:

1. Open the Amazon Shopping app or Amazon.com and sign into your account.

2. Find the exact product you want and open its product page.

3. Open Alexa for Shopping. In the Amazon app, look for the Alexa for Shopping icon near the bottom-right of the product page. On a computer, you can access Alexa for Shopping from Amazon's top navigation.

4. Tell it the price you're willing to pay. For example, type: "Alert me when this drops to $75."

5. Amazon will regularly check the item's price and notify you if it reaches your target.

Not sure what price to choose? Take a peak at the item's history first. Specifically, look for "Price History" near the current price or ask Alexa for Shopping, "What's the price history?"

Amazons tool can show 30-, 90- and 365-day price histories on hundreds of millions of products.

Pro tip: Let the price history set your target. If the price history shows a $200 item has dropped to $150 several times during the past year, consider setting your alert around $150 instead of jumping at the first $10 discount.

3. Compare the exact same product elsewhere

Amazon having the lowest price yesterday doesn't mean it has the lowest price today.

Before buying, copy the product's exact model number and search Walmart, Target, Best Buy, or the manufacturer's website. And keep in mind that model numbers absolutely matter. Two products can look nearly identical while having slightly different features, making a price comparison misleading.

And be sure to compare the final price, including shipping, along with any membership requirements and any other charges.

4. Don't let urgency make the decision for you

Online retailers are very good at making shoppers feel like they need to act now. Limited-time sales, countdown clocks, and low-stock warnings can create pressure to buy before you've checked whether the deal is actually good.

The Decodo data offers a useful reminder: prices can move in both directions.

If the purchase isn't urgent, give yourself a cooling-off period. For any unplanned online purchase over $100, wait 24 hours and check the price again before buying. During that time, compare prices elsewhere and look at its price history. You can probably save money or even decide you didn't need it at all.

Pro tip: Check the price while logged out. Before making a big purchase, open the product in a private/incognito browser window and compare what you see while logged into your account. It takes 30 seconds and can reveal differences in offers, coupons, or other promotions.

5. Check sites that collect Amazon promo codes

Before clicking "Buy Now," take 30 seconds to see if there's a promo code for the product.

Koupon.ai is a deal site that specializes in finding Amazon promo codes and other online discounts. The company says it has discovered more than 300,000 deals and promo codes and uses automated verification and human review to weed out expired codes.

To use it, go to Koupon.ai and search for the product or brand you're considering. You can also filter the site specifically for Amazon promo codes.

If you find one, hit "Copy Code" and Koupon will copy the code and send you to Amazon. At checkout, paste the code into the "Gift cards & promotional codes" box and hit "Apply."

Then check the order total before paying to make sure the discount actually worked.

You can also check sites like DealSeek, Slickdeals, and SimplyCodes for product-specific Amazon codes.

Be sure to not assume the Amazon price shown on the product page is the lowest price you'll pay. Some promo codes aren't reflected in that advertised price and only show their savings after you enter the code at checkout.

Pro tip: Don't just Google "Amazon coupon code." Search the deal sites directly for the exact product or brand you're buying. You'll spend less time clicking expired generic codes and have a better chance of finding a product-specific discount.

New research explores how tiny cell-made particles may reduce brain inflammation and protect memory in experimental models

• Researchers tested whether particles from human placental cells could help protect against Alzheimers-related brain changes.

• In mice, the treatment improved memory performance and reduced certain signs of brain inflammation.

• The findings offer a potential research direction, but the treatment has not been established as safe or effective for people.

Alzheimers disease is often associated with the buildup of proteins in the brain, including amyloid-beta and tau. But inflammation may also play an important role in how the disease develops and progresses.

In a study published in Translational Neurodegeneration, researchers investigated whether tiny particles produced by human placental cells could help protect the brain against Alzheimers-related damage.

These particles, called extracellular vesicles, help cells communicate by carrying biological materials. The researchers focused on vesicles from human amniotic membrane mesenchymal stromal cells, which are found in the membrane surrounding a developing baby.

The goal was to see whether these particles could reduce inflammation, protect connections between brain cells, and help preserve memory.

How the researchers tested the treatment

The team conducted experiments using both mice and human brain cells grown in a laboratory.

For the animal portion, researchers used female mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimers-like brain changes. Starting at three months of age, the mice received the placental cell-derived particles through their noses twice a week until they were nine months old. Another group received saline for comparison.

The researchers then evaluated the mice using memory tests, including tasks that measured whether they recognized familiar objects, remembered where objects had been placed, and navigated a maze.

They also examined brain tissue to measure amyloid-beta levels, inflammation, changes in brain cells, and proteins involved in communication between neurons.

To explore whether the findings might also apply to humans, the researchers tested the particles on laboratory-grown neurons developed from stem cells from people with sporadic Alzheimers disease.

What the findings could mean for consumers

The researchers found that the treatment improved cognitive performance in the mice and lowered amyloid-beta levels in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory. However, it did not change tau, another protein related to Alzheimers.

The treatment also reduced signs of inflammation and increased levels of several proteins associated with brain-cell communication and adaptability.

In the human-cell experiments, the particles helped prevent damage to neuron extensions and restored levels of certain proteins involved in synaptic function, without affecting cell viability.

For consumers, the findings are promising but preliminary. The research suggests that placental cell-derived particles may offer a way to target inflammation and protect brain cells. However, the experiments do not establish that the treatment prevents Alzheimers disease or improves memory in people.

Further research will be needed to determine whether this approach can be safely and effectively developed into a treatment for humans.

These are preclinical results that require further validation in humans and do not yet represent an available therapy for Alzheimer's disease, but they point to a very promising direction: understanding whether some of the mechanisms through which the placenta naturally regulates inflammation and protects tissues could offer new tools for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and, more generally, whether the use of extracellular vesicles represents a new frontier for the treatment of neurological diseases, researcher Claudio Grassi said in a news release.