Consumer Protection

assorted brown and white eggs in cartons

Egg producers agree to settle price-fixing case for $3.3 million and a donation of 53 million eggs

Rita R. Robison / July 4, 2026

Egg producers Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman’s have agreed to a settlement to resolve allegations from 17 attorneys general and

Winco Fireworks recalls aerial cake fireworks and Roman candles due to risks of injury from explosions and burns

Rita R. Robison / July 3, 2026

Aerial cake fireworks Winco Fireworks International is recalling about 87,120 aerial cake firework devices because the fireworks can tip over,

Supreme Court gives Trump the power to fire independent federal regulators

Rita R. Robison / June 29, 2026

In my consumer journalism work, I often write about what federal agencies are doing, or not doing, to help consumers.

Daikin didn’t promptly report that its air conditioner-heat pump had a defect, safety agency says

Rita R. Robison / June 21, 2026

Daikin Comfort Technologies Manufacturing Inc. has agreed to pay an $8.5 million civil penalty to resolve charges that it failed

Best wishes on Flag Day – a day to commemorate the adoption of the American flag

Rita R. Robison / June 14, 2026

Flag Day is June 14 each year, but it’s not an official federal holiday. It’s a day to commemorate the

Giantex recalls lounge chairs after finger amputation

Rita R. Robison / June 12, 2026

Giantex is recalling about 1,155 outdoor lounge chairs following a report of a finger amputation. Consumers can place their fingers

State finance agency charges Bitcoin Depot Operating with overcharging customers

Rita R. Robison / June 12, 2026

Bitcoin Depot Operating’s crypto kiosks charged customers up to 42 percent more than market price and the company profited from

a person wiping a wooden table

Don’t let cleaning companies trick you into a signing up for a high-cost membership program

Rita R. Robison / June 6, 2026

Homeaglow, home cleaning platform, and its two founders have agreed to a settlement with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office,

charming suburban home with greenery

Mortgage assistance relief company misled consumers into paying unlawful upfront fees and didn’t help them with mortgage problems, FTC charges

Rita R. Robison / June 4, 2026

A U.S. district court in California has temporarily halted a mortgage assistance relief operation, which claims it can help people under the

This week's top 10 money tips

1. Start earlier to buy an airline ticket because you need to compare the cost of classes within the plane, too.

2. Check out these tips on what to do to avoid over-spending on your cars or cars.

3. Let the FTC know you don’t like surveillance pricing. Prices for products and services need to change based upon supply and demand, not people’s web surfing habits or buying history.

4. Take a look at these seven household expenses, in addition to gasoline, that may rise when oil stays above $100 a barrel including groceries, package and food deliveries, airfares, heating and electricity, household products and clothing, and home repairs and construction.

5. Check out these tips on how to reduce your utility bills in addition to commenting on proposed increases for electricity, gas, water, sewer, and garbage.

6. Expect yields for savings accounts, money market funds, and Treasury bills to be slightly lower due to the recent .25 percent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.

7. Build a financial plan by starting with your goals, not someone else’s; be selective about who you listen to; remember that financial planning is about more than investing; and learn the difference between news and noise.

8. Think about September, rather than January, as a better time to set and work toward your big money goals. As the seasons shift, vacations are over and the kids have gone back to school, and you’ve lived enough of the year to know what’s working and what isn’t.

9. Be aware that 63 percent of U.S. consumers have stopped shopping with a retailer or abandoned a purchase because of its return policy, a survey shows.

10. Be aware scammers are using AI to mine information from obituaries to fool family members. Stop and consider if you need to include things such as full names, specific hometowns, employers, schools, and other identifying details.

Sign up for my newsletter and you'll get 10 tips like this every week, for no charge. And, tell your friends and co-workers about it so they can make savvy money choices, too. Here’s the sign up: https://tinyurl.com/makeyourmoneywork. And, for a big bonus, you’ll also get my free e-book on how to optimize their personal finance decisions.

September 17, 2026