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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: consumers

consumers stories: 11 news summaries

Troubled Banks Have a New Benefactor: You

Industry hikes fees on checking accounts, overdraft transactions

Jun 28, 09 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - Your children aren’t the only ones who think you’re an ATM: Your bank does, too. Facing declining revenues and smacked with tough, new credit card legislation from Congress, banks are hiking overdraft, ATM, and checking account fees, the Washington Post reports. The average bounced check fee rose 2.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Federal Reserve • legislation • ATM • banks • banking industry • checking account • consumers

Stimulus Boosts Americans' Incomes

Consumers tuck funds away: Savings rate
hits 16-year high

Jun 26, 09 2:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - Incomes in the US got a big boost from federal stimulus dollars in May, the Commerce Department reported today. But weary consumers stashed most of that lucre away, sending the savings rate to a 16-year high. “Households are reverting to a more sustainable spending path vis-à-vis income,”... More »

MORE ABOUT:
income • consumer spending • savings • economic stimulus package • consumers • household income

Credit Scores Plunge as Consumers Twist in Wind

Average drops 6 points, likely to fall further

May 27, 09 1:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - Consumers are caught in the credit crunch, and their scores are starting to show it, USA Today reports. The average TransUnion credit score fell 6 points between the third quarter of 2008 and the first of 2009, and the group’s financial services director expects it to fall even... More »

MORE ABOUT:
credit card • credit score • consumers • FICO

New Credit Card Rules Could Trim $10B From Industry Coffers

Law dials back crucial fees, interest rates

May 22, 09 1:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - A law President Obama is expected to sign today bringing new consumer-friendly rules on credit cards could cost the industry $10 billion in revenue, the Wall Street Journal reports. The legislation, which dials back various fees and interest rates, will devastate companies that target consumers with checkered credit histories and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
legislation • credit card • consumer credit • Obama administration • banking industry • President Obama • consumers • Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights • credit card reform

ANALYSIS

One-Stop Web Portal Thinks It Can Save Newspapers 

Group thinks consumers will be willing to pay for one-stop web portal

Apr 15, 09 4:26 PM CDT
(Newser) - A web portal planned by some top media execs may be the way forward for beleagured newspapers. Journalism Online would act as a “one-stop shop” for pay content, writes Nate Anderson for Ars Technica. Consumers could buy subscriptions to many newspapers at low prices, and with a sliding scale... More »

MORE ABOUT:
newspaper • online media • online advertising • journalism • subscription • consumers • Steven Brill • Journalism Online

ANALYSIS

 Microsoft 
 to Apple: 
 Bring It On 


Apr 11, 09 9:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - With its snazzy ads and iPhone groupies, Apple has been winning the Mac vs. PC wars, but Microsoft is ready to strike back, Peter Burrows writes in BusinessWeek. Positioning itself as a cheaper alternative, the company has launched its own slate of “uncharacteristically cool” TV ads and is offering... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Microsoft • iPhone • Apple • Linux • tv ads • consumers

Coke Will Drop 'Classic' Tag from Labels

Branding was unveiled after much-panned
New Coke experiment

Jan 30, 09 3:18 PM CST
(Newser) - If you’re still haunted by New Coke, fear no more: Coca-Cola plans to drop the “Classic” tag from its branding, ensuring that the original formula faces no more threats from upstart incarnations, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The “Classic” label, which was introduced in 1985, is “a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
soft drink bottles • Coca-Cola • consumers • New Coke

Mexico Halts Shipments From Top US Meat Plants

Move is seen as retaliation for country-of-origin labeling initiative

Dec 26, 08 5:10 PM CST
(Newser) - Mexico has temporarily banned meat from 30 US plants run by some of the largest American meat companies, Reuters reports. The Mexican government says violations in standards of packaging, labeling, and transport conditions occasioned the ban, but many US analysts suspect Mexico is registering its dissatisfaction with an American law... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Mexico • United States • meat • imports • exports • imported food • meat and poultry • consumers • Country-of-Origin Labeling

 Cash Makes a Comeback 

But cash isn't king for retailers, who'll likely see bigger drop in sales

Nov 24, 08 2:15 AM CST
(Newser) - Americans are reverting to cash for purchases in increasing numbers, according to top retailers Wal-Mart, Target and JC Penney. The shift away from credit is expected to further reduce spending by consumers—who will be limited to cash-on-hand purchases—not just during the holiday season, but during what could be... More »

MORE ABOUT:
consumer spending • credit card • Target • Wal-Mart • Great Depression • budgets • cash • consumers • J.C. Penney • CreditRatings.com

ANALYSIS

 Whole Foods' Labels 
 Tell Half the Story 

Food chain's labels don't provide enough information about allergens

Nov 23, 08 10:45 AM CST
(Newser) - Eat, drink, and be wary, chocolate lovers: Whole Foods may not be telling you the whole story about its premium chocolate bars, reports the Chicago Tribune. In an investigation into product labels that promised “good manufacturing practices.” the Trib found that the supermarket chain’s chocolate bars... More »

MORE ABOUT:
FDA • organic food • milk • Whole Foods • gluten • chocolate • label • food allergies • tree nuts • Soy • peanut • consumers


 Gadgets Have 
 Consumers 
 Crying for Help 

Buyers frustrated by problems with cell phones, internet access and computers

Nov 17, 08 1:46 AM CST
(Newser) - Digital technology plays a key role in the lives of most Americans, but it's often too complex, frustrating, and prone to failure, a study by the Pew Research Center finds. Nearly half of consumers said they regularly need help setting up a device, learning how to use it, or solving... More »

MORE ABOUT:
technology • Internet • Comcast • cell phones • iPod • BlackBerry • Pew Internet and American Life Project • MP3s • Pew Research Center • Internet access • consumers

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