Where’s the Inflation From Tariffs? Just Wait, Economists Say.
From today’s New York Times: Tariffs raise consumer prices. It’s a view held by most economists since long before President Trump entered the White House. Prices rose when Mr. Trump…
Consumers Are Financing Their Groceries. What Does It Say About the Economy?
From today’s New York Times: For some American consumers, “buy now, pay later” loans aren’t just for big-ticket items like televisions and vacations. They’re for groceries, too. When Tia Hodge…
Trump Is Turning CFPB Against Consumer Rights
From today’s New York Times: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is turning into the Corporate Financial Protection Bureau. President Trump’s C.F.P.B. has not only ceased to pursue its mandate; it…
Left for Dead, the C.F.P.B. Inches Back to Life
From today’s New York Times: At the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, faint shadows above the entrance are all that remain of the letters that once spelled the…
Southwest To Charge for Checked Bags, Ending Popular Policy
From today’s New York Times: Southwest Airlines on Tuesday said it would start charging for checked bags, ending another longtime policy that had set it apart from other airlines as…
Americans’ Personal Data In Danger As Musk Takes Over Government
From today’s New York Times: Last week, Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, sought to reassure Democrats on Capitol Hill about the presence of two of…
With Mass Layoffs Expected, Judge May Block Dismantling of Consumer Watchdog Agency
From today’s ABC News: After the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) fired its probationary workers as part of the Trump administration’s government-wide layoffs Thursday, the agency moved on to fire…
I Work at the FTC. I Know What Is Killing Local Groceries.
From today’s New York Times: Swaths of America have been hollowed out. Some people look at boarded-up shops in small towns and some urban centers and think: They just couldn’t…
As Retailers Offered Holiday Discounts, Shoppers Showed Up
From today’s New York Times: Heading into the holiday shopping season this year, retailers said they expected consumers to be more discerning — motivated by deals rather than a once-a-year…
Consumer Protection Agency Finalizes Rule Limiting Overdraft Fees
From today’s Washington Post: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday that it has finalized new rules limiting the fees that banks can charge when customers overdraw their accounts. In…