LND topic: consumer page 33

consumer

Shopping in 2024: A Year of Savvy Spenders and Budget Dining

December 30, 2024

In 2024, shoppers and diners in the U. S. were more careful with their money. High housing and food prices made people choosy about where they spent. Wealthy folks, for instance, started shopping at stores like Walmart and Aldi instead of pricier places. Eating out? People opted for fast food or coo

health

Rachel's Surprise: How Childbirth Costs Can Catch You Off Guard

December 22, 2024

Meet Rachel Kaplan and her husband, Andrew Sheffield, from Arden, North Carolina. Last year, they found out they were expecting a baby and didn't have health insurance. Their doctor suggested they join Sedera, a nonprofit that works like insurance but with less hassle. How does it work? Members cont

finance

Zelle’s Million-Dollar Fraud Problem: Banks in Hot Water

December 21, 2024

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently filed a lawsuit against some of the United States’ biggest banks. These include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, along with the operator of Zelle—a popular peer-to-peer payment system. The CFPB claims that for the past seven y

finance

Holiday Gifts: $10B Down the Drain, Half Disliked

December 21, 2024

This holiday season, Americans are set to overspend on unwanted gifts, racking up a whopping $10. 1 billion in disappointing presents. That's right, nearly 53% of adults in the US will unwrap at least one gift they don't like. The average cost of these unwanted gifts has risen to $72, up from $66 la

business

Car Brands in Pakistan: What Makes Customers Stick?

December 20, 2024

Ever wondered what makes people stick to their favorite car brands in Pakistan? A recent study took a close look at this, focusing on the luxury and safety car market. The big names here are Toyota Indus, Honda, and Suzuki. The main question was: how does customer satisfaction influence their loyalt

technology

Meet the Future AI Speaker Users: A Machine Learning Prediction

December 19, 2024

Ever wondered who might be the next big users of AI speakers? Researchers used machine learning to find out! They looked at data from a 2019 survey by the Korea Broadcasting and Advertising Corporation, involving 3, 922 people. Using techniques like decision trees and support vector machines, they d

health

Food Dye Red 3 Might Be Off the Menu

December 17, 2024

Red 3, also known as erythrosine, could soon vanish from your favorite foods and medicines. This artificial coloring, linked to thyroid cancer in animals and hyperactivity in kids, is under review by the FDA. Despite being banned in cosmetics, it's still used in various snacks like Dubble Bubble gum

technology

Top 10 Electric Bikes for 2024 – Consumer Reports Picks

December 16, 2024

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are a game-changer for cycling enthusiasts. They blend traditional pedal power with electrical assistance, making commuting and leisure riding a breeze. Before you jump into buying one, consider the local laws and licensing for e-bikes in your area. After that, think abou

health

Discovering the Magic of Colored and Fragrant Rice Milks

December 15, 2024

Ever wondered what makes rice milk special? Scientists recently explored the unique features of rice milk made from colorful and aromatic rice varieties. They used descriptive sensory analysis with trained experts and gathered opinions from 161 consumers. They also measured things like color, thickn

technology

Phone Tech: 11 Game-Changers on the Horizon

December 15, 2024

Cell phones have transformed from a simple communication tool to something that almost everyone owns. Today, 98% of Americans have a cell phone, with 91% owning smartphones. People upgrade or replace their phones frequently, with 12% doing so annually and 55% every two to three years. This rapid evo