On February 18, 2009, over-the-air television stations will be required to broadcast their television signals in digital format. This means that older analog TVs will no longer be able to receive signals over-the-air unless they have a digital converter. Analog TVs that are connected to cable TV, satellite or other video programming services still operate [...]

IT Consumers Need Fuller Disclosure:
Privacy, Security, Labeling and Online Safety
 
Consumers can make rational choices only when they are given full and accurate information about their options.  Indeed, insufficient, misleading, or otherwise incomplete information is a prime cause of both market and government failure.  Consumers pay, and pay dearly, when they are not given sufficient information [...]

Controlling the Price of Ink – What Can Consumers Do?
Study Finds Consumers Overcharged for Inkjet Cartridges
 
A recent study by the American Consumer Institute looked at the inkjet printer and ink cartridge market and found that consumers are losing billions of dollars due to overpriced ink.  Because consumers are not given sufficient information of the cost [...]

Have a Plan Now
·         You should have a plan for protecting your family and coordinating with each other in an emergency.  Emergencies are of different kinds, so plan broadly.  Food, water, shelter, first aid, batteries, flashlights, and communications are important to arrange for in advance.  You should also agree on a rendezvous point, how to [...]

Insurance companies use consumer credit scores as one factor in determining consumer insurance premiums.  Overwhelming research finds that credit scores are highly correlated to insurance claims, which helps insurance carriers align premiums with expected losses.  However, some policymakers have questioned the “fairness” of credit scores as a partial determinant of insurance premiums.  This ConsumerGram finds [...]

Healthcare prices continue to increase at a rapid pace and at great cost to consumers.  With price competition virtually unheard of in the healthcare industry, there is little incentive for healthcare providers to operate in a more cost-effective manner.  However, recent efforts to rate medical professionals and hospitals could provide some level of competition that [...]

 
 
Inkjet Prices, Printing Costs and Consumer Welfare
 
 

 
Larry F. Darby
Stephen B. Pociask
 
November 19, 2007

Inkjet Prices, Printing Costs and Consumer Welfare
Larry F. Darby
Stephen B. Pociask*
 
Executive Summary
 
With the spread of computers into the average household, the costs of related technologies have become a source of rising concern to consumers.  For instance, consumers are increasingly aware and concerned [...]

Money Saving Tips for Consumers
 
This ConsumerGram is the third and final report in our series of consumer tips.  In this ConsumerGram, we list few small steps can result in a big energy savings for consumers. 
 
The following are important tips to save money and help the environment:
 
·         For General Lighting, Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.
o        [...]

This ConsumerGram is the second in a series of three reports on small steps that consumers can do that can add up to big savings.  In our first report, we discussed how consumers can save by buying in bulk and bundling, and how tap water is both safe and cost-effective compared to bottled water.  As [...]

Money Saving Tips for Consumers
 
This ConsumerGram is the first in a series of three reports that discuss small steps that can add up to thousands of dollars in savings for consumers.  In this ConsumerGram, we discusses how purchasing in bulk, bundling and using tap water instead of bottled water can save consumers money. 
 
 
Buy [...]