Site Archives Consumer Tips, Safety and other Issues
As Black Friday Approaches, Americans Would Have More Money to Spend If Not for Hidden Credit Card Fees — The American Consumer Institute Finds the Annual Interchange Fees to be Roughly One Half of Holiday Spending
WASHINGTON—The American Consumer Institute (ACI) today released a ConsumerGram detailing the negative effects that high credit card fees (referred to as interchange fees) have on families across the country. On average, each household will pay an estimated $337 this year in interchange fees – a hidden tax on credit card purchases. In turn, the credit [...]
American Consumer Institute Releases Study Finding No Difference in Consumer Electronics Prices between Wal-Mart and Best Buy; Study Calls for Wal-Mart to Improve On-Shelf Labeling to Ensure Shoppers Can Make Educated Comparisons of Consumer Electronics
NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Washington, DC (November 10, 2009) – Shoppers’ perception that Wal-Mart is the lowest-priced retailer for consumer electronics goods is incorrect, according to a new study, released today, by the American Consumer Institute (ACI).
The study’s findings are particularly significant considering that according to the Consumer Electronics Association, the [...]
As Competition Heats up in the Consumer Electronics Market: Who Do Consumers Prefer – Wal-Mart or Best Buy?
With the demise of Circuit City and Tweeter, the two biggest retailers in the consumer electronics market – Best Buy and Wal-Mart – are fighting it out, leaving consumers to be the biggest winner. This ConsumerGram explores what shoppers want when they look for electronic goods, and preliminary survey research finds that shoppers think product [...]
Reader’s Digest Interviews ACI about Potential “Back to School Savings.”
Reader’s Digest Interviews Steve Pociask of ACI on potential ”back to school” savings. In the September 2009 issue, on page 56, ACI provides information on what some are calling “the stink about ink” – the high cost of computer printer ink. The article offers readers to visit www.consumercalculator.com to get ACI’s estimates of printing costs for various [...]
Unemployment Rate Declined in July? Really?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released its report on employment, announcing that the unemployment rate declined from 9.5% in June to 9.4% in July. News reports seem a little upbeat, but this is very premature. If you look at the numbers, you will see that the labor force participation fell — meaning 544,000 people [...]
Cash for Clunkers May Not Benefit Consumers or the Environment
Subsidy Could Harm Consumers and May Not Save Energy
President Obama has signed into a law a program to stimulate new car purchases and take old gas guzzlers off the road. The program, referred to as Cash for Clunkers, would give new car buyers a rebate worth thousands per vehicle, when they trade in an old fuel [...]
Are You Ready for the Digital TV Transition?
Here are some recent interviews of Professor Joseph Fuhr on today’s Digital TV Transition:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20090611_Today__digital_TV_is_in__analog_TV_is_out.html
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/06/12/business/doc4a31c5aa45392299681781.txt
http://www.kyw1060.com/Analog-Television-s-Drop-Dead-Date-Arrives-at-Last/4580742
What are you thoughts about the Digital TV Transition?
Steve Pociask Quoted in Anne Kadet’s Article “Printer Ink’s Murky Math,” SmartMoney Magazine, July 2009.
Anne Kadet’s article discusses the high cost of computer printer ink and correctly points out that: 1) printer costs per ink can very from 2 cents per black and white page to 14 cents, depending on the inkjet printer; 2) most manufacturers provide insufficient information on ink costs per page, which leads consumers to buy [...]
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