Fifty miles per gallon? That’s what Honda claimed. But Heather Peters’ 2006 Civic Hybrid never did better than 41, maybe 42 mpg. And when Honda “fixed” her battery, the car dropped below 30 mpg. Instead of agreeing to take part …
Smart Spending
Can a Car Cost $95K and Still Be Considered a ‘Best Value’?
By all accounts, Porsche makes some pretty amazing automobiles. But do cars that sell for $80K and $95K belong on a list naming the best values for consumers?
Cheers! Increase in Liquor Sales Bodes Well for Economic Recovery
Pop open a bottle of your favorite spirits. It’s time to celebrate. Liquor sales rose by 4% last year, and growth was particularly strong in terms of exports of American spirits (up 16.5%) and sales in the pricey “super premium” …
Study: Poor People Pay More for Auto Insurance
Low-income drivers are routinely charged higher auto insurance premiums than well-heeled car owners. But why should the poor pay a premium when it comes to premiums? Is the system inherently unfair? Or are there valid reasons why …
U.S. Beef Prices Rising Thanks to Drought in Southwest
The smallest cattle herd in 60 years is likely to push the price of beef, already at record levels, even higher.
Consumers Expected to Spend $11 Billion on the Super Bowl
The numbers show that, shaky economy or not, Americans are sparing no expense in order to be festive: We collectively dropped $7 billion on Halloween last year, and another $6 billion on Christmas decorations. And the Super Bowl? …
Why Do Consumers Avoid One Car and Buy Another? Often, for No Good Reason at All
A new study shows that when many drivers are shopping for cars, they don’t winnow their searches by researching vehicle quality and reliability reports. Instead, they often make their decisions based on preconceived notions and …
How Your Food Spending Compares With the Rest of the U.S.
What do you spend on groceries every week? How often do you go out to eat? What about booze? All that money on sustenance is probably adding up to more than you think.
Why Aren’t Patriots Fans Paying Up to Go to the Super Bowl?
It’s the game that everyone wanted. (Well, everyone not rooting for the Ravens or 49ers, that is.) The New England Patriots will play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, a “Super Rematch” of the epic Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning …
Now There’s Even More Reason to Distrust Online Reviews
The latest sham doesn’t exactly pay customers to write up positive online reviews of products. But it’s more than a little sketchy when a company offers to reimburse people for their purchases if they post a review on Amazon.
A Physics Professor Asks: Are No-Name Batteries a Better Value Than Major Brands?
Duracell? Energizer? The cheapie packages of AAs at the dollar store? Tired of dumping money blindly on batteries for Wii remote controllers, flashlights, Nerf guns, and the like, a physicist decides it’s time to investigate …
Why Shoppers and Shopping Centers Alike Now Embrace the Dollar Store
At one time, upper- and middle-class shopping centers turned up their noses at dollar stores, assuming that their presence would hurt the image of neighboring retailers, as well as the area as a whole. In pre-recession days, many …