Consumer Reports
Shopsmart finds top bargain cleaners
The best cleaning products don’t necessarily cost a fortune. ShopSmart, the shopping magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, recently identified 12 cleaning products that work as well or even better than their expensive counterparts, according to tests.
Fat facts and fat fiction
If you’re confused about fats these days, you’re in good company, says Consumer Reports. With research coming in at breakneck speed in recent years, even experts have a hard time agreeing about which fats we should consume, and in what exact proportions, to improve our health and prevent chronic disease.
Hot new tablets
Rapid changes in tablets are bringing more choices, new features and better prices. Here’s a rundown based on Consumer Reports’ initial tests:
Low car payments can hurt you
With the average cost of a new vehicle now around $30,000, it’s no surprise that car loans are getting longer and longer, notes Consumer Reports. Some banks now offer car loans with payback terms that run for as long as eight years. While long-term loans translate into lower monthly payments, they can cost you [...]
Sweet picks for Valentine’s Day
When it comes to chocolate, the good stuff doesn’t come cheap. To find the ultimate chocolate experience, in time for Valentine’s Day, taste testers at ShopSmart, the shopping magazine from Consumer Reports, nibbled on thousands of boxed bonbons, from hand-crafted assortments going for $90 a pound to a $10 Whitman’s Sampler.
For family sedans, the Honda Accord leads
In recent months, many of the most popular midsized sedans have received major redesigns or notable freshenings that have altered the landscape in the category, notes Consumer Reports. That includes the three models in its latest report: the Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy.Lost in the flurry of shapely redesigns is the Honda [...]
Better joints without surgery
Americans are wearing out their joints, Consumer Reports notes. Knee replacement is now among the most common major surgeries, up 162 percent in the last two decades, according to an analysis of Medicare data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
7 money stumbles to avoid
Everyone makes money mistakes. But missteps or miscalculations can cost you a lot over the long term and could inadvertently hurt your family when you’re gone.
Would you buy your car again?
Here’s a hot tip: If you want a car that you can really get excited about, choose one that gives you great fuel economy, a fun driving experience and/or luxurious surroundings. That’s the clear message from Consumer Reports’ latest owner-satisfaction survey, in which all of the 10 highest scoring models feature one or more [...]
Happier Holiday Returns
Sometimes it just has to go back, whether it’s a dress that looked a lot better in the dressing room or the holiday present so terrible you can’t even regift it. ShopSmart, the shopping magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, recently looked at ways to make the process of returns as painless as possible, [...]