CONSUMER - The Salt Lake Tribune

Tame consumer prices in U.S. keeping inflation low

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:00:44 MDT

Tame consumer prices in U.S. keeping inflation low

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER The Associated Press

Updated May 16, 2013 10:00PM MDT

Washington • A plunge in the cost of gas drove down a measure of U.S. consumer prices last month by the most since December 2008. Excluding the drop in fuel costs, prices were largely unchanged. The consumer price index fell 0.4 percent in April from March, the Labor Department said Thursday. The main reason was that gas prices plunged 8.1 percent on average nationally. For the 12 months that ended in April, overall prices rose 1.1 percent — the smallest year-over-year increase in 2½ years. Exc...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Savvy Consumer: How to be young, have fun, on the cheap

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:34:34 MDT

Savvy Consumer: How to be young, have fun, on the cheap

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING REPORTS

Updated May 15, 2013 09:34PM MDT

Sometimes our lives can become so hectic that we forget to stop and have fun. Here are some tips to help bring out your youthful, cheery side. Swing by Forever 21 • You and your closest pal can treat each other to a few pairs of sparkly $3.80 earrings. Quality friend time plus bling equals an afternoon of delicious decadence. Think retro • The 1980s — and Alexis Carrington — are calling. Microwave some popcorn, silence your phone and queue up old episodes of “Dynasty,” “Dallas” and “Knots Land...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

U.S. retail sales rise in April on cars, clothing

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:02:22 MDT

U.S. retail sales rise in April on cars, clothing

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER The Associated Press

Updated May 13, 2013 01:02PM MDT

WASHINGTON • Lower-priced gas allowed Americans to step up their spending at retailers in April, from cars and clothes to electronics and appliances. The rebound from a weak March suggests consumers remain resilient in the face of higher taxes and could continue to drive economic growth this spring. Retail sales edged up 0.1 percent in April, the Commerce Department said Monday. That’s an improvement from a 0.5 percent decline in March, the largest drop in nine months. The April gain was stronge...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:42:38 MDT

Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 01:42PM MDT

Jason Brailow, cited by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection after 356 consumer complaints, contributed $22,600. The Tax Club kicked in nearly $100,000, all of it after being slapped by the state’s fraud police. Topping all donors, Jeremy Johnson’s I Works and various associates shelled out more than $217,000. Johnson’s company has been targeted by the state and now faces a federal lawsuit while Johnson himself is staring at 86 criminal charges. All these donors and dozens more with regulat...

How to complain effectively when products go bad

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:59:47 MDT

How to complain effectively when products go bad

By Claudia Buck The Sacramento Bee

Updated May 12, 2013 05:59PM MDT

Got a gripe? Whether it’s a faulty cellphone, a cranky washing machine or a designer dress that falls apart, inevitably something goes wrong with something you’ve bought. What do you do? Too many of us just give up or don’t bother trying to get the store or company to resolve the problem. “We live in a buck-up-and-take-it society,” said Anthony Giorgianni, associate finance editor for Consumer Reports magazine. “We’re not going to plead for anything; we’re just going to take it. We have a subcon...