Consumer Reports

President Donald Trump announced that he approved new fuel economy standards that would end what he calls the Biden administration's electric vehicle mandate. The move relaxes requirements pushing automakers toward EV production, and it is being widely reported by major outlets including Reuters. The change is expected to affect carmakers' plans and renew debate over federal climate and transportation policy.

President Trump is preparing to reverse fuel economy standards for cars put in place under the Biden administration. The move would loosen emissions and mileage requirements for automakers, reversing one of the previous administration's key climate policies. Bloomberg reported the plan, which is expected to affect US vehicle efficiency rules and the broader auto industry's regulatory outlook.

The Trump administration is preparing a broad rollback of US clean car rules, according to a New York Times report. The move would loosen emissions and fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles, a policy with major consequences for automakers, air quality and the country's climate goals, and it is already drawing attention given the stakes for the auto industry.

The Trump administration is moving to loosen federal fuel economy standards for cars, according to a New York Times report dated September 26, 2026. The reported rollback of car emissions and mileage requirements is drawing attention from climate and US politics observers, who see it as a significant reversal of vehicle efficiency policy with consequences for emissions and consumers.

US health regulators have announced a recall of raw milk cheese linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak, according to the FDA. Outlets including DC News Now, WTNH and NewsNation are reporting the recall, which affects consumers who may have purchased the contaminated cheese. Officials typically urge anyone with the product to discard it and seek medical care if symptoms of E. coli infection develop.

Rising US gas prices are pushing car buyers toward electric vehicles, with Edmunds reporting an increase in searches for EVs alongside fuel costs. Industry watchers see the pattern as confirmation that pump prices directly shape shopping behavior, and commentators are debating whether the surge in interest will translate into actual sales as more affordable electric models reach the market.

UBS analysts published research arguing that AI shopping agents could significantly reshape hardline, broadline and food retail. The report examines how automated assistants that search, compare and purchase on behalf of consumers may alter how customers find products, shift pricing power and change the role of retailers' websites and brands in the buying process.

Health officials in the United Kingdom are reporting a sharp rise in cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, with many cases linked to recent travel to Mexico. The illness typically causes prolonged watery diarrhoea, fatigue and stomach cramps, and is associated with consuming contaminated food or water. Travellers are being advised to take food and water precautions and to seek medical advice if symptoms develop after returning home.

A reporter has tested the player-protection measures that DraftKings, one of the largest US sports betting operators, says it has in place to guard against problem gambling. The findings are prompting discussion about how effective self-exclusion tools, deposit limits and identity checks really are, and whether regulators should tighten requirements on the fast-growing online betting industry.

Investors are bracing for a data-heavy week in US markets, with the latest inflation and employment figures due alongside quarterly earnings from Micron and CarMax. The releases are expected to shape expectations for interest rates and the broader economic outlook, with traders watching closely for signals on price pressures and consumer spending.

Brazil's government has decided to extend fuel price relief measures, with the announcement coming ahead of the country's upcoming election. Bloomberg reported the decision, which keeps pump prices artificially lower for consumers. The move is being read as an effort by the administration to ease cost-of-living pressures on voters before they go to the polls, raising questions about the timing of the intervention.

Apple has started offering a lease program covering iPhones and other devices, according to Scripps News. The move would let customers pay monthly to use Apple hardware rather than buying it outright, adding a new option alongside existing installment plans and trade-in offers. Details on pricing, availability and lease terms have not been widely reported yet.

Sales of Chinese electric vehicles continue to rise in Norway, according to Euronews, even as scepticism about Chinese-made cars grows among European consumers and policymakers. Norway, the world's leading market for electric car adoption, has proven notably open to Chinese brands. The report examines the gap between public wariness and actual buying behaviour.

The Seattle City Council has voted to ban surveillance pricing in the sale of groceries, meaning retailers will be prohibited from setting individualized prices based on customer data such as shopping history or personal profiles. Consumer advocacy groups, including Consumer Reports, backed the move, framing it as a safeguard against companies charging different shoppers different prices for the same items. The ordinance is being discussed as one of the first local measures of its kind in the United States.

Labcorp has agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle a class action over a data breach affecting customers in Wisconsin. The 2026 settlement would compensate individuals whose personal information was exposed in the incident. Details on payment terms, eligibility deadlines, and the number of affected residents have not yet been widely reported.

Meta is positioning AI agents as tools for ordinary consumers, not just corporate customers, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move signals that conversational AI assistants are moving into everyday personal use, widening the market beyond enterprise software and putting consumer-facing agents at the center of the company's AI strategy.

The Wall Street Journal reports on the growth of 'almost-premium' credit cards — products positioned between basic no-fee cards and high-end premium cards that carry lower annual fees but offer some travel perks and rewards. Issuers are targeting consumers who want a taste of premium benefits without paying $395 or more a year. The piece examines how banks are using this middle tier to attract customers priced out of top-tier cards.

A new USA Today report examines how high-income Americans continue to spend robustly even as the broader economy shows signs of strain. Well-off households, cushioned by savings, investments and rising asset values, are less exposed to price pressures and job worries than lower-income consumers, and their continued spending is helping keep parts of the economy afloat. Commenters are weighing what this wealth-driven consumption means for the rest of the country.

Walmart's chief executive has ruled out using personalised pricing, saying the retail giant will not charge different customers different prices for the same products even as artificial intelligence reshapes how retailers set and manage prices. The statement, reported by the Financial Times, comes as AI tools raise questions across the retail industry about data-driven pricing practices and consumer fairness.