Dieter Holger

Santa Cruz

Data reporter @ConsumerAffairs. Covering product safety, housing, insurance, privacy, scams and more. @WSJ alum. Write to me: [email protected]

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Articles

These California cities are drawing the most movers

6 days ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• More people are leaving California's cities than arriving. • But some cities, such as Oceanside and Redding, are drawing more people than are leaving. • As long as enough people are moving in, housing costs will likely remain high in California. California has reputation for people moving out because of its sky-high cost of living, but there are plenty of cities still drawing fresh arrivals.
What are passkeys? Hint: They're faster and safer than passwords

6 days ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Passkeys are a safer and simpler replacement for passwords, which are fraught with security concerns. • Major companies are increasingly adopting passkeys and Microsoft is ditching passwords altogether. • Still, more companies need to push passkeys and users need to start using only passkeys for better security. Passwords may be coming to an end.
Small businesses overwhelmingly expect a recession

6 days ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• The vast majority of small-business owners are expecting a recession, a survey finds. • Some 80% of small business owners say the current economy is a major or existential threat to their existence. • Despite the fears of a recession, recent economic data has shown growth in most states. Economic fears are running high among small businesses, which employ tens of millions of people and support local economies.
States with the most uninsured children under 6 years old

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Texas, Wyoming and South Dakota are the three states with the highest share of uninsured children under 6 years old. • Massachusetts, Washington and California are the three states with the lowest share of uninsured children. • Proposals to cut Medicaid would leave millions of more children uninsured. Some states are dealing with higher rates of uninsured children, a situation that may worsen if proposed cuts to federal health programs go through.
Record number of small businesses fear for their future

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• A record share of small-business owners have no confidence in their financial future, following economic uncertainty, political gridlock and confusing policies such as tariffs. • Close to half of small businesses say they are having difficulty getting loans. • Despite widespread pessimism, most small businesses say they are currently growing or expect to grow in the coming year. Small businesses may be more worried now than in recent memory.
89% of companies expect shortages, delays from tariffs

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Mid-size companies that sell goods overwhelmingly say tariffs will cause delays or shortages of their products. • Close to half of the companies say they will raise prices. • Still, one positive result of tariffs could be more investment in local economies. Business leaders say Americans should brace for shortages and more expensive products because of tariffs.
Health insurance covers fewer medications than years ago

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, is increasingly covering fewer medications or has more restrictions. • Medicare covers even fewer medications or has more restrictions than commercial health insurance. • Fewer medications are being covered largely because companies that negotiate drug prices are driven to cover medications that make them the most money. Health insurance is covering fewer medications than years ago or forcing more patients to jump through hoops.
How missing student loan payments affects your credit score

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Missing student loan payments can lower credit scores by varying amounts depending on a borrower's credit. • Student loan borrowers with the best credit who miss payments can see their scores drop the most. Collections restarted on millions of defaulted student loans this month, but millions of other student loan borrowers are at risk of default and will see their credit scores lowered.
New Microsoft accounts 'passwordless by default'

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• New Microsoft accounts will be "passwordless by default" and instead setup a passkey. • A passkey is a digital credential using a PIN code, facial recognition or fingerprint linked to a device. • Existing Microsoft accounts are also encouraged to stop using passwords. Microsoft is moving away from passwords as part of a push for better cybersecurity. New Microsoft accounts, including Windows, Microsoft 365 and Xbox, will now never need to enroll for a password and instead can use a passkey.
Rents may go up after apartment construction slowdown

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Dieter Holger

• Nearly two thirds of major metropolitan areas are issuing fewer permits to build multifamily apartments than during the pandemic. • The slowdown in apartment construction could mean higher rents and fewer options. • Still, areas particularly in the Sunbelt, such as Austin, Texas Cape Coral, Fla. and North Port, Fla., are still building apartments at a faster pace. Apartment construction is slowing down, which probably won't be good for renters.