Mark Huffman

Richmond

Reporter and Writer at ConsumerAffairs

Writer for ConsumerAffairs

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Articles

Home health monitoring can reduce hospitalizations, study finds

6 days ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

• None Hospitalizations cut by 59% for high-risk patients using University of Michigan’s home monitoring program. • None $12 million return on investment achieved through reduced readmissions, making the program cost-effective. • None Largest and longest study to date confirms benefits of remote patient monitoring for various chronic conditions beyond COVID-19.
Temu and Shein are raising prices for consumers in the U.S.

6 days ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

• None Price Hikes Due to Policy Changes: Temu and Shein plan to raise prices for U.S. consumers starting April 25, 2025, in response to the end of the "de minimis" tariff exemption, which previously allowed duty-free imports under $800. • None Business Model Under Pressure: The policy change, prompted by a Trump-era executive order, challenges their low-price model.
Mortgage rates shot higher this week

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

• Mortgage rates rise with bond market volatility: Mortgage rates increased significantly this week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbing from 6.62% to 6.83%. This sharp jump is attributed to turmoil in the bond market driven by broader economic uncertainty, particularly concerns over tariffs and weakening demand for U.S. Treasuries. • Economic uncertainty make the difference: Typically, bond markets act as a safe haven during stock market volatility.
Judge rules Google is violating antitrust laws

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

• Google is one of the largest sellers of online advertisingGoogle is one of the largest sellers of digital advertising and a federal court has ruled that it violated antitrust laws as it acquired that status. Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a ruling Thursday, finding that Google had unlawfully linked its publisher ad server together with its exchange, giving it monopoly power in the online ad marketplace.
Lifelong exercise may guard against cognitive decline

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key Takeaways:Physical fitness may reduce risk of brain atrophy: A new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center finds that high cardiorespiratory fitness can help preserve brain volume and cognitive function as people age. Exercise linked to brain region key for cognition: Physically fit adults showed greater preservation of the right superior parietal region of the brain, associated with reasoning, memory, and fluency.
Eli Lilly reports successful Phase 3 trial for its new diabetes pill

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key TakeawaysOrforglipron becomes first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist to complete Phase 3 trial: Eli Lilly’s once-daily pill achieved significant reductions in blood sugar and weight in type 2 diabetes patients with no food or water restrictions required. Promising efficacy and tolerability results: The ACHIEVE-1 trial showed A1C reductions of up to 1.6% and weight loss of up to 15.8 pounds, with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 class medications.
Home sellers are showing new optimism as the spring market reaches a peak

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key Takeaways:Sellers are optimistic: 70% of potential home sellers believe it's a good time to sell, with most confident they’ll get asking price or better. Motivated by necessity and location: 79% cite life needs—like space, family, or affordability—as reasons to sell, with 46% seeking a new community. Interest rates remain a major factor: While sellers are prepping their homes, many feel “locked in” by high mortgage rates, which is delaying their listing decisions.
Ford recalls nearly 150,000 Expeditions, Navigators, F-150s, Explorers and Rangers

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key takeawaysBrake System Recall for Older Models: Ford is recalling over 123,000 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from 2017–2018 due to a brake master cylinder defect that may cause brake fluid leakage, potentially reducing braking performance and increasing crash risk.
U.S autism rates hit record high

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key Takeaways:Autism rates reach historic high: About 1 in 31 children in the U.S. (3.2%) are now identified with autism, marking a 22% rise since 2020 and a 375% increase since 2000. Demographic shift: For the first time, autism is more prevalent among minority children than white children, reversing long-standing trends.
Coffee prices could be set to soar

1 week ago | consumeraffairs.com | Mark Huffman

Key takeawaysProducer-level strain signals future price hikes: While retail coffee prices have only risen modestly (5% YoY), much of that increase came in just the last month, signaling acceleration. At the producer level, arabica bean prices have doubled in a year, putting significant pressure on growers and retailers, suggesting that higher retail prices are imminent.