Memorial Day says summer, and summer says relaxation. That's the idea, at least. So if you're shopping for lawn-care equipment, why not opt for models that offer time-saving features as well as fine performance? Electric start, power steering and blade-brake clutches are just some of the labor-savers we found in our recent tests of mowers, lawn tractors and riders, and string trimmers.

Two foods—organic baby spinach and yeast—are being recalled after safety regulators found the presence of Salmonella, which can cause deadly illness among the young, old and people with weakened immune systems.

As Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month rolls toward Memorial Day weekend, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has released a sobering report that finds no progress was made in reducing motorcyclist deaths in 2011. Motorcycle deaths remained at about 4,500 last year, based on preliminary data from 50 states and the District of Columbia. There are numerous factors at play, but not all the news is bad.

Verizon Wireless's tiered-pricing data plans for smart phones went into effect last July, and new customers were no longer able to sign up for unlimited plans. Existing customers who had such plans were able to hang onto them—but that's about to end, according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo. New data we've obtained, though, suggests that most of Verizon's smart-phone subscribers don't really need unlimited data.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to issue new rules for prepaid debit cards, which tend to offer weaker consumer protections than those provided by traditional debit cards, yet are being used by many in the U.S. as a substitute for bank accounts.

When Acura entered the small, upscale SUV market with the first-generation RDX, their target customer was a 30-something yuppie, with a sense of style and enough disposable income that something like a basic Honda CR-V just wouldn't be on their shopping list. But alas, according to Acura, they never found that buyer.

A small number of Lexus GS 350 sedans are being recalled by Toyota Motor Corp. according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A problem in the luxury car's electronic steering control unit may cause the steering wheel to become off-centered in parked Lexus GS350.

Overall, the leading powertrain type under consideration by car owners for their next vehicle is a traditional gasoline-fueled engine. But taken together, nearly three-quarters of consumers will consider an alternative powertrain, such as a hybrid or electric, according to a new Consumer Reports survey.

We recently tested and rated two laptops from HP that are slim, light, and elegantly designed. With the exception of the screen size, both are similarly configured. The 13-inch Folio is a deal, at $775. The 14-inch Envy 14 Spectre costs $1,400. Is the slightly larger laptop worth double the price?

Looking for an affordable, reliable new car before summer? This Memorial Day weekend is a good time to hit the showrooms for deals on a new car primed for a road trip adventure. Dealers are in the final crunch to make their end-of-the-month sales quota this coming weekend, and the holiday weekend typically brings out additional incentives, putting shoppers in a strong position to negotiate a great deal on a good car.

Even though the calendar doesn't say so, Memorial Day signals the start of summer. After the parades and the commemorations comes the barbecue. Nearly three-quarters of American grill owners fire up that day, according to a survey from grillmaker Weber. And what's on the menu? The three most popular items are hamburgers (73 percent), chicken (41 percent) and steak (40 percent). When Consumer Reports tests gas grills, we cook dozens and dozens of rib-eye steaks. As a result we've learned how to grill the perfect steak as well as how to choose the best grill to cook it on.

With such colors as Piccadilly yellow, Greenwich green, Palermo blue and Annapolis navy, Kohler has teamed up with Jonathan Adler, lead judge on Bravo's Top Design, for a line of bathroom and kitchen sinks in "colors that pop." Available for six models, the sinks are made of enameled cast iron. Unfortunately, that material did not hold up as well as others in Consumer Reports' recent sink tests.

Nine out of 10 drivers who experienced safety technology that allows cars to communicate to one another would like to see such features in their own vehicles, according to results from connected vehicle driver acceptance clinics conducted by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

On the third anniversary of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act being signed into law, the average debt has declined, but many Americans are still using credit cards as a way to cover basic living expenses, according to a national survey from the policy center Demos.

If you're shopping for a new mattress and are considering a traditional innerspring, you're not alone: More than half of Consumer Reports readers we've surveyed have stuck with this time-honored variety for years. But specialty types are advancing, reports Furniture Today magazine, while innersprings are dipping in sales. And all types continue to get more expensive.