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.

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.

Starting this week more than 27,000 consumers who purchased certain vacuum cleaners and air purifiers made by Oreck will be getting checks for $25 from the Federal Trade Commission under an agreement between the government and the manufacturer. Oreck claimed its Halo vacuum and ProShield Plus air purifier could reduce the risk of flu and other illnesses, and eliminate virtually all common germs and allergens. Last year Oreck agreed to pay the FTC a $750,000 fine.

Looking for a fantastic techie gift for your favorite father? Or perhaps a recent grad you're especially fond of deserves a great gadget this year. Consumer Reports' electronics experts picked out some of our recent favorites for your consideration.

We've told you before to stay away from so-called toning shoes because of apparent safety risks. Yesterday's settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Skechers over the company's deceptive and unsupported claims gives you another reason to consider other fitness footwear.

Social Security's new online benefits statement is a useful new resource for anyone doing financial planning or future financial projections. And, as I learned when I signed up to view mine, the statements provide some interesting new information.

Your mother or wife or any of the other moms you're getting a gift for might appreciate a nice box of chocolates, and as Mother's Day is fast approaching (Sunday May 13), you might want to check our recent boxed chocolate test results before grabbing a box off the nearest display rack just for convenience sake.

For the fourth time in 14 years, the Federal Trade Commission has taken action against the nation's largest charge-it-to-your-phone-bill company, Billing Services Group (BSG), for alleged "cramming," or placement of unauthorized charges on consumers' phone bills.

We're heading into the busy summer travel season and if a road trip is in your getaway plans, a used SUV may be a good choice to fit the family and gear. As we have been reminded by our recent tests, new SUVs can be pricey. To make shopping easier, we have identified some of the best used deals on small and midsized SUVs.

The Federal Communications Commission has issued an enforcement advisory on prepaid phone cards, following the latest study from Consumer Reports on the problems they pose for vulnerable, low-income communities.

Retail spending declined for the fourth straight month even as Americans reported improvements in sentiment, employment, stress, and financial difficulties, according to the latest Consumer Reports Index, a monthly gauge of overall consumer financial health.

Suppose you went into a convenience store to buy a container of milk for $2, but didn't know whether the clerk behind the counter was going to give you a pint or a gallon.

After Canada officially halted production of its penny Friday by minting the last one, we asked our Facebook readers if they thought the United States should do the same.

Target has announced it will stop selling Kindles in its stores, depriving shoppers of one of the few venues in which they can look at and use Amazon's tablets and e-book readers before they buy one.

The Federal Communications Commission has taken steps to protect you from difficult-to-detect fraudulent charges on your landline phone bill. The new FCC rules combat illegal placement of unauthorized charges.