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High tech catches the ladies' eyes
[Jan. 31, 2007] Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and for those who may not have noticed, women are on the prowl for high-tech gadgets. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says that women outspend men by about a 60/40 ratio when it comes to consumer electronics, and they influence 80 percent of electronics purchases. From buying gadgets and goodies as gifts, to treating themselves to a trendy gizmo, women seem to be mastering the world of technology as fast as their male counterparts.

Consumer Reports' tips for surviving Black Friday
[Nov. 21, 2006] According to a recent poll from Consumer Reports, an estimated 63 million Americans will hit the stores to engage in the formal start of the holiday shopping season known as “Black” Friday. Below are some tips that Consumer Reports has compiled to guide consumers through this hectic period.
Also: Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports presents best holiday gifts in more than 50 categories
[Nov. 17, 2006] The December Consumer Reports (CR) Best Gifts issue presents the best products from its tests for everyone on a holiday shopper’s gift list—whether they like to cook, eat, shop, work out, listen to music, take photographs, or putter around the house. Great gift ideas—from boxed chocolates to treadmills—in more than 50 categories help make holiday shopping a little bit easier for consumers.

Online and independent retailers top Consumer Reports ratings of electronics retailers
[Nov. 11, 2006] Online merchants and independent local stores may be the best bet for buying electronics, according to the nearly 20,000 readers surveyed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Consumer Reports finds LCD & plasma TVs as reliable as tube TVs
[Nov. 2, 2006] No electronic items will be hotter this holiday season than LCD and plasma TVs, thanks in large part to prices that are half what they were two years ago. And reliability data from Consumer Reports indicates that during the first year or two of use, LCD and plasma TVs have been just as reliable overall as picture-tube TVs, which historically require very few repairs.
Also: Consumer Reports

Crime rankings of the most, least dangerous cities
[Oct. 30, 2006] A list of the safest and most dangerous cities overall, as compiled by Morgan Quitno Press, which bases the rankings on FBI figures released in June. The list starts with the safest cities and ends with the most dangerous.
Also: Morgan Quitno Press

Consumer Reports offers tips to avoid debit card gothas
[Oct. 12, 2006] Consumers are using debit cards at the check-out counter more than ever before. Next year, debit-card transactions, which deduct funds directly from a checking account, are expected to pull ahead of credit-card sales in market share.

Consumer Reports rates cordless phones & offers tips for reducing phone bill costs
[Sep. 22, 2006] The world may be going cellular at a rapid rate, but the humble cordless phone still holds a place in many homes. Consumer Reports’ October issue features ratings of 47 cordless phones.

Transplanting dogwoods
[Aug. 28, 2006] The first questions I have to ask about transplanting are whether and why. And that involves how they got to where they are, how long they have been there, and why they are “tall but slight.” By Al Cooke
Also: Local Nurseries

Consumer Reports picks top deck treatments to "weather" summer and winter
[Jun. 27, 2006] With meteorologists predicting a wet summer all across the country, many homeowners need to coat their outside deck with the right treatment to help it weather any storm, as well as prepare for anything winter may bring. The July 2006 issue of Consumer Reports features expert advice and ratings on choosing the best deck treatments to make sure decks not only last this summer, but for a few more seasons as well.

Year-round home energy saving tips
[Jun. 6, 2006] Summer is here and many Americans are ready to breathe a sigh of relief at the thought of warmer weather and lower utility bills. However, a newly released energy report paints a chillier picture. The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Annual Energy Outlook 2006 (AEO2006) report, which evaluates and projects a wide range of trends and issues that could have major implications for U.S. energy markets through the year 2030, if Americans do not adopt more energy-efficient lifestyles.

Consumer Reports helps consumers choose the best grills
[May 10, 2006] Grilling is one of the most treasured outdoor activities to do every summer. With temperatures getting warmer and many homeowners preparing for their first barbeque of the season, the June 2006 issue of Consumer Reports features expert advice and ratings on choosing the best gas grills.

Consumer Reports reveals the truth about outlet stores
[Apr. 16, 2006] Shoppers who visit stores at outlet malls expecting to scrounge through bins of mediocre merchandise should give their perceptions a makeover according to the May issue of Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports went undercover at hundreds of outlet stores and the Consumer Reports National Research Center surveyed more than 6,000 readers to find ways to get the most value out of outlet stores.

New government mandate affects home cooling systems, efficiency
[Mar. 18, 2006] About 50 percent of the energy used in a typical home today is spent on heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s no wonder that your utility bills can be as unpredictable as the weather! Now is the time to learn a little bit about the new government standards affecting air conditioners and heat pumps and to consider purchasing a new home comfort system that could help you save substantial money over the years ahead.