Consumer Protection

AGA Study: Gamblers Outscore Public on Financial Literacy, Prediction Market Users Overrate Math Skills

Washington – September 25, 2026 -- Gamblers scored 3.93 out of five on a standard financial literacy index versus 3.72 for non-gamblers, according to new research commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA), with 41% of gamblers classified as highly financially literate compared with 27% of non-gamblers.

Prediction market users overstate their mathematical ability, study finds

Sports bettors demonstrated the highest combination of mathematical confidence and objectively tested capability among all gambling segments surveyed. Prediction market users reported nearly equivalent confidence levels but performed on objective math tests at levels closer to non-gamblers, exposing a gap between self-assessed skill and actual ability.

Ohio Inspectors Find Overcharging at 36% of Kroger Stores Audited

Cincinnati – September 16, 2026 -- Government inspectors found overcharging at more than one in three Kroger stores examined across nine Ohio jurisdictions, according to a report released this week by the Center for Responsible Food Business (CRFB). Pricing errors favored Kroger nearly three times as often as they favored shoppers.

Inspection records show 58 of 389 store checks failed between 2022 and mid-2026

The public-records data, covering nine Ohio jurisdictions, documented 644 incorrect prices during 389 inspections. Overcharges averaged more than 20 percent above posted shelf prices, and 36 of 101 stores examined were caught overcharging at least once.

US Robocalls Fall 10% to 3.9 Billion in August, Lowest Since October

Irvine, Calif. – September 14, 2026 -- U.S. consumers received just under 3.9 billion robocalls in August 2026, a 10% drop from July and the lowest monthly total since October 2025, according to the YouMail Robocall Index.

August volume falls to 125.4 million calls per day, reversing a year-long upward trend

Daily robocall averages dropped to 125.4 million calls, or 1,451 calls per second, down from July's 139.3 million calls per day and 1,612 calls per second. The decline pulls August volumes back to levels last seen in January and February, breaking the upward trajectory that had persisted through most of 2026.