Viewpoint: Greener gas and gift cards

The win: The Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules that lower the amount of sulfur in gasoline and cut tailpipe emissions from vehicles. Last year, Consumers Union testified before the EPA and collected more than 31,000 signatures in support of the regulations.

What's in it for you: Millions of Americans struggle with health concerns such as asthma and other respiratory problems that are caused and complicated by breathing air that's heavy with smog and other pollutants. Consumers Union thinks the new rules—known as  "Tier 3 standards"—will lead to tremendous health and environmental benefits and push automakers to deliver more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Low-sulfur gasoline will also help improve vehicle reliability while lowering the costs of maintaining emissions systems. (Learn more about alternative fuels and electric and hybrid vehicles.)

When you add up the benefits, it's a big step forward by the EPA.

New Haven, Conn., appears to be the first city to enter the gift-card business. Its "Shop-Dine-Park" card costs $4, can hold up to $999, and supports more than 250 local restaurants and retailers.

Will city-backed financial products take off in 2014? We are all for community support, but gift cards don't come with the same protections as credit and debit cards. Your losses won't be limited in the event of theft or fraud. Check our gift card coverage at ConsumersUnion.org to learn about perks and pitfalls.

That's the average number of mortgage-­related complaints received each month by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a tally that has shown little improvement. Consumers Union looks forward to seeing the impact of new rules enacted in 2014 by the CFPB that aim to prevent irresponsible lending practices. We'll continue to push for their full enforcement.

"He is the type of person the court should expect to defraud his fellow inmates while in custody and to continue to commit fraud into old age. He appears capable of nothing else."

—The federal prosecutor's description of the TV pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau, who in March was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating a 2004 court order prohibiting him from making deceptive infomercials.