CFPB takes first step toward regulating prepaid cards

Prepaid debit cards have been called the Wild West because of their rapid growth, uncontrollable fees and little regulation.

The Best of Luck Candy & Gifts moving to Power Plant

 Candy retailer The Best of Luck Candy & Gifts has moved to larger quarters at Power Plant in downtown Baltimore, next to Phillips Seafood.

IRS says it's becoming even more kind and gentle to struggling taxpayers

The IRS has been granting more leniency to struggling taxpayers through a program called Fresh Start.

Dog bites are "inherently dangerous" to finances

Maryland dog lovers are upset by a ruling in the highest court in the state that says pit bulls are “inherently dangerous,” which means owners and landlords can be liable for the first bite a pit bull makes.

White Marsh Mall renovations starting Sunday

Managers of White Marsh Mall offered more details today about mall upgrades, a day after announcing that Boscov's department store will return to the shopping center in October.

Best Buy and Cooking.com launch website

Need a new paella pan or a souffle dish?

White Marsh Mall Boscov's returns after four-year absence

Nearly four years after closing, Boscov's department store will reopen at White Marsh Mall in November, shopping center owner General Growth Properties announced Thursday.

Consumers to receive up to $40 million in refunds from Skechers USA

Skechers USA, which claimed its shoes could make you thinner and tone your muscles, agreed to pay $40 million to consumers in more than 40 states, including Maryland.

Giant Food to open store in Perry Hall

Maryland-based Giant Food says it will be moving into a Perry Hall shopping center at Belair Road and Hannon Court. Construction workers are now turning a 57,000-square-foot retail site, formerly occupied by Super Fresh, into a Giant Food store. The new store will open later this year.

FTC says it settled with debt collector that posed as Ed McMahon

The Federal Trade Commission has been cracking down on businesses that try to collect debts from consumers that they don’t even owe.

Myths about credit scores, and signs that a date has a great score

The Consumer Federation of America released its second annual survey of our credit score knowledge.

Baltimore running store owner stars in national retail campaign

If you've never heard of Baltimorean Jim Adams, the National Retail Federation is hoping you will soon, thanks to a promotional campaign by the trade group.

Singing in the aisles at Wegmans

Update:  In an email Friday, drama teacher Maura Morrison said Thursday night’s show was standing room only with people turned away from the 900-seat auditorium.

Domino's offers new gluten-free pizza

Domino’s became the nation’s largest pizza chain this week to offer a gluten-free pizza crust, a step to meet the needs of gluten-sensitive customers, Nation’s Restaurant News reported.

Free stuff for Mom on Mother's Day

Mom wouldn’t want you to spend your scarce dollars on her. But you can spend the day with her and enjoy some free events.

Walmart beats Target in online shopping satisfaction

Online shoppers prefer Walmart to Target.

Do credit bureaus have constitutional right to report negative information about customers -- forever?

Interesting case going on in a federal district court in eastern district of Pennsylvania.

FTC: Myspace agrees to live up to privacy promises to consumers

The FTC announced it has reached a settlement with Myspace, which was accused of sharing consumers’ personal information with advertisers when it promised it wouldn’t do so.

Buy a Mother's Day meal or gift and support a favorite cause

Here’s a twist on buying Mother’s Day gifts, whether a meal out or a box of chocolates.

Gifts from the heart for Mother's Day

Somewhere along the way, honoring mom came to mean a fancy brunch or extravagant flower bouquet, an oddly transactional approach that manages to be both generic and pricey at a time many household budgets are tight.

It's Happy Hour! Frappuccino Happy Hour, that is

Starbucks is offering half-off any flavor and size of its blended beverages starting Friday and running through May 13, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The blends, mixes of syrup, coffee, milk and ice, include flavors such as Mocha Cookie Crumble, Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème and Mocha Coconut.

Maryland drops in survey of business-friendly states

Maryland, according to a new survey of business titans, is the 40th most business-friendly state, down from 37 last year. Or, put another way, we are the 11thleast friendly.

Students, need a summer job? Here's help

The White House, Department of Labor and others have announced an update on a program to get companies, cities and federal agencies to commit to youths for the summer.

Card Hub: best credit cards for graduates

CardHub.com, the credit card comparison site, gave these cards top marks for new college and high school graduates:

New savings bonds earning a rate of 2.2 percent

The Bureau of Public Debt announced the new rates on savings bonds.

Thieves target the dead for ID theft

You can be dead and still be a victim in this world. A new report by ID Analytics find that thieves target the dead, using their Social Security numbers to get credit cards, cellphones and other services.

Wegmans promises price freeze on dozens of items

Wegmans announced that it will freeze the price on 62 products starting on Sunday and running through Aug. 25th.

Are men better with credit cards than women in Maryland?

Alas, sisters, a study by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation finds that men are better users of credit cards.

Jobs with low unemployment rates

If you’re looking for job security, how about becoming a lawyer or financial analyst?

Two new lunch spots to open at The Gallery near Haborplace

The downtown Baltimore lunch crowd can look forward to two new fast-food spots opening in May -- Sushi Express and Crazy Kabobs. The new vendors will fill empty space in the food court at The Gallery mall across East Pratt Street from Harborplace.