Once again National Consumer Protection Week falls smack in the middle of Lent. Is this yet another coincidence, or rather a celestial reminder of the benefits of occasional restraint?

President Obama appoints the head of a new US consumer protection agency while Congress is in recess after Republicans blocked the move.

Plans for Citizens Advice to deal with complaints from consumers frustrated about rogue traders or rip-offs have been confirmed by the government.

When the fledgling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently collected consumer complaints about credit cards, one of the over-arcing themes was confusion over the terms of the cards. Whether consumers were complaining that their interest rate suddenly went up or that they were charged a penalty fee, it often came down to one thing: they didn't understand the contract. And in credit card land, using the card constitutes agreeing to the contract, so you're stuck.