The top money and scam alerts this summer

For Americans taking a vacation, attending a concert, or working on their home or garden this summer, this season comes with its own unique consumer challenges. Learn the top five money and scam alerts for this time of year:

1. Don’t buy gas additives that claim to increase fuel mileage. Even though gas prices go up in the summer, the Environmental Protection Agency has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage, and some could damage a car’s engine or increase exhaust emissions.

Summer Productivity Info graphic

Now that Summer is almost officially gone, ever wonder how warm weather (yes we get SOME in New York) affects productivity. One group’s take on the impact of working during the summer. (Thanks, Dale.)

Summertime Child Care Arrangements Vary

Children are less likely to have regular child care arrangements during the school break in the summer — about 55 percent of preschoolers and 58 percent of grade-schoolers were not in a regular child care placement during the summer of 2006. According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, those children who do have regular arrangements typically spend more hours in child care during the summer than the rest of the year.