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Consumer Information

General Information

American Savings Education Council
Offers information and tools to help users reach their savings goals, for retirement or for major purchases.

Bankrate.com
Consumer bank rates on mortgages, credit cards, home equity loans and lines, personal loans and CDs. Includes local and regional rates and payment calculators for home and auto loans.

Consumer Information Center
Titles, descriptions, and ordering information for the more than 200 free and low-cost publications distributed from Pueblo, Colorado

Consumer Price Index - What's a Dollar Worth?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a market basket of goods and services. At this site, visitors can check the CPI and the rate of inflation from 1913 through the current year.

Consumer Price Index Hotline - 612-725-3580
Information includes the all-items CPI-U and CPI-W for the U.S. City Average, the all-items CPI-U and CPI-W for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, percent changes from the prior period and from a year earlier, scheduled release date for the next CPI issuance.

Consumer Protection Division - State of Minnesota Office of Attorney General
Answers questions and takes complaints on a variety of consumer concerns. Consumers can use this web site to access or request publications and consumer information, check on a specific charity operating in Minnesota, or check on the latest consumer news coming from the Office. Topics covered include health care, tenant's rights, telemarketers, unwanted mail, and more.

Consumer Reports magazine and Buying Guide

Consumer Reports and the Consumer Reports Buying Guide are available at most SPPL locations. You can also access the magazine and Buying Guide online, via Academic Search Premier. Access it from:

• Inside the Library
• Outside the Library

FTC Consumer Protection
Consumer information on a variety of topics, and a link to file complaints online.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Profiles all Federal grant and assistance programs and lists specific contacts for obtaining additional information. Search, browse by type of assistance, program title, or sponsoring agency.

FCIC National Contact Center
Answers to frequently asked questions about Federal programs, benefits, or services.

Minnesota and North Dakota Better Business Bureau
This site features a database of companies, including how long companies have been in business and summaries of any complaints that have been filed against them. Links to educational materials, the national Better Business Bureau, and an online complaint form are included.

PhoneDog
Compares long distance and mobile phone rates and lists least expensive plans available in one's area.

Rating Zone
Receive personalized recommendations on movies, music, books, restaurants, wine, travel, and video games based on your own ratings. Requires simple registration.

Recalls

Automobiles

National Automobile Dealers Association guide
Consumer pricing on new and used vehicles. Includes links to dealers.

Kelly Blue Book
Trade-in and retail value of used cars and motorcycles, as well as new car pricing. The site also includes tips on buying and selling a car.

Edmunds
Reviews of new and used cars, price information and tips on finding the right the vehicle.

Cars.com
Car reviews, repair information, financing tips, and car sales search features.

CarConnection
Reviews, news, message boards, and car-related links.

Carfax
A national database offering vehicle history reports that may reveal hidden problems with an automobile's safety or resale value. Free services include "Lemon Check," "Record Check," "Recall Check," and "Problem Car Check." More detailed reports require payment.

Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings
Compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fueleconomy.gov
The Department of Energy and the EPA have put together this site that includes information about gasoline prices, fuel economy, and tips for improving mileage. The site also links to sites featuring safety ratings and car buying guides, as well as gasoline price data for U.S. cities.

Motor Vehicle Recalls (Recalls.gov)
Recall information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding motor vehicles, equipment, and accessories (such as car seats and tires).

ALLDATA Online
Repair information, technical bulletins, wiring diagrams, and specifications for cars and trucks from 1982 to the current model year. Available in library only.

Car Repair Collection at the Hayden Heights Library.
Saint Paul Public Library's auto repair collection includes manuals and online resources.

Homes

Home Buyers Handbook
From the Minnesota Attorney General's office, this publication includes information on several aspects of home buying, including financing, and legal rights, an inspection checklist and sample purchase agreement.

Home Ownership Center
Promotes sustainable home ownership for low and moderate income Minnesotans. Site includes information on buying a home and foreclosure prevention.

Homehunter
Search listings in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Homefair
Property listings as well as city comparisons. Includes salary comparison calculators, school reports, crime rate comparisons, and other tools for moving.

Homepath
From the Fannie Mae Corporation, this site features lenders and mortgages available, but is also useful for its calculators for figuring how much a potential buyer can afford, monthly payments and refinancing.

Minnesota Housing Prices
A study of Minnesota housing prices from the Minnesota State Demographic Center. The study features median sales prices of existing homes for the state and counties, as well as cities over 20,000 and compares prices over a period of time.

Minnesota Real Estate
Real estate listings for the state from Realtor.com, the official site of the National Association of Realtors.

Mortgage-Net
Mortgage calculators, interest rate trends, and an assortment of articles and information related to buying a home.

Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors
A great source for current and historical statistics on local MLS areas and 13 county metro area existing home sales.

Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections
One-stop shop for licenses and permits for the city of Saint Paul, including building permits, installation permits, and inspection requirements.

Check out the Housing resources on the Library's web site for more information about finding affordable housing.

Personal Finance

Ballpark Estimate
One-page worksheet that helps you quickly identify approximately how much you need to save to fund a comfortable retirement.

Free Annual Credit Report
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you can now request a free credit report once per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Sponsored by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. More information is available from the Federal Trade Commission.

Money and Work (AARP)
Financial planning information and calculators focusing on retirement. From AARP.

National Foundation For Credit Counseling
NFCC is a network of nonprofit organizations providing money management education; budget, debt, and credit counseling; and homebuyer education.

Nolo.com
Publishers of legal guides for the lay user. Their Property & Money section includes information on credit repair and debt, bankruptcy, taxes and audits, social security and retirement, and other financial subjects.

Right On the Money
Based on the PBS television program, this site includes synopses of episodes and links to web sites mentioned. Also included are articles from experts in personal finance and links to Sound Money, the related NPR radio program.

SmartMoney.com
Daily business and economic news and advice concerning stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and personal finance.

Social Security Benefit Calculators
Three calculators - Quick, Online, and Detailed - to help you figure what sort of benefit you can expect, based on retirement date and future earnings. (The Detailed calculator must be downloaded to your computer.)

See Also:

• Financial Aid for College and Higher Education links
• Investment links

Recalls

Recalls.gov
A "one-stop shop" for information about government recalls of consumer products, vehicles, food, medicine, cosmetics, and environmental products.

United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
Information on product recalls and recall alerts.

• Find Recalled Products by Product Type

Repairs & Home Improvement

Repairs & Home Improvement Links from the Saint Paul Public Library.

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Questions or comments: 651-266-7000 / Ask a Librarian

Melanie Huggins, Library Director | Library Board
An Agency of the City of Saint Paul - Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor
Media Relations: Sheree Savage / 651-266-7029

Webmaster: SPPLWeb@ci.stpaul.mn.us