Consumer Minute: DTV, weight loss, FBI

DTV Converters

The federal government has run out of money for people who need help purchasing digital converter boxes for their TVs.

Starting Feb. 17, TV stations will all switch to digital signals, so anyone using TVs with antennas will need converters.  The government had been mailing out $40 vouchers to help people purchase the boxes, but because so many people have requested the coupons, the government has run out of money to cover the vouchers.

Anyone who applied after Jan. 4 will be put on a waiting list until more funds become available.

Weight Loss

Weight loss companies have launched new efforts at attracting customers at the beginning of 2009—hoping to attract customers who’ve made New Year resolutions to lose weight.  Weight Watchers has new ads with a furry creature that represents hunger. Nutri-System is claiming its products cost “hundreds of dollars less” than other company’s programs. And Atkins is offering coupons.

High Tech Toys

It looks like the bad economy could mean bad news for high-tech companies.  According to a new survey by the analysts at Forrester Research, more than half of U.S. consumers plan to cut back on high- tech purchases this year.

Two-thirds of those surveyed say they’re less likely to buy satellite radios this year. Almost that many say they won’t buy portable GPS units or smart phones, either.

People have already cut back on car purchases. The numbers are in for auto sales in December.  General Motors’ sales were down 31 percent, Toyota down 37 percent, Ford down 32 percent and Chrysler down a whopping 53 percent from a year ago. December was one of the worst months, and worst years, for the auto industry.

FBI Is Hiring

Despite the bad economy, there’s one organization that’s looking to hire thousands of workers. The FBI wants to fill 2,100 staff positions and hire about 850 special agents. The bureau needs computer and financial experts as well as people fluent in foreign languages.