Your Money New York Reports

Are You Planning to Buy or Use a Gift Card? / Esta Planeando Comprar o Usar Una Tarjeta de Regalo?

• Consumers should be aware of new trends regarding this popular holiday gift. Many retailers have responded to consumer demands by increasing the gift card choices available and improving gift card terms and conditions. However, buyers still need to be diligent when purchasing gift cards, so they fully understand what they are getting. Read more.

Affordable Housing in New York City / La disminución de viviendas a precios económicos en la ciudad de Nueva York

• In recent years, the number of affordable rental apartments in New York City has declined and more households are devoting at least 30 percent of their income toward rent. These factors have exacerbated an already serious lack of affordable housing in New York City. Read more.

Textbook Pricing / La disparidad de los precios de los libros de texto

• New York college students in the State University (SUNY) and City University (CUNY) systems could save nearly 40 percent on their textbook costs if they made the purchases online instead of at their campus bookstores. Based on this report's findings, Comptroller DiNapoli's called on colleges to do everything possible to help students save money, including giving them the opportunity to shop around for books. Read more.

• Over the past five years, the average cost of a college education has grown by over 30 percent, more than twice as fast as the inflation rate during this period. Moreover, parents and students have been increasingly relying on loans to finance undergraduate and graduate college education expenses. These developments have placed additional financial pressure on American families at a time when they can least afford it. Read more.

• The obesity crisis in New York is affecting 1.1 million young people and costs the State $242 million in public and private medical expenses. In response, Comptroller DiNapoli initiated statewide audits of school physical education programs and school lunch meal services to measure their effectiveness in improving students’ health. DiNapoli’s auditors are also reviewing whether students are benefiting from nutritional school meals as required by the State and federal education policy and regulations. Read more.