Consumer Confidential: Highchair recall, dependable Porsches, swooshes galore

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Here’s your thankfully Thursday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

-- Heads up: About 1.2 million Graco Harmony highchairs are being recalled because ‘screws holding the front legs of the high chair can loosen and fall out,’ according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It also says cracking plastic brackets can cause the highchair to ‘tip over unexpectedly.’ There have been 24 reports of injuries related to the product. Parents should immediately stop using the highchairs and contact Graco about a fix.

-- Who makes the most dependable car? The top spot goes to Porsche, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Lincoln came in second, and Buick and Lexus tied for third. Mercury and Toyota rounded out the top five. Toyota slipped two places, from third to fifth, reflecting safety concerns that have resulted in the recall of millions of vehicles. So I guess we should all run out and buy Porsches -- you know, because of the value they represent, not because we’re trying to compensate for anything else.

-- Nike Inc. may have had problems with spokesdude Tiger Woods, but the company hasn’t had trouble moving product. Nike’s stock has jumped to the highest level in decades after reporting sky-high profit and projecting more good times ahead worldwide. China and emerging markets represent particularly fertile territory for swooshes, the company says. And now Tiger’s getting back in the game. That can only brighten Nike’s future.

-- David Lazarus