AGP Executive Report

Retail & Consumer Tech: Currys reported adjusted pre-tax profits up 18% to £191m, saying AI-driven computing sales and gaming launches helped even as TVs faced “soft” demand. Payments & Fees: Malaysia’s communications minister urged bank customers still charged a RM1 interbank ATM withdrawal fee to complain to Bank Negara Malaysia; the waiver covers bank-owned ATMs in the shared network. Brand Trust: Research from Ogilvy found 93% of APAC consumers quietly disengage from brands they no longer believe in, with nearly half stopping purchases outright. Online Shopping Scrutiny: Iowa AG sued Temu under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, alleging deceptive marketing, misleading pricing, and problematic data practices. Food Safety: Taiwan recalled soybean salad oil products after excessive carcinogen levels (benzo[a]pyrene) were found in a batch. Energy Costs: South Korea’s consumer prices rose 3.2% in June, driven by fuel jumps tied to Middle East-linked supply pressures. Recreational Cannabis Retail: Virginia approved a regulated retail market for adult marijuana starting July 1, 2027, with up to 350 shops. Utility Customer Experience: Atmos Energy was named a “2025 Utility Customer Champion” for engaged customer relationships in both South and Midwest regions.

Electricity Costs: MORE Power in Iloilo City raised rates by P2.04 per kWh in June, pushing the average residential rate to P13.91 as utilities pass through generation, transmission, taxes, and UC-FIT charges. Fuel Supply Shock: After Nepal Oil Corporation cut petrol and diesel prices, many stations in Bara and Parsa stayed closed, leaving drivers unable to buy fuel. Consumer Confidence: The U.S. Conference Board said June consumer confidence rose to 91.2 as gas prices fell, though sentiment remains below a year ago. AI in Retail Returns: Retailers are turning to AI to fight rising return fraud, where fraudulent returns are estimated at about 9% of returns. AI for Shopping Discovery: Square rolled out new ChatGPT and Claude integrations to help sellers get discovered and transact in AI-driven conversations. Retail Fraud Case: A Home Depot customer service manager in Georgia admitted return fraud, allegedly pocketing cash by marking items as returned. Grocery Consolidation Fight: Kroger’s plan to buy Giant Eagle drew criticism that it could reduce choices and raise prices. Food Safety/Quality: Consumer Reports tested rotisserie chickens for taste and safety, with results varying by store. Tech & Payments: NCR Atleos extended its deal with Shell UK to run 408 free-to-use ATMs across forecourts. Customer Fees Backlash: McDonald’s faced customer outrage over a temporary Happy Meal toy upcharge tied to a FIFA promotion.

Consumer Rights & Pricing Transparency: Qatar’s MoCI reminded shoppers to check the price before/after discounts, review exchange/return terms, and demand a clear invoice so promos are genuine. Food Safety Recalls: Tesco and Lidl pulled specific ham products in Ireland over possible listeria risk, urging customers not to eat and to dispose immediately. Retail & Shopping Trends: Netherlands retail turnover rose 2.9% in May (online up 4.8%), while a separate report says retail turnover grew nearly 3% in May. Energy Bills & Customer Relief: Oklahoma’s PSO said a settlement could lower the impact of its rate case, with refunds if interim increases exceed the final approved amount. Fuel Price Cuts: Nepal Oil Corporation cut petrol and diesel prices and reduced LPG, citing lower international fuel costs. Customer Loyalty Payouts: Nigeria’s UBA rewarded savings customers with over ₦400m in anniversary bonuses. Heat-Season Consumer Help: Lawrence, Kansas residents raised $1,660 to buy 105 box fans for families in need. Tech for Retail Ops: Australia’s dusk is using smart cameras to track foot traffic and improve store performance. AI Trust in Banking: A survey found consumers’ trust in AI recommendations is mixed, with Millennials and Gen Z notably different in how much they trust AI.

Power & Utilities: More than 1,000 Manitoba Hydro customers in Steinbach lost power June 30, with restoration expected by 4 p.m. Food Safety: Clover Hill Dairy recalled cheese products after possible Listeria; one death, eight hospitalizations, and nine illnesses were reported. Consumer Confidence: U.S. consumer confidence inched up to 91.2 in June as gas prices eased, but “jobs are hard to get” perceptions worsened. Regulation & Finance: The SEC asked for public comment on regulating “novel” prediction-market ETFs. Tech for Consumers: AWS will spend $1bn to embed engineers inside customer businesses to speed up AI system building. AI & Safety: A new on-device deepfake detection model flags synthetic video in real time for desktop calls. Retail & Products: Care Bears was sold to Authentic Brands Group, aiming to expand licensing and retail reach. Auto Recall: Ford recalled 741,000+ vehicles over a transmission park-system issue that could affect vehicle holding in “park.”

Product Safety & Recalls: The U.S. FSIS issued a public health alert for Private Selection Honey Dijon Boneless and Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat sold at Kroger due to an undeclared egg allergen and misbranding—shoppers are told to discard or return affected packages. Energy Bills (UK): Five million British Gas, EDF, EON, Ovo and Octopus customers are being urged to submit meter readings before a July 1 price cap change to avoid higher bills. Telecom Pricing Moves: T-Mobile is automatically moving customers off old legacy plans onto current options, which can raise monthly costs, with changes rolling out over the next few weeks. Retail Tech for Shoppers: Woolworths is upgrading its AI assistant Olive with meal planning, budgeting, and smarter shopping-list features in its app for pickup and delivery orders. Consumer Markets Watch: German retail sales unexpectedly rose 1.1% in May, according to data released Tuesday. Beauty & Personal Care Growth: Komerz acquired UK natural haircare brand NOUGHTY for £6.4m, aiming to build tech- and AI-powered consumer brands. Travel Retail: Pokémon Center Singapore reopened at Jewel Changi after a refurbishment, adding new themed spaces and 20 exclusive products. Home & DIY AI: Bunnings is embedding AI across its operations, from personalized offers to store-facing conversational tools.

Fuel Policy Shift: India is lifting temporary curbs on petrol and diesel sales to commercial buyers from July 1, ending the June 12 limits that were meant to stop diversion and black marketing. Customs Crackdown: U.S. CBP is tightening data rules for low-value postal imports (under $2,500), requiring more product details and tariff codes—likely increasing scrutiny and duties. Consumer Safety & Health: EWG says many U.S. sunscreen products fall short of labeled protection, while FDA proposes new rules for foreign tobacco manufacturers to register and list products. Payments & Pricing Pressure: UK energy bills are set to rise £221 from July 1 under the Ofgem price cap, and T-Mobile is forcing some long-time customers onto pricier plans starting July 13. Retail & Customer Experience: Rental car firms are using AI damage scanners, but customers report surprise charges; meanwhile, Target and GameStop are accused of price hikes on Pokémon TCG amid scalper demand. Market Watch: Prime Day drove $26.4B in U.S. online spending, and research finds UK shoppers want AI for discovery but still prefer marketplaces to handle checkout and fulfillment. Local Retail News: A Bay Area shopping center listing highlights improving retail leasing, and Mecosta County arrests follow a retail fraud probe.

Retail Crime: Scottish Labour says retail crime is “running riot,” citing a 19% jump in shoplifting and a 10% rise in assaults on retail workers (with injuries up 18%) from 2024-25 to 2025-26. Supermarket Pricing Watch: Consumer NZ warns supermarket loyalty data (Club+ / Everyday Rewards) could enable targeted dynamic pricing that may push grocery costs higher, while Foodstuffs and Woolworths deny it. Insurance Affordability: A NerdWallet survey finds many Americans are stressed by auto and home insurance premiums, but most don’t switch—highlighting how inertia keeps consumers in expensive policies. Online Marketplace Safety: Temu signed Australia’s ACCC Product Safety Pledge, adding 15 commitments and annual reporting to improve monitoring and removal of unsafe products. Consumer Finance/Tech: Luma Financial Technologies and TD Securities will link structured products management into a single hub for Canadian wealth firms. Retail Insolvencies: PwC reports Irish retail insolvencies rose 35% in H1 2026, with 109 retail failures in Q2. Brand/Marketing: KitKat won Cannes Lions for “The KitKat Heist,” turning a real transit theft into a global consumer moment. Food Prices: Egypt’s June 28 grocery basket was mixed—eggs and meat up, poultry down, and packaged milk rising.

Retail Power Competition: Rockport Power is expanding in the Philippines via new deals with Meralco plus Batangas I and Nueva Ecija II electric co-ops, with a Mindanao tie-up in the works, as the government lowers the retail electricity threshold under open-access rules. Food Safety Recalls: Total Nutrition is recalling moringa supplements over possible Salmonella exposure, while USDA issued fresh alerts tied to undeclared allergens and other hazards in specific chicken and ready-to-eat items—check lot codes and “sell by” dates. Heatwave Retail Disruption (UK): UK supermarkets shut chilled sections as fridges failed during extreme June heat, leaving shoppers unable to buy meat and dairy. Consumer Tech Pricing: Apple is raising prices on some Macs/iPads/accessories after memory-chip cost spikes, with increases reported up to S$600. Prime Day Consumer Mood: Adobe says Prime Day electronics and essentials spending hit $26.4B, up 9.3% as shoppers chase discounts amid tight budgets. New Products: AiraBreeze and AirZuma both launched portable cooling solutions, while JellyFil debuted a men’s gummy wellness supplement. Energy Policy Watch: Nigeria’s FCCPC warned oil marketers against token price cuts and unfair practices as crude prices fall.

Digital Shopping Behavior: NIQ says about 1 in 3 shoppers in Western markets now discover products via social media, with AI and social/quick commerce driving “discovery-led” buying. Retail & Deals: Adobe Analytics reports Prime Day spending topped $26.4B in the U.S., up 9.3% year over year, as shoppers chase electronics, kids’ items, and personal care amid tight budgets. Consumer Tech & Ownership: Sony will delete 551 StudioCanal films from PlayStation libraries in the UK and Europe on Sept. 1, 2026, with no refunds expected—another reminder that digital purchases aren’t always permanent. Household Costs & Utilities: HK Electric raised July fuel surcharges 33.9% after Qatar gas supply was cut, while PG&E projections warn some California households could pay up to $840 more per year by 2030. Food & Value Pressure: In Addis Abeba, vegetable price swings are forcing smaller, pricier purchases, and Pakistan kept petrol/diesel retail prices steady while adjusting levies. Product Safety/Trust: Supreme Court clarified arbitration doesn’t block consumer complaints, and multiple food recall and “do not eat” warnings kept showing up across supermarkets.

Prime Day Watch: Adobe Analytics says U.S. shoppers spent $26.4B during Amazon’s Prime Day (June 23-26), up 9.3% as inflation pushed deal-seekers toward electronics, toys, appliances and personal care. Consumer Alerts: Morrisons recalled football-themed bacon crisps after some packs may contain undeclared milk, and Ireland’s FSA issued a “do not eat” warning for specific smoked salmon slices due to possible Listeria. Energy Bills: Lagos’ regulator LASERC says utilities can’t recover charges older than 12 months (with limited exceptions), while UK mobile users are warned about fake “EE payment reminder” emails for £4.27. Household & Services: California signed junk-fee and ticketing transparency bills, and a new California food-label law will restrict grocery “quality/safety” dates starting July 1. Food & Retail: SoFresh is set to open at Nocatee’s Publix-anchored Marketplace. Finance: Bank of America customers may claim a share of a $2.25M 7-Eleven ATM fee settlement by June 29. Utilities & Water: Hyderabad consumers complain water-board tickets are marked resolved without fixing low pressure.

Utility & Energy Costs: Louisiana’s governor signed an order aimed at stopping household power bills from being used to cover data-center costs, while Utah and other areas saw wildfire-related power shutoffs and Veolia published water quality reports for hundreds of thousands of customers. Consumer Protection & Refunds: Hyderabad’s consumer panel ordered a convention hall to refund a wedding advance after rebooking; India’s consumer commission also ordered Ansal Hi-Tech Townships to refund a buyer left without a flat after 12 years. Food Safety & Recalls: Negros Oriental banned hogs and pork from ASF-hit areas; Maryland expanded a Clover Hill Dairy cheese recall over possible Listeria; UK shoppers were urged to return recalled items tied to allergen and safety issues. Retail & Customer Experience: A Grubhub/Jersey Mike’s lawsuit claims dentures were found in a sandwich; a North Vancouver dad’s baby product brand hit 250,000 sales; and a UK retail parade opposite Chester Cathedral is up for sale. Tech & Pricing Pressure: Apple raised prices in multiple markets after memory chip costs surged, and OpenAI limited a new model’s release to government-approved customers. Consumer Sentiment: U.S. sentiment improved in June as gas prices cooled, but affordability worries remain.

Food Safety Recall: Maryland health officials expanded a Clover Hill Dairy cheese recall after possible Listeria contamination, warning residents to check all cheese products from the facility. Tech Pricing Shock: Apple raised prices on multiple MacBook and iPad models in the Philippines, blaming soaring memory chip costs tied to AI data-center demand. AI Oversight: OpenAI said it’s restricting its newest ChatGPT model (GPT-5.6 Sol) to government-approved “trusted partners” during a cybersecurity review. Consumer Sentiment Watch: The University of Michigan’s final June Consumer Sentiment reading rose to 49.5 as inflation expectations eased, though cost-of-living pressure remains. Retail & Loyalty Tech: A new report highlights how shoppers use retailer apps before and during store visits, pushing brands to improve “digital shelf” discovery, selection, and checkout. Retail Formats: Dollar General is converting some stores to its larger “DG Market” grocery-style layout, starting with a South Whitley, Indiana location. Utilities & Bills: Florida’s FPL asked regulators to pass along renewable-energy tax savings to customers to soften upcoming bill impacts. Regulated Goods: Nigeria’s aviation regulator fined Saudi Airlines N6 million for consumer protection violations.

Apple Pricing Shock: Apple says it can’t “shield customers” anymore as AI-driven demand spikes memory and storage chip costs, raising prices on many iPads and MacBooks (iPhone left unchanged for now). Consumer Tech & Retail: Amdocs’ Store Genie AI customer service platform is now live across PLDT Home and Smart retail/customer locations in the Philippines. Mobile Connectivity Push: SpaceX told investors it plans a Starlink mobile service for U.S. consumers, potentially challenging major carriers. Food Safety Alert: USDA flagged a honey Dijon boneless chicken breast product sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer for misbranding and an undeclared egg allergen. Scam-Proof Messaging: Australia’s ACMA will require registered branded SMS sender IDs from July 1, with unregistered messages shown as “Unverified.” Energy Branding Scrutiny: Dutch consumer groups ask the EU to crack down on “clean/green” fossil gas claims. Customer Experience Focus: Hamilton, Ontario is gathering public input to build a new city Customer Experience Strategy. Retail & Community: LG expanded its LG Subscribe branded appliance subscription stores to 130 nationwide in Malaysia. Business & Consumer Spending: U.S. consumer spending picked up in May even as inflation hit a three-year high.

Public Health & Food Safety: Two Zol Begadol supermarket branches in Jerusalem were ordered to stop selling food and cosmetics after baby puree was found to contain sedatives (clonazepam and lorazepam), with police still investigating. Retail & Payments: The UK Retail Payments Infrastructure Board launched a consultation for next-generation retail payments, aiming to support new options like account-to-account at the point of sale and smoother cross-border transfers. Customer Experience Tech: Razzl launched an AI copilot for product setup, turning static instructions into real-time guidance and escalating to brands with full context when needed. Consumer Finance & Retail Rewards: Kroger expanded its rewards program so shoppers can redeem Points in-store for grocery discounts, not just fuel savings. E-commerce Regulation: Hawaiʻi AG Anne Lopez joined a coalition praising Shopify’s ban on selling vaping products on its platform. Consumer Electronics Pricing: Microsoft raised Xbox console prices again and is sunsetting the 2TB model, adding “buy now, pay later” to soften the hit. Retail Real Estate: Roswell, Georgia approved variances for a new grocery retail development plus a relocated fire station, with traffic and pedestrian safety updates. AI & Shopping: A survey found online shoppers are increasingly comfortable with retailers using AI for recommendations and chat, but want clearer communication on how their data is used.

Digital Trust & AI Transparency: A new Usercentrics report finds 52% of consumers globally will pay more for brands that clearly explain how they use AI with their data, with Germany highest at 73%. AI in Customer Service: Salesforce says 70% of companies using AI for customer support see returns, and AI agents can resolve 40% of issues without humans. Semiconductors for Edge/Agentic AI: Blaize and Sphere AX plan joint edge-AI semiconductor products, while Qualcomm unveiled its Dragonfly C1000 data-center CPU with Meta as a first major customer. Retail & Delivery Expansion: Uber Eats adds retailers including Academy Sports + Outdoors and Choice Pet; Vinted launches in Australia July 1 with Australia Post as exclusive delivery partner. Food Safety Recall: MorningStar Farms recalled plant-based frozen items due to possible plastic contamination. Consumer Protection/Enforcement: India’s retail body FRAI urges tougher crackdowns on counterfeit and illicit goods, and the UK moves toward mandatory due diligence to stop illegal deforestation-linked ingredients. Local Retail Disruption: Storage King Moorebank in Sydney remains closed after a major fire, leaving customers waiting before access resumes.

Food Safety & Recalls: Armenia suspended a dairy workshop after E. coli and hygiene issues were found in cheeses and yoghurts, while MorningStar Farms recalled plant-based nuggets and sausage patties over possible plastic contamination. Retail & Loyalty: Tesco is extending Clubcard to 16- and 17-year-olds via app/website invites, and Bath & Body Works is expanding into 600+ Ulta locations starting July 12. Prime Day Consumer Deals: Coverage highlights practical “Made in USA” picks and smart-home discounts, with SwitchBot pushing Prime Day savings on locks and home automation. Consumer Protection & Fraud: India’s SEBI proposed expanding direct market access for retail investors, and the RBI updated digital-fraud compensation rules for bank-transaction victims. Tech & Shopping: McKinsey says generative AI is moving from product discovery into full purchase journeys, while California convened a Tech Fraud Task Force to strengthen consumer protections. Local Incidents: A Dollar General manager was shot and killed in Georgia during a $1.58 hamburger bun purchase, and authorities suspended Venezuelan fruit-boat operations after finding prohibited products.