AGP Executive Report

Retail & Consumer Spending: US retail sales fell 0.6% month-over-month in July, with declines led by nonstore retailers, motor vehicle dealers, and gasoline stations—another sign shoppers are staying cautious. Food & Product Quality: Consumer Reports’ top pasta sauce picks weren’t Rao’s; the winners were low-sodium marinaras from Victoria and The Silver Palate. Frozen Convenience: Kroger’s Private Selection everything-bagel breakfast sandwich is getting major customer praise for protein and “real” ingredient taste. Safety & Recalls: Karnataka food safety officials sealed a KFC outlet in Mangaluru after a customer complained of stale, foul-smelling chicken, with inspections of storage and stocks underway. Data Privacy: Crypto wallet maker SafePal disclosed a breach affecting 39,798 customers’ order info, while stressing wallet seed phrases and private keys weren’t exposed. Banking & Customer Relief: Delhi extended its 100% Late Payment Surcharge waiver on water bills through March 31, 2027, benefiting over 5.27 lakh consumers. Retail Tech & Crime: Coles and Woolworths trial facial recognition in stores as they look for ways to curb theft and violence. Air Travel: Southwest says it’s continuing to expand international routes as it evolves its service model. Consumer Sentiment: A University of Michigan survey shows sentiment sliding, with only 8% expecting income to outpace inflation. Counterfeit Warning: Zimbabwe’s consumer watchdog warned about fake Nivea lotion and Huletts sugar after seizures.

Customer Experience Tech: Soda (getsoda.app) is expanding its private beta for a relationship memory app that quietly captures daily customer interactions to build living profiles for teams and improve follow-ups. Food & Label Compliance: India’s FSSAI says multiple food business operators pulled misleading claims, revised labels, delisted products, and even stopped non-standard production after regulator notices. Consumer Safety Recalls: H-E-B added nearly 20 more items to a jalapeño-linked Salmonella recall list tied to NatureBest Precut & Produce, sold under NatureBest and H-E-B brands. Power & Service Disruptions: Hurricane Lala knocked out power for 88,000+ Hawaiian Electric customers, with crews facing storm damage and possible load shedding on Hawaii Island. Retail & Products: PepsiCo India launched Lay’s Hot Chips Style Asian Fiery Chilli in South India, built around pairing chips with everyday meals like curd rice. Workplace/AI Watch: An AI-run San Francisco store reportedly fired a late employee after an agent created an attendance policy but failed to track it. Consumer Protection: Oman’s Consumer Protection Authority reported closures, fines, and vehicle recalls, including 2,084 BMWs for a starter motor issue.

Retail & Consumer Mood: US retail sales fell 0.6% in July and consumer sentiment dropped in August, with economists pointing to inflation worries and the fading of earlier tax-refund spending. Customer Experience & Pricing Fairness: A New Zealand survey found big gaps between what brands promise and what customers experience, with “loyalty tax” complaints rising as new customers get better deals than existing ones. Storm-Driven Utility Disruptions: Hawaii Electric reported 4,000+ customers without power as Tropical Storm Lala moves through, and multiple US areas issued boil-water advisories after water-line issues. Consumer Safety & Recalls: UK and US shoppers faced fresh recall alerts, including food safety warnings and other product withdrawals; Kansas AG also urged residents to avoid illegal roofing AOBs after storm-related contractor activity. Food & Retail Quality Talk: Chipotle quality complaints and “dipped in quality” chatter hit again, while Trader Joe’s launched a new Mango Sticky Rice that’s already drawing customer buzz. Tech for Shopping & Home: Nvidia remains retail investors’ favorite AI bet, and Apple’s smart-home roadmap hints at new HomePod mini and Apple TV updates later this fall. Marketing & Selling: Retailers are leaning harder on social media strategy and video-first product content to lift conversions as shoppers get more selective.

Consumer Sentiment & Retail Slowdown: New data shows US consumer sentiment slid about 8% in August as inflation fears linger, while retail sales fell 0.6% in July—fueling weaker rate-hike expectations. Payments & Customer Friction: Australia reported a Mastercard outage that left shoppers unable to pay with cards and mobile wallets at major outlets, with banks pointing to a “global Mastercard issue.” Amazon Dispute Rules: Amazon is grouping similar arbitration claims into “mass arbitration” if enough customers file the same issue, while small claims court remains available. Data Breach Warnings: Michigan AG Dana Nessel reissued breach alerts urging residents to protect against identity theft; TCS also said threat intel suggests possible employee data exposure but no customer-system impact. Product Safety Recalls: Multiple UK retailers and Amazon issued recalls spanning crisps, pasta salads, safety alarms, fans, water bottles and sun cream. Retail & Brand Moves: Gucci’s new Flora perfume got a price drop at Boots via a simple code; Disney Games says it topped $4B in annual consumer spend. Utilities & Essential Services: Boil-water notices hit parts of Ireland (Mayo/Inishturk) and water-fee disputes in India led to compensation for delayed water service. Hemp Policy Update: Montana hemp processors praised a Senate delay of a THC ban, buying time for a longer-term fix.

Retail & Consumer Mood: U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July (weakest in over a year) as shoppers pulled back on big-ticket buys like autos and after Prime Day promos shifted to June; consumer sentiment also slid, with the University of Michigan index dropping to 51.0 and inflation expectations ticking up—spooking markets and cooling rate-hike hopes. Food Safety Recalls: Walmart recalled Marketside tomato soup kits in 29 states over possible listeria contamination, and egg buyers in Illinois were warned about a Class I salmonella-related recall of certain cage-free cartons. Utility & Water Alerts: Fancy Gap, VA issued a boil-water advisory; Ireland’s Galbally supply faced a similar notice; and Arkansas utilities postponed planned outages due to extreme heat. Customer Trust & Complaints: A new report says U.S. customer satisfaction hit its sharpest drop since COVID, while complaints are at an all-time high. AI as a Product Advantage: Unilever described using AI and digital twins to plan and scale FIFA-related product execution, while retail AI firms push for better product data access. Retail Tech/Policy: A watchdog flagged flawed pricing data in a GSA catalog that could cause agencies to overpay. Beauty & Wellness Picks: New beauty launches and guidance on using HSA/FSA funds for eligible health wearables kept shoppers focused on what’s “worth it.”

Appliance Efficiency: Consumer Reports says many top-load agitator washers still waste water—only 4 of 40 models hit an excellent score, with some using 40+ gallons per load, so it recommends full loads and checking the manual. Local Shopping: Florida’s “Mercantile” is back, a twice-monthly marketplace for locally grown food and handmade goods. Health & Safety Recalls: B&M and Savers issued a “do not use” style recall alert for Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water (specific batch codes) over possible bacteria that could cause eye inflammation. Retail Access & Equity: Aldi is pushing other UK supermarkets to offer free pads and tampons in store toilets, citing survey support and its own one-million-product rollout. Consumer Protection Oversight: India’s Supreme Court ordered performance audits of consumer commissions, questioning whether they’ve become “rehabilitation centres” without accountability. Spam & Scams: South Africans are blocking more spam calls as Truecaller reports 17.47B detected spam calls in H1 2026, up 25.2% year over year. AI & Pricing Pressure: CBS reports AI-driven tech costs are pushing up consumer prices, with phones and other IT items feeling the impact. Business Moves in Wellness Retail: GNC struck a regional deal with DFI Retail Group to expand access across Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore.

AI Trust & Customer Experience: A new report argues only 18% of brands feel AI is hitting revenue goals, with the gap driven more by trust than tech—pushing companies to beta test with smaller groups and add authenticity, logic, and empathy. Consumer Fraud Alert: The FTC says imposter scams have drained $3B from people, and an I-Team investigation highlights how scammers impersonate police and businesses, including via social media. Healthcare Reputation Shift: Patients are using online ratings more aggressively, with many refusing doctors below 4.0 stars and AI search tools influencing choices. Data Privacy & Retail Tracking: McDonald’s provided a 515-page file on one customer showing detailed purchase and loyalty analytics, while Trezor disclosed a ShipMonk breach exposing 13,689 customers’ names and shipping details. Food Safety Recalls: Whole Foods expanded salmonella-related recalls tied to jalapeños, and Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño products sold at major retailers. Retail & Consumer Protection: Grubhub customers and drivers are set to receive $23.8M in settlement payments over misleading fees and subscription practices. Utilities & Consumer Impact: Michigan Gov. Whitmer opposes Consumers Energy’s plan to sell hydropower dams; North Carolina warns Duke Energy Progress customers could face a higher rate increase than the company claims.

Consumer Protection Crackdown: Qatar says health-and-safety violations are treated as “red line” cases and can be acted on within hours, with after-sales warranty failures among common issues. Retail Pricing Rules: Russia’s State Duma moves to tighten how “socially significant” food is sold, targeting tactics like shrinking package sizes or shifting to harder-to-compare formats. Food Safety Recalls: Whole Foods and other retailers keep issuing jalapeño and prepared-food recalls tied to salmonella risk, adding to the week’s consumer-health alerts. Customer Experience & Service: A UK café asked patrons to stop verbally abusing staff after two 17-year-olds were insulted; separately, a self-service kiosk sparked backlash for prompting tips when no employee was visible. Market Pressure on Brands: Studies say smaller FMCG brands struggle to grow consumer reach, while scale-driven brands keep winning repeat purchases. Household Budgets: US credit card balances rose toward record levels as prices and interest rates squeeze consumers, and inflation prints stayed elevated in multiple markets. Retail & E-comm Accountability: India’s consumer authority penalized dozens of e-commerce platforms and highlighted complaint hotspots like Flipkart, Amazon, and Meesho. Seasonal Consumer Spending: Hershey research finds “Summerween” is starting earlier, with many parents already buying Halloween candy ahead of October.

Food Safety Recalls: Whole Foods is recalling select jalapeño-containing dips, salsa, guacamole and prepared foods after jalapeños tied to Coast Citrus Distributors were linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak; customers are told not to eat the products and to discard or return them. Retail & Inflation: India’s retail inflation rose to 4.45% in July (19-month high) as food prices climbed, while US consumer prices in July barely increased, with gasoline down and underlying inflation described as benign. Energy Costs & Customer Protection: Ohio’s PUCO ordered AEP Ohio to separate data-center energy costs so other customers aren’t affected; in the Philippines, SM Investments pointed to resilient consumer spending in retail and malls. Customer Experience in Stores: A Montana grocery opened as a self-serve shop with customer self-checkout, and a new portal rollout aims to help brands manage branded music and messaging across locations. Consumer Tech & Trust: OKX says AI risk controls protected $1.1B in customer assets and stopped $26M in scam transfers in H1 2026. Regulation Watch: Illinois enacted a Buy-Now-Pay-Later Loan Consumer Protection Act, setting licensing and consumer safeguards.

Energy Bills & Power Reliability: In the Philippines, Meralco’s August rate cut (about P0.0428/kWh) drew pushback from energy advocate Fr. Warren Puno, who said it’s not enough for lasting affordability. Renewables Access: Andhra Pradesh regulators raised rooftop solar limits for single-phase consumers under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, easing a 3kW cap to 5kW. Retail & Customer Experience Tech: B&M is trialing a “store of the future” in Wigan with new layouts, self-checkouts, and customer help buttons. Payments & Loyalty Apps: 7 Brew launched its first mobile app with order-ahead and a huge “secret menu,” following the Starbucks playbook for loyalty and personalization. Consumer Protection & Food Safety: FSANZ backed an ACCC probe into alleged food fraud and mislabeling, including claims tied to forced labor and adulteration. Regulation & Packaging: FSSAI guidelines ban plastic packaging for pan masala, and the Philippines is moving toward mandatory certification for certain aluminum products. Corporate Moves in Consumer Goods: Godrej Consumer Products appointed Aasif Malbari as MD & CEO after Sudhir Sitapati’s sudden exit, sending shares down sharply. Retail Operations & Growth: V-Mart hit its 600th store milestone, while Cotton On added Australia Post Parcel Lockers at checkout for faster, more convenient delivery.

Retail Theft Crackdowns: Hillsborough County arrested four people in a $300,000 Tampa Bay organized retail theft ring, while Ohio’s AG announced charges against 46 suspects statewide in a coordinated organized retail crime blitz. Illegal Products Enforcement: Sunnyvale police seized 7,000+ illegal items from smoke shops, including flavored nicotine vapes, kratom, and cannabis. Food Safety Recalls: Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeño-containing prepared foods (salsa, dips, pico de gallo, guacamole) tied to a Salmonella concern linked to recalled fresh jalapeños. AI & Consumer Tech: Google said Gemini hit 1 billion monthly users, and Meta launched Muse Glimmer, a 30B offline agent model for consumer GPUs. Retail & Consumer Policy: A report says Amazon and Walmart shopping bots struggled to identify “Made in USA” products, and the FTC continues action against Hims & Hers over alleged privacy misrepresentations. New Retail Moves: Ayala is expanding international brands in the Philippines via ACX Retail, and Sephora will sell Sephora Collection in Israel through Glam 42 without opening branded stores.

Food Safety Alert: FSIS issued a public health warning for meat and poultry products that include FDA-regulated jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella, urging shoppers to keep checking for updates as the recall expands. Retail Momentum: The NRF says U.S. retail sales rose for the 10th straight month in July, with consumers staying budget-conscious but still shopping through midsummer and back-to-school promos. Consumer Spending Watch: In Europe, the BRC-KPMG monitor reports modest UK sales growth as heat kept shoppers away from stores, hitting non-food while food held up. Payments Policy: India’s finance minister reiterated that UPI and P2P transfers will stay free for consumers, while debate continues over whether merchant charges could filter into prices. Customer Protection & Service: Saudi Arabia tightened auto dealer obligations, suspending and fining a dealer over spare parts and after-sales failures. Customer Experience Surveys: Qatar’s Kahramaa launched its 2026 customer satisfaction survey for electricity and water, running through November. Market Signals: FAO’s food price index edged up in July as heatwaves, energy costs, and geopolitics pushed up cereals, vegetable oils, and sugar.

Food Safety Alerts: Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms are expanding a multistate Salmonella recall tied to jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors, pulling finished items like diced jalapeños, burritos, pico de gallo, guacamole and dips sold at major retailers (including Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods) with “Best If Used By” dates through mid-August; the USDA/FSIS also issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products that may contain the FDA-regulated jalapeño ingredient. Consumer Protection & Pricing: The Consumer Protection Commission completed 14,535 inspections during a year of mandatory dual price display and flagged common issues like missing dual pricing and incorrect currency conversion; from Aug. 9, 2026, dual pricing is abolished and prices must be shown in euros. Energy Costs: Duke Energy urged North Carolina customers to cut usage during extreme heat, citing demand up 43% above normal by July 4, while NIPSCO invited customers to free in-person care center events for billing and assistance questions. Regulation Watch: The U.S. FDA proposed tightening the GRAS pathway by requiring manufacturers to notify the agency before adding new ingredients under self-determined safety rules. Cyber & Data: Framework disclosed a breach tied to a Metabase zero-day that exposed customer details for some users, and a gym-chain incident raised new concerns about AI tools being used to probe login systems. Retail & Consumer Spending: NRF reported July retail sales up 5.15% year over year, as consumers stayed budget-conscious but kept shopping.

Retail & Consumer Spending: Ayala’s retail arm ACX Retail is set to scale overseas fashion, lifestyle and specialty brands in the Philippines, using Ayala’s real-estate, logistics and consumer data to speed rollouts. Consumer Protection & Recalls: South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission says product recalls rose ~5% in 2025, driven by more hazardous imported goods showing up on online marketplaces; regulators plan to suspend sales and push marketplace blocks. Bills & Everyday Costs: UK PM Andy Burnham will bring forward rules on subscription cancellations and clearer pricing, plus a consultation on banning deceptive “discount” practices. Energy Bills: Meralco customers get a small August rate dip as a regulator-approved refund offsets pass-through increases. Retail Tech & Loss Prevention: London’s Edgify raised €7.7M to deploy edge AI for physical retail shrink reduction. Food Safety: Bengaluru saw restaurant closures and seized spoiled/expired items after food-safety raids. Payments: India’s finance ministry says UPI stays free for consumers, with any MDR limited to select merchants. Fashion & Sustainability: Levi’s is expanding in-store repairs and sewing workshops to help Gen Z “fix it, don’t ditch it.” Telecom Customer Value: Consumer Cellular markets lower bills by using AT&T/T-Mobile networks, with trade-offs like busy-tower slowdowns and data limits.

Consumer Complaints Surge: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas says it processed 120,000+ new consumer complaints in 2025, up 72.6%, as more people used digital channels and new fraud-protection rules kicked in. Food Safety Recalls: Ireland’s SuperValu recalled specific Sesame Seeds batches after Salmonella concerns, while the U.S. issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products made with recalled jalapeños. In the UK, Sainsbury’s posted an “important safety warning” after Doritos Chilli Heatwave crisps were recalled due to undeclared milk. Retail & Customer Trust: Costco and General Mills were compared in revenue trend coverage, and a viral South Africa incident showed a Shell/SPAR manager refunding rotten fried chicken after a customer complaint. Banking & Fraud: Nigeria’s court ordered GTCO to stop sending marketing texts to non-customers and disclose where it got the data; ICICI warned about loan scams asking for upfront fees. Customer Experience Tech: Rush Maxx and Rush Fun Park launched an AI-enabled digital journey to help families plan parties and buy tickets. Inflation Pressure: Bangladesh’s Milk Vita raised milk prices for both farmers and consumers, citing higher production costs and inflation.

Food Safety Alerts: The U.S. USDA issued public health alerts for jalapeño-linked Salmonella risk, including ready-to-eat chicken wraps/salads in Missouri and other states, plus a separate listeria recall for ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef products distributed nationwide. Retail & Consumer Trust: A NYC bakery faced backlash after a viral claim it resells Costco croissants at a big markup, while Korea’s discount retail sales index fell sharply in Q2 amid Homeplus store closures/suspensions. Digital Payments: India’s government and the Payments Council of India reiterated UPI stays free for consumers and small merchants, with any Merchant Discount Rate framed as a merchant-side arrangement. Customer Loyalty & Fraud: A telecom warned MTN customers about fake “25GB anniversary giveaway” offers, and Dutch consumer groups warned shady advisers are targeting customers of bankrupt solar firms using leaked customer data. Inflation Watch: China’s July consumer prices rose moderately (CPI +0.5% y/y) as gasoline gains cooled, easing pressure on households. Consumer Products & Brands: Disney Consumer Products India expanded Spider-Man merchandise with FMCG tie-ins, and Japan’s JETRO said halal-driven demand is boosting Japanese food exports to Malaysia. Utilities Disruptions: Verizon reported a voice-service outage affecting customers in parts of the U.S., and FortisAlberta restored power after an Airdrie-area outage.