AGP Executive Report

Tobacco Crackdown: Qatar’s General Tax Authority seized 200+ kg of tobacco products in an inspection drive, citing items sold without approved tax stamps and unauthorized excise goods. Youth Health Push: Bangladesh officials urged stronger action against e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches after a study flagged rising youth use. Consumer Savings on Medicines: Fiji’s consumer watchdog urged shoppers to compare prescription prices, after one pharmacy quote was far higher than the same meds elsewhere. Retail Forecasts: Macy’s lifted its fiscal 2026 outlook as higher-income shoppers drove strength at Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. Direct-to-Consumer Farming: Indiana farmers are using direct-to-consumer sales to diversify income and test pricing at local markets. Class Action Watch: Dr. Squatch agreed to a $9M settlement over “natural” claims, with payouts tied to eligible purchases. Food Safety Alert: CDC linked a salmonella outbreak to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts, prompting recalls and warnings to check dates. Tech Meets Shopping: Adobe beat revenue estimates on AI demand, while retailers are leaning into AI to improve product discovery and shelf execution.

Retail & Real Estate: Bulgaria’s retail parks are on track to overtake shopping malls by end-Q3, with retail parks already nearly level on total space and vacancy down to 1.9%. Retail Convenience: Walmart is adding Dunkin’ delivery in eight South Carolina stores, aiming to expand to most U.S. Dunkin’ locations after the pilot. Consumer Tech & Pricing: Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo lands at a $1,999 starting price, signaling a major iPhone lineup shake-up. Payments & Shopping Experience: A new report says 56M U.S. shoppers abandoned carts because their preferred payment method wasn’t available, and 43% would link digital wallets to AI agents for purchases. Food Safety: A New Jersey recall targets potato chip products containing pork cracklings after USDA flagged an import eligibility issue; no illnesses reported. Product Innovation: Mars introduced a resealable “pack-and-go” canister for Cheez-It and Club crackers to keep them fresh on the move. Energy Costs: Japan’s Chubu Electric says it overcharged 5.0M+ customers for over two years and will refund excess charges. Banking Disruption: India’s bank unions plan a nationwide strike on Sept. 11, with potential service impacts for several days. Health & Identity Services: Orange Egypt launched eKYC so customers can activate and manage mobile lines digitally without visiting a store.

Retail Leadership: National Retail Federation hires former Amazon anti-counterfeiting attorney Marissa Bostick as senior VP and general counsel, signaling a tougher stance on enforcement. Surveillance Pricing Probe: House Oversight Chair James Comer presses the FTC for details on proposed rules targeting personalized pricing that uses consumer data without clear disclosure. Trade War Hits Groceries & Everyday Goods: The U.S. moves to ban imports of Canadian alcohol, dairy items (including whey), and motorcycles, escalating costs and uncertainty for retailers and shoppers. Customer Savings Push: Spain’s Consum reports €47.94M in discounts to 2.2M+ loyalty members in Jan–Jul, with average savings rising to €21.45. AI Meets Customer Trust: A new wave of agentic AI can speed up discovery and support, but “accountability” still has to stay human. Tech for Shoppers: Apple unveils iPhone 18 Pro and its first foldable iPhone Duo, plus Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5. Banking After Mergers: Fifth Third’s conversion of former Comerica accounts leaves some customers temporarily locked out, with a new login enrollment flow. Power & Service Disruptions: Outages hit thousands in Pennsylvania and Texas, while NV GEBE schedules a system upgrade that will temporarily slow some transactions.

Trade War Fallout: The US moved to ban imports of Canadian alcohol, dairy products and motorcycles (including many beer, wine, whiskey and whey items), with restrictions set to start Sept. 29, as tariffs and retaliation between Washington and Ottawa keep heating up. Consumer Pressure: A new analysis says more tariff costs are getting passed to shoppers, while India’s August consumer inflation is expected to hit a 20-month high on food and fuel. Retail & Payments: India’s PM Modi pushed for a Fintech Consumer Protection Index and stronger cybersecurity as the country’s retail credit shifts toward younger, rural and Gen Z borrowers using digital platforms. EV Momentum: EV retail sales in India jumped 52.9% in August to 2.98 lakh units, lifting overall EV penetration. Shopping Experience & Safety: France fined Boohoo for missing environmental info on thousands of items, and Hyderabad police booked shops over counterfeit Crocs and other brand knockoffs. Customer Service Tech: Multimedia Plus launched INCITE Coach, a spoken AI rehearsal tool for frontline retail conversations. Energy Bills: Malaysia’s fuel subsidies (Budi Diesel/Budi95) are credited with cushioning household costs.

Consumer Credit Watch: US consumer credit jumped in July, rising $18.1B (vs. $11.7B expected) with credit cards hitting a new record $1.357T and non-revolving debt (auto and student loans) driving much of the gain. Retail & Value Moves: Subway Canada rolled out its “Fresh For Less” under-$5 menu, citing a “Lunch Squeeze” where shoppers want affordability without giving up freshness and quality. Tariffs Hit Everyday Goods: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect, targeting hundreds of US imports—like cheese, aluminum foil, smartphones, and toilet paper—with levies up to 50%. UK Shopping Mood: UK retail sales growth slowed to a near two-year low, with food up but non-food down as shoppers pull back on big-ticket buys. Food Safety Alerts: USDA recalled about 1,500 pounds of ready-to-eat pork products due to possible listeria contamination, including distribution tied to NJ. AI Trust in Shopping: A Clutch survey found 53% of consumers are less likely to buy from brands using AI-generated social content, pushing brands to be clearer about when AI is used. Scam Protection: Amazon launched “Alexa for Shopping” to help customers verify whether suspicious texts, emails, or calls are actually from Amazon. Power & Utilities: Outages disrupted customers in Washington and Michigan, while Consumers Energy delayed a decision on selling 13 hydro dams until November.

Customer Protection & Scams: Florida Power & Light’s affiliate FPL Home sent legit mailers warning homeowners they may be on the hook for exterior electric and water line repairs—while scammers are also expected to exploit the change. Retail & Consumer Spending: UK retail growth cooled in August (BRC-KPMG), with shoppers cutting back on discretionary big-ticket buys as bills rise. Travel Retail Expansion: Mecca opened its first international airport store at Sydney Airport (T1), leaning into pre-flight services and a curated beauty mix. Customer Experience Push: Cyncly named a chief customer officer to unify onboarding, support, and customer success across its software portfolio. Energy Bills & Outages: Georgia Power faces high disconnection rates that spike in summer, and Hurricane Lowell knocked out power for thousands on Oahu. Product Safety/Recalls: Boots issued a safety warning to shoppers, and pork products were recalled over possible listeria. Tech for Consumers: Bidgely will showcase AI smart-meter analytics aimed at reducing bill shock and improving customer service. EU Food Labeling: The EU’s “meaty names” ban could restrict what hybrid meat can be called, potentially complicating launches and consumer understanding.

Food Safety Alerts: USDA recalled about 1,500 pounds of imported Italian ready-to-eat pork jowl (guanciale) over possible Listeria, and a separate recall pulled all Made Fresh Salads and Northside deli salads/cream cheese from NYC-area stores after Listeria was found in a Bay Shore plant. Service Disruptions: AT&T users reported widespread 5G home internet, broadband, and WiFi outages, with thousands of complaints logged and an estimated multi-hour repair window in some areas. Consumer Finance & Deals: Chase is offering up to $3,000 for new/upgrade customers who meet deposit and meeting requirements by Oct. 14, while the Co-operative Bank’s £200 switching bonus closes Sept. 7. Energy Costs: India cut LPG refill booking gaps to 25 days for all consumers, and Iran raised gasoline prices for its heaviest users. Retail & Customer Trust: A report highlights how online reviews drive local business sales, and Poland’s consumer regulator ordered major banks to re-check fraud claims under EU refund rules. Trade & Prices: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are set to hit U.S. goods, raising concerns for shoppers in swing states.

Festive E-commerce Watch: India’s online and quick-commerce players are gearing up for the season with “healthy” value growth but more selective volume as prices rise, and analysts flag premium electronics (plus timing around sales) as a key winner. Retail Deals & Behavior: A Labor Day roundup spotlights end-of-season discounts, while a separate report says discounting is no longer the main sales engine—quality, brand appeal, shopping experience, availability, and service are pulling more weight. Branding & Loyalty in Retail: John Lewis is leaning harder into content, launching an all-year “Box Studio” to produce product video for social-first discovery. Consumer Tech & AI Commerce: Azoma lays out what brands should look for in agentic commerce tools as AI shopping agents move from pilots to real purchasing paths. Product Safety & Scams: Nigeria’s consumer protection group calls for coordinated action against fake and adulterated medicines and goods. Home Energy & Customer Impact: Genus Innovation markets a power-bank-style inverter for easier, more lifestyle-friendly home backup. Customer Service Infrastructure: Liberia opens a telecom consumer support center in Buchanan to handle unresolved complaints locally. Food Prices Pressure: South Korea’s Chuseok table costs more amid heat-wave supply constraints. Apple Launch Countdown: Apple’s Sept. 9 keynote under John Ternus is expected to debut iPhone 18 Pro models and new Apple Watch lines.

Retail Real Estate: Auckland’s Botany Town Centre is up for sale in what could be New Zealand’s biggest single-asset retail deal, with Colliers and JLL running an international bid process. Storm & Utilities: Pepco says power is back for 99% of customers after Thursday’s severe storms, while a substation fire in Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad disrupted service for about 3.1 lakh consumers. Payments at Checkout: Walmart is rolling out tap-to-pay in Missouri, letting shoppers use mobile wallets and supported wearables. Consumer Safety Warnings: A UK parent alert flags three baby products (feeding cushions, sleep positioners, and in-cot sleep aids) for choking/suffocation risks, and a nationwide recall pulls moringa leaf powder over possible Salmonella contamination. Food & Price Pressure: Ground beef prices keep climbing, adding strain to budgets. Loyalty & Retail Tech: Starbucks is raising the points needed for freebies, and Target is bringing Slickhair’s viral anti-frizz/flyaway line into stores. Regulators vs Big Tech: Nigeria’s FCCPC is probing Uber’s exit, focusing on unfulfilled customer services. E-commerce/Delivery: Amazon says Prime Air could reach nearly 500 US communities by end of 2026. Health Claims Scrutiny: A Philippines expert warns against “quick fix” weight-loss teas and counterfeit versions of prescription slimming drugs.

Tariff Refund Fight: Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are arguing they don’t have to refund customers after the Supreme Court ruled Trump tariffs were illegal, even as big-box retailers plan consumer cost relief. EPA Chemical Review: The EPA released a draft risk evaluation of 1,2-dichloropropane, flagging potential unreasonable cancer and non-cancer risks for workers and some consumers, including via imported products. E-Cigarette Rules Gap: Regulators are spotlighting a blind spot around nicotine-free and nicotine-imitation liquids after a law expanded “tobacco” oversight but left some substitutes outside the net. Food Label Crackdown: India’s CCPA is pushing back on “100%” food claims, citing cases where products didn’t actually contain the full ingredient promised. Apple Product Pipeline: Apple’s Sept. 9 event kicks off its biggest-ever device rollout under CEO John Ternus. Consumer Protection & Pricing: A European price-display enforcement sweep found low compliance, while Pakistan moved to clear thousands of pending net-metering cases with direct consumer outreach. Product Safety: India flagged a rabies vaccine batch (Abhayrab) after potency and authenticity concerns, raising vigilance over distribution. Retail Tech & Shopping: IFA 2026 showcased AI-heavy consumer electronics, and NIQ says shoppers are using AI earlier to discover products.

Hurricane relief & connectivity: Verizon is waiving Kaua’i call/text/data charges through Sept. 14 and pre-staging backup power, satellite messaging, and equipment to keep customers and public safety connected as Major Hurricane Lowell nears. Storm restoration updates: Pepco says power is back for about 90% of roughly 76,000 customers hit by Thursday’s storms in Md. and D.C., with 7,600 still out Saturday morning, mainly Prince George’s County and D.C.; Duke Energy reported thousands without power in South Carolina’s Upstate and Anderson County. Consumer finance rules: The UAE’s FRA issued its first unified, comprehensive guide for consumer finance companies, aiming to simplify compliance as the sector grows and diversifies. Halal labeling & imports: Bahrain is rolling out a National Halal Mark framework, while Indonesia issued new rules for halal assurance of foreign products ahead of compulsory certification starting Oct. 2026. Food & product safety: India’s Primark recalled a home accessory over “chemical” risk; Hyderabad food-safety teams seized Rs 7.19 lakh in dairy/paneer issues; and KFC India apologized after a customer claimed an insect in fried chicken. Retail pressure on suppliers: A report says big retailers are tightening supplier terms via chargebacks and deductions, squeezing small manufacturers’ margins. Data privacy: Trezor disclosed an additional ShipMonk breach exposing 67,000 U.S. customers’ personal and order details. Consumer tech growth: Google says Gemini hit 1 billion monthly users, underscoring how fast AI products are scaling. Customer service tools: Niagara-on-the-Lake launched a My.NOTL portal for residents to submit and track service requests online. Energy saving prompts: Carroll Electric asked customers to cut usage during 3–7 p.m. peak hours next week.

Consumer Safety Recalls: TikTok has recalled candle warmer lamps sold on its platform in the UK after an Office for Product Safety and Standards warning that the plug can overheat and cause a serious fire risk; Food Labeling Risk: Lidl Ireland issued a “do not eat” recall for Crownfield Müsli-Riegel cereal bars after wheat (gluten) and peanuts weren’t properly listed in English on affected batches; Scam Alerts: UK banks are warning customers about a new impersonation scam where “banks” are the scammer, with losses rising at major lenders; Utility Costs & Hearings: Duke Energy customers spoke at a public hearing over a proposed 18% residential electric rate increase, while California’s CPUC held forums on SCE water and gas ratemaking for Santa Catalina Island; Retail & Consumer Tech: Costco quietly ended its “Costco Next” marketplace without advance notice; Brand/Business Moves: Ameribrands acquired Randal Retail Group to expand retail design and installation capabilities; Energy-Efficiency Lesson: A long-cited Austin study found switching a large retail store roof from black to white cut roof temperatures dramatically and reduced cooling energy use.

Consumer Fraud & Protection: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin announced a free Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit (Sept. 28–29) focused on scams, robocalls/texts, price-gouging, crypto fraud, and Medicaid fraud. Retail & Pricing Pressure: UK discretionary retail sales growth slowed in August, while energy bills are set to rise again—adding more strain heading into Christmas. Electricity Costs & Outages: Pakistan’s NEPRA approved higher electricity charges, while multiple regions reported storm-related power cuts and restoration timelines; Ireland’s SSE Airtricity also flagged an Oct. 5 rate hike. Food & Product Safety: Clorox Puerto Rico recalled 6.3M bottles of certain scented cleaners over possible bacteria contamination; epinephrine injection vials were recalled due to leaking/cracking concerns. Dairy Rules: Bulgaria moves to close a loophole letting imitation dairy be marketed as cheese, tightening labeling around milk-only products. AI in Shopping: Algolia found grocery shoppers are open to AI help as prices rise, but many online experiences still undermine trust. Apple Hardware Buzz: Reports say Apple’s new CEO John Ternus will kick off a major product wave starting Sept. 9, with a long list of potential devices ahead.

Food & Safety Recall: Tesco is recalling Tesco Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw (270g, use-by Sept. 4, 2026) after some packs were found in the wrong packaging and may contain mustard—an issue for anyone with a mustard allergy. Consumer Spending Watch: Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending rose 11.5% to $4.21B for the week ending Aug. 29, led by a 20%+ jump in food and beverage sales and back-to-school demand. Retail Footfall: UK retail footfall stayed sluggish in August, down 1.7% year-on-year, with high streets still struggling even as retail parks improved. Energy Costs & Inflation Pressure: US retail diesel hit a record $5.85 a gallon as Hormuz and Russia-related supply disruptions tighten fuel markets. New Products & Innovation: Reliance launched Bombay Creamery ice cream in India at about 10 cents, aiming to disrupt pricing with its retail reach. Consumer Protection & Rights: Ohio published a guide to help people navigate the lawyer-client relationship, covering hiring, expectations, and how to handle problems. Scam Alert: Hong Kong police say phone scams using impersonated customer service are up 45% year-on-year in the first half of 2026.

Toy Safety: New Zealand is proposing mandatory pre-sale asbestos testing for children’s sand toys and sand-filled craft items after thousands of recalled products. Cyber & Consumer Data: A major breach at ID verification firm ID Scan/Veriscan may have exposed 153M drivers’ licenses and other IDs, while connected retail security remains fragmented even as AI customer-service tools expand. Food & Health: Canada recalled Coaticook aged cheddar over possible listeria contamination; the U.S. also faces fresh scrutiny as counterfeit “squishy” toys show up online and in discount stores. Retail & Pricing: Loblaw’s Real Atlantic Superstore is cutting prices on 4,000+ grocery and household items to help families save about $300 a year; CVS is testing a smaller footprint by bringing back pharmacies without full drugstores. Energy & Utilities: Consumers Energy outlined a plan to more than double capacity by 2040; Michigan payment offices are closing as bill pay shifts online and to partner locations. AI in Shopping/Service: Genesys unveiled governance and routing upgrades for agentic customer support, and Quiq launched voice assist for live calls.

Retail Price Cuts: Real Atlantic Superstore is lowering prices on 4,000+ grocery and household items, aiming to save a family about $300 a year. Food Safety & Labeling Fraud: Canada’s CFIA is monitoring whether an India operation that allegedly swapped fake expiry dates and nutrition labels on major brands could pose import risks. Product Recalls: Asda recalls three ladies’ handbags over “serious chemical risk” from excess phthalates, urging customers to stop using and return for refunds. Consumer Tech & Brands: Anker is consolidating its product lines under one brand name as it expands; vivo T5 pushes on-device AI features for young consumers. Retail Operations: Kroger hires Walmart tech veteran Mark Ibbotson as store operations chief. Customer Privacy: Amazon is hiding specific product names in order emails, pushing shoppers to check details in its app/website. Legal/Policy: Sony and Microsoft argue they don’t have to pass tariff refunds to consumers, even after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs. Inflation Watch: South Korea consumer prices rose 3.1% in August, driven by oil and mobile fees.