AGP Executive Report

Product Safety: The FDA raised its warning on two skin-lightening creams contaminated with mercury to its highest-risk recall level, urging consumers to discard them. Separately, 3M recalled more than 53,000 Scotch laminators after reports of overheating and fires; Primark coin purses are also among this week’s recalls. Retail and Prices: U.S. retail sales rose 0.8% in September, but much of the gain came from higher gas prices; sales excluding gas stations increased just 0.2%. The National Retail Federation still forecasts holiday sales will top $1 trillion, though inflation is expected to account for about half the growth. Consumer Protection: Dollar General will provide $1.875 million in food and personal items and change its pricing practices after New York’s attorney general found customers were routinely overcharged. Store Expansion: Bass Pro Shops plans a 110,000-square-foot store in Irmo, South Carolina, expected to open in late 2027 and create more than 120 jobs.

Inflation & Value: U.S. prices rose 3.74% over the year to September, with energy costs up more than 20%. Shoppers are still spending but increasingly favoring lower-priced retailers. Holiday Shopping: Sam’s Club is keeping its expanded Thanksgiving meal below $10 per person, holding last year’s price as food costs remain a pressure point. Product Claims: Dr. Squatch agreed to a proposed $9 million settlement over claims that some products marketed as “natural” contained synthetic ingredients; the company denies wrongdoing. Food Safety: The FDA gave 61 recalled salad products its highest-risk warning over possible listeria contamination, while Ahmedabad officials seized 2,000 kg of allegedly adulterated ketchup. Retail Competition: Malaysia will review enforcement of rules for foreign e-commerce businesses amid local small businesses’ concerns about growing competitive pressure.

Product Safety: Georgia’s Poison Center reports four deaths and 315 calls linked to kratom products this year, including highly potent synthetic versions still sold despite a state ban. Qatar health officials also warned consumers against an unlicensed weight-loss drink found to contain undeclared drugs. Food Prices: Beef prices have climbed about 30% in three years, steering shoppers toward cheaper cuts and ground beef. Egg prices, by contrast, fell more than 20% year over year as supplies recovered. Household Costs: U.S. consumer prices rose 3.7% year over year in September, with gasoline up 7.1% over the month, adding pressure on shoppers. Product Claims: Transport & Environment says 2024 plug-in hybrids emitted about six times their official CO₂ levels, potentially costing drivers €680 more in fuel annually; it wants stricter EU testing rules. Data Protection: A CenterPoint Energy breach affected more than 1 million customers, with names, addresses, Social Security numbers and driver’s-license details among the information involved.

Food Safety: Ireland’s food authority recalled selected batches of Ready Brek Original and Tesco Super Smooth Porridge over possible flour beetles, warning shoppers not to eat affected products. Retail Standards: The UK’s CMA fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Gold’s Gym a combined £6 million over misleading sale claims and unclear pricing; some customers will receive refunds. New Products: Reliance Consumer Products entered ready-to-drink dairy with ₹20 Joyland flavoured milk in Tamil Nadu, while Apple unveiled HomeView and a new lineup of smart-home devices. Shopping Trends: Nearly half of surveyed US shoppers who use AI assistants said conflicting product details had made them abandon a purchase, and 59% said errors reduced trust in the brand. Sustainability: General Mills says it is working with suppliers and farmers on human rights, regenerative agriculture, lower emissions and recyclable packaging as consumers seek easier ways to make ethical choices.

Online Shopping: Missouri’s attorney general sued Temu, alleging the marketplace misled shoppers on prices and product quality and improperly collected personal data; Temu has not yet responded in the reports provided. Food Prices: A Philippine lawmaker says hog farmers’ prices have fallen while pork remains costly at retail, raising questions about markups between farms and shoppers. Seafood Choices: UK conservationists downgraded ratings for several hake and coley stocks, warning consumers that sustainability varies by catch area. Food Safety: Nigeria’s food regulator seized more than ₦2 billion in counterfeit and expired alcoholic beverages in a Lagos raid. Household Budgets: September retail inflation in India reached 5.54%, with food prices rising faster, while UK shoppers remain cautious ahead of the Budget.

Food Prices: India’s retail inflation climbed to 5.54% in September, driven by food costs. In the Philippines, lawmakers are probing why pork stays expensive even as farmgate hog prices fall sharply. Product Safety: Recent alerts include smoked fish recalled over listeria concerns, a salmonella warning for salmon, contaminants found in tested baby food, and a baby product recall over alcohol content. Consumer Protection: Lagos regulators warned businesses they could face sanctions for ignoring complaint mediations; Malaysia’s consumer tribunal ordered compensation and a refund in two purchase disputes. Retail Cybersecurity: A cyberattack disrupted online orders at UK fashion brands Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight while the company investigates possible customer-data exposure. Household Costs: UK shoppers remain cautious ahead of the Budget, as retail leaders warn that added business taxes could push up prices.

Spending Pressures: UK retail sales rose just 1.3% year over year in September as shoppers stayed cautious; higher fuel spending drove much of the increase, while warm weather held back clothing sales. Walmart says value-seeking customers are responding to its low-price strategy. Online Shopping: Which? accused Amazon and Shein of using misleading countdowns and low-stock alerts, citing deals that continued after their advertised deadlines. Product Safety: The CPSC recalled about 12,000 six-drawer dressers sold on Amazon over tip-over and entrapment risks, urging owners to stop using them unless anchored to a wall. Grocery Bills: A Bulgarian consumer watchdog reported steep retail markups on some dairy and produce, while retailers disputed its figures and said they were confused with price comparisons against the EU average. Retail Disruption: Ahold Delhaize took some systems offline after a security issue, leaving several grocery websites unavailable while stores remained open.

Retail Pressure: UK store visits fell 2.9% in September, with shopping centres hit hardest. The British Retail Consortium says retailers face £41 billion in business taxes this year and is urging the Government to ease costs ahead of the Budget. Food Prices: India’s inflation climbed to 5.54% in September, driven by food prices rising 7.74% — a further squeeze on household budgets. Auto Competition: European and Chinese automakers are bringing up to 60 new models to the Paris show as they battle for buyers; a new EU-China deal aims to cap Chinese hybrid imports. AI and Product Discovery: Brands are racing to adapt as shoppers turn to AI for product recommendations. Data firm Spins has launched a tool to help food and beverage brands understand how their products appear in AI-generated suggestions. Food Innovation: Japanese consumers are looking for food and drink that is affordable, convenient and health-focused, challenging manufacturers to balance new benefits with price.

Product Quality: Guyana’s Gafsons Industries now has three locally made products certified under the National Standards Mark, while Tasmania is promoting its mark to help shoppers identify authentic local goods. E-waste: Nearly half of Irish consumers surveyed discarded a low-cost electronic gadget within a year, often after little or no use; waste officials warn that impulse buying is adding to the e-waste burden. Safety Alert: The FDA says a recalled lot of Babies’ Magic Tea Baby Sleep Gripe Water contained undeclared alcohol and other substances; caregivers are urged to stop using it. Price Pressure: PepsiCo is preparing to raise prices on Doritos and sodas, while a New York Fed study found tariffs lifted consumer-goods prices by 2.9% by February. Shopping and Data: Companies are using personal data to shape the products and prices customers see, renewing questions about transparency and how shoppers are targeted.

Shopping Tools: Tesco is rolling out an AI Clubcard meal planner that uses shoppers’ purchase data to suggest recipes based on budget, dietary needs and ingredients at home. Food Safety: Marks & Spencer has recalled three ready-to-eat products in Ireland over possible salmonella contamination in pistachios; customers are told not to eat them. Food Prices: Bulgarian wholesale food prices rose 0.82% in a week, led by sharp increases in tomatoes and green peppers. In Bangladesh, wholesale edible-oil prices fell, but retail prices held steady. Quick Commerce: Blinkit led a Bernstein study of product availability in India, with 94.4% of sampled items in stock, ahead of Flipkart Minutes at 88.7%. Prime Refunds: Amazon is sending eligible U.S. customers automatic refunds of up to $200 under its FTC settlement over Prime enrollment and cancellations. Holiday Hiring: U.S. retailers are on track to add about 450,000 seasonal jobs, the lowest total in nearly 20 years.

Food Safety: UK authorities recalled eggs from a Ukrainian supplier after Salmonella was linked to 36 cases; shoppers are urged to check shell code 3UA1012066 and not eat affected eggs. Retail Expansion: India’s Baazar Style opened a store in Prayagraj, bringing its network to 285, while Umiya Mobile plans 14 new outlets across three states. Beauty Products: Amwill Health Care received approval to import FoliColor hair color into India, opening a new route to market for the product line. Prices and Spending: U.S. consumer sentiment sank to a five-month low as cost worries mounted; a New York Fed study found tariffs lifted consumer goods prices by 2.9% through February. Retail Costs: Australian cafes say a ban on card surcharges is forcing some businesses to raise menu prices to cover payment fees.

Data Security: ASOS says hackers accessed customer communications systems, exposing names, contact details, home addresses and shopping searches; passwords and payment-card data were not affected. Consumer Mood: U.S. sentiment fell to 46.3 in October, with current conditions at a record low and inflation expectations rising, pointing to more pressure on household spending. Prices: New York Fed research says tariffs added 2.9 percentage points to consumer-goods prices, while India’s food-led inflation is also expected to rise. Product Safety: Primark recalled Halloween decorations over asbestos fears; M&S meals and French raw-milk cheese were recalled over contamination risks, and Karnataka inspectors seized expired ice cream products. Brand Moves: Nestlé’s quiet retreat from Sweet Earth puts its plant-based portfolio in focus. Fuel Retail: Nigerian independent petrol retailers are seeking at least 30% of NNPC’s discounted supply to widen access to lower prices.

Product Safety: Authorities in Thailand seized counterfeit cosmetics sold online, while police in the Philippines arrested five people accused of distributing unauthorized health products. A smoked seafood recall over possible Listeria contamination affects six U.S. states; parents are also urged to stop using a recalled baby gripe-water product after alcohols were detected. Prices and Confidence: New York Fed researchers estimate tariffs lifted U.S. consumer-goods prices by 2.9 percentage points. Consumer sentiment fell to 46.3 in October, its lowest level since May, as inflation worries deepened. Food Costs: Expanded beef imports have yet to lower grocery prices, while putting pressure on cattle producers. Everyday Essentials: An Indiana rally renewed calls to repeal sales taxes on menstrual products, which the state taxes at 7%.

Food Trends: Ocado has launched an online aisle of more than 350 products without artificial additives, responding to shoppers’ growing interest in simpler ingredients. Food Safety: M&S and Tesco are recalling five prepared foods over possible salmonella contamination in pistachios; customers are told not to eat them and can return them for a refund. Retail Sales: U.S. retail sales rose 4.05% year over year in September, marking a 12th straight month of growth, though shoppers remain focused on essentials and value. Prices: PepsiCo plans price increases on Doritos and sodas as demand weakens, while a New York Fed analysis says tariffs added 2.9 percentage points to U.S. consumer goods prices.

Retail & Spending: U.S. retail sales rose 4% year over year in September, but Circana expects holiday spending to average $779 per person, down from $796 last year, as shoppers stay selective. Product Prices: A New York Fed analysis estimates tariffs pushed consumer-goods prices 2.9 percentage points higher by February, with effects expected to linger. Brand Watch: PepsiCo’s North American soda volumes fell 2% in the third quarter as strained consumers pulled back. Product Changes: Some supermarket coffee brands have dropped “100% arabica” claims as bean costs soar; shoppers may see old and new labels side by side during the transition. Online Safety: ASOS says hackers accessed some customers’ names and contact details; payment card data and passwords were not affected. What’s Next: Apple will hold an Oct. 13 event expected to showcase smart-home products, including a rumored home hub. Pet Food: An analysis found contaminants in nearly all 100 cat foods tested, but did not establish whether detected levels pose health risks.

Data Security: ASOS says hackers used an employee’s stolen credentials to access some customers’ names and contact details. Payment information and passwords were not accessed; the retailer warns customers to watch for unexpected calls and messages. Grocery Shopping: Ocado has launched an online aisle with more than 350 products made with recognisable ingredients, as 74% of UK consumers say they prefer them. Retail Results: Tesco lifted its profit outlook, citing resilient consumer confidence, while sales growth was boosted by online shoppers seeking value. Amazon Restructuring: The company cut fewer than 1,000 corporate jobs, mostly in its Stores division, including customer service and seller-support teams.