AGP Executive Report

Cost Pressures: The World Bank warns global commodity prices could rise 23% this year, with energy prices up 32%, as conflict disrupts supplies. Higher fuel and food costs threaten to push up household bills and the price of moving goods. Smartphones: Global shipments fell 20% in the third quarter to 254.7 million units, the lowest third-quarter total since 2013. Omdia says higher prices are weighing on shoppers, especially in emerging markets. Data Privacy: Japan asked telecom companies to block access to a site posting information allegedly stolen from GMO Internet Group, amid fears the personal data could spread further. Product Watch: Decathlon and recycling firm Fairmat introduced a padel racket with recycled aerospace carbon in its striking face, cutting that component’s carbon footprint by up to 31% without compromising performance. Beverage Trends: Heineken’s third-quarter beer volumes rose across all four regions, while its low- and no-alcohol products posted double-digit growth.

Price Pressures: The World Bank forecasts global commodity prices will rise 23% in 2026, with energy up 32%. Higher costs and disrupted grain shipments could worsen inflation and food affordability. Beauty Supply Chains: Coty is shifting more freight to sea and rail after supply disruptions pushed air-freight emissions up 33% in fiscal 2026; the company says it has cut air freight 48% since 2019. Product Trust: Temu has strengthened product controls after Bureau Veritas approved its warehouse tests. In the UAE, Tanishq is putting diamond-verification tools in boutiques so shoppers can check stones for themselves. Changing Car Choices: Gasoline-only vehicles fell below half of global car sales for the first time in the first half of 2026, as electric and hybrid models gained ground, though trends varied by region.

Product Safety: Temu is adding warehouse lab checks for some appliances, textiles and toys after Bureau Veritas assessed the labs’ ability to conduct specified tests against European standards. The extra checks aim to catch compliance issues before shipping. Water Warning: Thane residents have been told to boil and filter drinking water for seven days after reservoir repairs, as a precaution against possible quality changes. Travel Disruption: Rising fuel costs have halted the Odyssey’s residential world voyage in Cambodia, leaving about 200 passengers needing to leave the ship. Consumer Protection: An Australian review found 16 of 20 tested sunscreens fell short of their protection claims, prompting plans to tighten testing. In Nigeria, concerns are also growing over counterfeit and substandard medicines, food, cosmetics and appliances that can put consumers’ health and safety at risk.

Spending Trends: Visa’s quarterly profit jumped as payment volume rose 9%, while U.S. consumer confidence rebounded in October as gas prices eased. Shoppers still cited high food and fuel costs. Product Safety: Australia plans to tighten sunscreen testing after 16 of 20 products fell short of their protection claims, a change that could reshape how brands verify labels. Online Shopping: Temu agreed with the European Commission on a plan to address illegal products sold through its platform. Retail and Climate: Amsterdam became the first capital to ban billboard ads for meat and fossil fuels, linking consumer advertising to its climate and health goals.

Product Safety: Australia plans stricter sunscreen rules after 16 of 20 popular products tested fell short of their advertised SPF. Manufacturers would need to test finished products, submit results before sale and repeat testing over time. Grocery Costs: UK shop-price inflation hit a two-and-a-half-year high, with food prices up 2.9% year over year in October. Retailers warn rising business, energy and employment costs could push prices higher. Retail Expansion: Central Retail has broken ground on a new shopping centre in Rạch Giá, Vietnam, due to open by the end of 2027 with a hypermarket and more than 40,000 essential products. Shopping Online: YouTube has launched product tagging and affiliate commissions for eligible creators in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, connecting video recommendations to purchases. Fraud Warnings: Nigerian bank customers are being urged to avoid links in suspicious messages and never share PINs, passwords or one-time codes; scammers are using fake alerts and cloned websites to steal account details.

Product Watch: Apple says it will replace a small number of iPhone Duo foldables with inner-screen problems, reported just days after launch. Food & Retail: Mexican food group Grupo Bafar posted record third-quarter sales, up 11.5% year over year, as it expands its retail network. But S&P Global warns food prices could surge by 2027, while Chinese shoppers’ pullback is weighing on major luxury brands. Consumer Safety: A new study warns babies may ingest millions of microplastic particles through formula, bottles and feeding products. In Europe, Temu has agreed with the European Commission on a plan to tackle illegal products sold on its platform; UK consumer group Which? says online marketplaces still need stronger legal pressure to stop dangerous goods reaching shoppers. Household Budgets: Consumer confidence has fallen sharply, and rising chocolate prices are adding pressure as Halloween candy sales get off to a slow start.

Social Commerce: YouTube is bringing product tagging and affiliate sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, starting with Amazon and opening a new revenue stream for creators. AI Shopping: L Catterton has invested in InMobi’s Glance to back its AI-powered product recommendations and US expansion; deal terms weren’t disclosed. Household Costs: Northern Ireland’s Consumer Council launched a winter campaign urging households to compare energy tariffs and heating-oil prices as bills rise. Digital Trust: eMudhra apologized after weak keys exposed eight certificate authorities, revoked affected certificates and said it found no sign of misuse; it plans to leave the global SSL/TLS business. Price Pressures: Lindt’s chairman acknowledged the company misjudged shoppers’ appetite for price increases, while UK consumer confidence has slumped. Product Safety: UK consumer group Which? says online marketplaces such as Amazon won’t stop dangerous products without stronger laws.

Product Safety: UK watchdog Which? says Amazon and other major marketplaces are still letting dangerous products reach shoppers. It wants new rules to make platforms legally responsible for unsafe listings. Tech Prices: Global PC shipments fell 21% in the third quarter to 57 million units as rising memory costs pushed prices up and consumers delayed upgrades; the downturn could deepen. Food Supply: Peru’s curtailed anchovy seasons are squeezing global fish oil production, which could hit aquaculture feed and omega-3 supply. Retail Shifts: Chinese shoppers are moving from brand-only stores to value-focused membership clubs, with Walmart’s Sam’s Club among the winners. Grocery Costs: Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start as chocolate prices climb and household budgets tighten. Lindt’s chairman has also admitted the company misjudged shoppers’ willingness to accept price hikes.

Auto Competition: Japanese automakers are racing to shorten vehicle development times to match Chinese rivals, with Nissan aiming to cut launch timelines and standardize platforms across models. Export Push: South Korea’s first Los Angeles consumer-goods expo brought 85 companies in cosmetics, fashion, food and household goods to North American buyers; US K-beauty exports rose more than 40% in the first nine months of 2026. China’s Consumer Market: Beijing’s 2030 retail-sales target faces a slow start: consumer-goods sales grew just 1.1% in January–August, while household spending remains a modest share of the economy. Local Goods: Ahead of Diwali, India’s prime minister urged shoppers to back local artisans, pointing to Indian foods already reaching markets in Greece and the Maldives.

Consumer Safety: Maharashtra’s FDA suspended a Blinkit unit’s licence over allegedly expired food products worth ₹32.71 lakh. In Nigeria, regulators seized more than ₦2 billion in counterfeit and adulterated goods in recent raids, underscoring the risks shoppers face from fake products. Household Budgets: Oil remains above $100 a barrel, after recently topping $117 amid supply concerns. In Britain, retail sales weakened as shoppers tightened their belts ahead of Christmas and confidence fell sharply. China’s Consumers: Beijing aims to lift retail sales to 60 trillion yuan by 2030, but sales grew just 1.1% in January–August, highlighting the challenge of turning policy targets into stronger demand. Product Watch: Apple’s new foldable iPhone has launched globally at about $2,000, with limited supply.

Food & Retail: Dubai’s Fix Dessert, maker of the viral pistachio-filled chocolate bar, won a UAE award after sales of Dubai-style chocolate surged 1,234% in a year and the products reached markets worldwide. Household Bills: A watchdog says ComEd’s $3.1 billion plan to connect data centers could leave customers exposed to costs; the utility says approved agreements protect ratepayers. Sustainable Goods: Indonesia is backing eco-friendly fashion and crafts from small businesses for global markets, though success will depend on quality and design as well as online reach. Consumer Brands: Fossil named Jaipur’s Sawai Padmanabh Singh global ambassador for its new Signature watch collection as it seeks growth in premium watches. UK Shopping: September retail sales fell 0.4% in Britain, more than expected, while consumer confidence suffered its steepest monthly drop since the early pandemic; quarterly sales volumes still rose 0.7%.

Foldable Phone Debut: Apple’s new iPhone Duo is drawing launch crowds, but some early buyers reported screen failures along the hinge; Apple replaced at least one faulty unit. Shopping With AI: Walmart is adding spending limits, purchase tracking and other controls for customers who let AI agents shop on their behalf. Investor Rush: Jio Platforms’ IPO drew a record 13.9 million applications and was subscribed 22.19 times, including strong retail demand. Retail and Affordability: Britain’s sales volumes rose 0.7% in the third quarter but fell 0.4% in September, as shoppers cut back on clothing and consumer confidence wobbled. In the U.S., sentiment also slipped amid inflation and affordability concerns. Luxury Slowdown: Weak confidence and a property slump in China weighed on third-quarter sales at Hermès, LVMH and Kering.

Energy Shift: Renewables supplied a record 44.3% of Australia’s electricity in the third quarter, while batteries covered more evening peak demand than gas for the first time. Tech Prices: Global PC shipments fell 21% as rising memory and processor costs pushed up prices and squeezed affordable choices. Consumer Spending: UK retail sales dropped 0.4% in September and confidence plunged, even as American Express reported stronger spending by affluent customers. Food Supply: With shipping disruptions raising uncertainty over delivery costs, India’s rice exporters say the country could strengthen its role as a global trade hub; India accounts for about 40% of rice exports worldwide.

Consumer Sentiment: UK confidence plunged 11 points to -24 in October, its steepest monthly fall since early COVID, while eurozone confidence also weakened. Global consumer confidence has now fallen for 12 straight weeks. Retail Rules: Japan will require foreign visitors to pay consumption tax upfront and claim refunds when leaving from Nov. 1, aiming to curb resale abuse. Consumer Protection: Dollar General agreed to a nearly $1.9 million settlement over overcharging New York customers. Beauty & Tech: L’Oréal’s third-quarter sales beat forecasts as shoppers continued buying premium beauty, while global PC shipments fell 21%; Apple’s MacBook Neo helped it outperform the downturn. Online Safety: Critical PHP flaws triggered urgent website security patches and temporary shutdowns worldwide, though early reports of successful attacks were limited.

Smartphones: Vivo’s new Y600 packs a 10,000mAh battery and logged a 32-hour livestream test recognized by Guinness World Records; sales in China begin October 30. Online Security: Two critical PHP flaws prompted website operators worldwide to patch systems, with some services temporarily taken offline. The code powers about 70% of websites, putting online services and customer data at risk. Customer Data: Capcom says a breach exposed records linked to 11.7 million email addresses, though it reports no stolen passwords or payment-card details. It warns customers to watch for phishing. Beauty Safety: An analysis of 156,594 personal-care products identified 19 potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals, highlighting gaps in ingredient transparency and chemical safety. Prices: U.S. producer prices for steel and aluminum have risen 34% and 58%, respectively, since February 2025 amid tariffs—pressure that could ripple through goods made with those metals.

Consumer Confidence: UK households are increasingly gloomy about the economy and personal finances ahead of the Budget, though expected retail spending rose as Christmas approaches. Grocery Prices: Kroger is putting $5 billion behind a plan to win customers, including lower prices on thousands of items, as shoppers watch their budgets. Audio Brands: Bose has acquired Skullcandy, which will remain a separate brand as the companies combine Bose’s audio expertise with Skullcandy’s lifestyle appeal. Food Supply: A flesh-eating screwworm was found in Texas wildlife, adding to livestock concerns after earlier U.S. cases helped tighten cattle supplies and push beef prices to records. Payments: Digital wallets now account for 39% of global e-commerce transactions, reflecting their growing role in how consumers pay online and in stores.