UK shoppers return to high street as warm weather brings respite from shadow of war
British Retail Consortium figures show footfall rose in May, with consumer confidence improving after spending squeezePhillip Inman (the Guardian)
British Retail Consortium figures show footfall rose in May, with consumer confidence improving after spending squeezePhillip Inman (the Guardian)
Regulator finds inadequate monitoring by firm could have exposed vulnerable customers ‘to clear risk of harm’Joanna Partridge (the Guardian)
Survey finds consumers cannot reliably access 4G or 5G, highlighting weaknesses in digital infrastructurePhillip Inman (the Guardian)
People with coeliac disease say inflation and shrinking ranges are making food staples unaffordableZoe Wood (the Guardian)
Office for Product Safety and Standards advises stopping use of Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro bases immediatelyGuardian staff reporter (the Guardian)
European Commission finds shoppers on Chinese website very likely to find unsafe items and imposes €200m penaltyJennifer Rankin (the Guardian)
With many homes poorly designed for extreme heat, retailers report high demand for air conditioning and outdoor shadeSarah Marsh (the Guardian)
Under government’s price cap typical gas and electricity bills are forecast to rise by £209 from this summerJillian Ambrose (the Guardian)
Travellers warned to beware of debit card cons after one was charged £1,500 for a kebab and another £3,000 for corn on the cobAnna Tims (the Guardian)
Chancellor says she will raise tax on global oil giants to help meet costs of plans and confirms freeze on fuel duty increasesHeather Stewart (the Guardian)
National Audit Office says potential benefits are ‘considerable but uncertain’ while risks are ‘immediate and substantial’Jillian Ambrose (the Guardian)
Cornwall Insight predicts rise in price cap of nearly 13% in Great Britain as Iran war pushes up gas costsJillian Ambrose (the Guardian)
French police fire teargas and UK shops close for safety reasons as hundreds queue for Royal Pop timepieceGuardian staff reporter (the Guardian)
Rent donations on GoFundMe up 60% since 2022, with 100,000 donors helping people keep a roof over their headsJessica Murray (the Guardian)
Redress for force-fitting devices in homes of vulnerable includes £20m penalty and £70m of debt write-offsJillian Ambrose (the Guardian)
Jim Chalmers’ budget tips the scales in favour of younger and less well-off households – but it’s middle-class gen X that are turning to the rightwing partyPatrick Commins (the Guardian)
Whoever wins the Labour leadership tussle, the chancellor’s prospects for staying inpost have risen given the surprise GDP boostRichard Partington (the Guardian)
Reputation of Australia’s big supermarkets takes another hit as federal court finds Coles misled shoppers by promoting fake discountsJonathan Barrett (the Guardian)
Landmark finding against supermarket giant after competition watchdog argued discounts did not represent genuine savingsCatie McLeod (the Guardian)
New rules would enable single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators throughout EuropeJennifer Rankin (the Guardian)
Premium editions of Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! cost up to $250 but some say signatures are unnaturally identicalAnna Tims (the Guardian)
Acquisition would result in combined company serving about 9.6 million households if given regulatory approvalJulia Kollewe (the Guardian)
Fair Work Commission deputy president Alan Colman rejects Victorian man’s case, warning there is no disincentive for speculative claimsCaitlin Cassidy (the Guardian)
PwC survey reports fast fall in consumer confidence with people worried about Iran war’s impact on economy and personal financesTom Knowles (the Guardian)
Fraudsters exploit confusion or anxiety over new IHT rules by offering a ‘safe haven’ for savings potsShane Hickey (the Guardian)
Court in Hanover says man entitled to payout after he and his family had to lie on concreteKate Connolly (the Guardian)
Cap of 20mph in towns and cities and 60mph on motorways would cut fuel demand and combat rising prices, IPPR saysAlex Daniel (the Guardian)
Sarah Schloegl stranded in Alicante after infant was found to have incorrect documentation under new rulesLisa O’Carroll (the Guardian)
Shoppers concerned about effect of Middle East conflict, as UK retailers say government running out of time to cut costsAlex Daniel (the Guardian)
‘Targeted support’ means certain banks and financial institutions can offer free extra help with investments and pensionsRupert Jones (the Guardian)
Rural dwellers reveal failings in backup plans, as campaigners call for deadline to be extended from 2027 to 2030Zoe Wood (the Guardian)
Decision not to change rate comes despite signs inflation is rising amid the Iran war’s effects on fuel pricesTom Knowles (the Guardian)
Consumer insight tracker shows 85% are worried about food prices and a majority think the economy will deteriorateClaudia Efemini (the Guardian)
Some travellers spent hours in lines at airport, with kiosks not working, little seating and few staff on hand to helpAlfie Packham (the Guardian)
Experts say counterfeits lack UV filters, increasing the risk of eye damage, and urge shoppers to check for safety marksNicola Davis (the Guardian)
Candle-making kits and rubber toys among products recalled after revelation about play sand sold by HobbycraftAnna Tims (the Guardian)
Darren Jones suggests cost of energy, food and flights will remain high after de-escalation and Hormuz strait reopensNadeem Badshah (the Guardian)
Secondhand car buyers urged to carefully inspect vehicles, while owners told to beware tests that are suspiciously quickShane Hickey (the Guardian)
Farmers have been calling for higher prices for weeks, amid soaring diesel and fertiliser costs and limited supplyLuca Ittimani (the Guardian)
Senior manager at supermarket giant gives evidence on day two of case brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer CommissionCatie McLeod (the Guardian)