AGP Executive Report

Consumer Confidence: Australian consumer confidence has fallen faster than almost anywhere else, adding to pressure on household spending. AI and Customer Service: A Choice survey found more than half of Australians think AI is making customer service worse, and 70% don’t trust businesses to use it as they see fit. Car Owners: Up to 264,000 Toyota owners could receive payouts after years of smoke complaints, repairs and higher fuel use. Product Safety: The ACCC is taking Kmart to court over alleged safety failures involving nail glue and button batteries. Grocery Watch: A banana shortage has left Coles and Woolworths shelves bare, while 12 egg suppliers are accused of price-fixing and coordinating culls. Food Recall: Tweedvale Dairies reduced-fat milk was recalled in South Australia over E. coli contamination concerns.

Retail Prices and Supply: A supermarket has raised bottled-water prices as supply-chain costs climb, while banana shortages have left Coles and Woolworths shelves bare. Food Watch: Twelve egg suppliers are accused of price-fixing and coordinating culls; separately, South Australia recalled Tweedvale reduced-fat milk over contamination concerns. Product Safety: The ACCC is taking Kmart to court over nail glue linked to burns and button-battery safety concerns. Privacy: Proposed federal reforms would stop businesses relying on a customer’s “accept” click to justify collecting or using more personal data than is fair and necessary. Manufacturing: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ $40 million Kewdale upgrade is set to lift production capacity by 40%.

Grocery Prices: Woolworths raised its 1.5-litre own-brand spring water from 80 cents to $1, citing higher manufacturing, fuel and packaging costs. Egg Probe: The ACCC is investigating 12 suppliers accused of fixing prices, sharing plans and coordinating culls, putting scrutiny on a staple food market. Energy Scheme Fallout: Victoria’s discounted home-upgrade scheme has left some customers out of pocket, with deposits lost and warranties wiped after installer businesses collapsed; alleged fraud involving energy credits has also surfaced. Produce Supply: A nationwide banana shortage has left Coles and Woolworths shelves bare, while Queensland growers report strong demand.

Customer Data: Napoleon Perdis says a breach at a third-party provider exposed records for about 339,000 customers, including contact details and purchase histories; payment details were not affected. Grocery Supply: A nationwide banana shortage has left Coles and Woolworths shelves bare, while Queensland growers report strong demand. Product Safety: The ACCC has launched legal action against Kmart over alleged safety failures involving nail glue and button-battery products, after injuries were reported. Food Competition: The watchdog has also begun proceedings against major egg suppliers over alleged cartel conduct. Retail Trends: Australians are still spending, but new reporting points to changing shopping choices as retailers compete for household budgets.

Product Safety: The ACCC is taking Kmart to court over alleged safety failures involving nail glue and button-battery products, after reports of injuries including severe burns. Kmart says it is disappointed by the action. Health Costs: Australians not eligible for free COVID-19 vaccination under the National Immunisation Program may face pharmacy fees of up to $179.99, with no nationally fixed price. Food Watch: Tweedvale reduced-fat milk was recalled from South Australian shelves over E. coli contamination, while banana shortages are making the popular fruit harder to find in supermarkets. Shopping and Cars: Australians are still spending, but shifting where they shop; meanwhile, a surge in used petrol and diesel listings is putting pressure on asking prices as more drivers switch to electric vehicles.

Product Safety: The ACCC is taking Kmart to court, alleging it sold nail glue without adequate warnings despite reports of burns and supplied button-battery products that failed safety standards. Some injuries reportedly required hospital care. Food Watch: Milk sold in South Australia was recalled over E. coli contamination concerns. The ACCC has also accused major egg producers of cartel conduct, raising fresh questions about grocery prices. Shopping Trends: Australians are still spending at shopping centres, but where and how they shop is changing. Food catering sales rose 7.5% and food retail 6.9% year on year, while retailers adapt to shifting customer needs. Household Budgets: Cost-of-living pressure remains acute, with unemployment at a five-year high. A softer jobs market has eased expectations of another near-term rate rise, but shoppers remain focused on essentials and value.

Product Safety: The ACCC has taken Kmart to court over nail glue allegedly sold without warnings after causing burns, as well as button-battery safety concerns. Food Recall: Tweedvale reduced-fat milk has been recalled from South Australian shelves over E. coli contamination. Grocery Supply: A banana shortage is making the popular fruit harder to find in supermarkets. Retail: Lush is ending its Westfield partnership and closing stores across Australia, reshaping where customers can shop for the cosmetics brand. Food and Health: Cancer Council Australia is urging mandatory Health Star Ratings and stronger limits on unhealthy food advertising to children, citing the links between excess weight and thousands of cancer cases annually. Consumer Health: Hims & Hers has launched its Hers brand in Australia following its acquisition of Eucalyptus.

Product Safety: The ACCC has taken Kmart to court, alleging it sold nail glue without warning of burn risks. The watchdog cites dozens of complaints, including injuries requiring hospital treatment. Grocery Supply: Banana shortages are hitting supermarkets as cooler weather slows growth in North Queensland. Woolworths expects supply to return to normal in November. Beverage Manufacturing: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has completed a $39.7 million upgrade at its Kewdale plant, lifting can output capacity by more than 40 per cent. Retail: Lush is leaving Westfield stores across Australia as leases expire, saying it plans to grow in locations that better suit its customers.

Food Safety: An urgent milk recall over an E. coli scare puts grocery shoppers on alert, though the available report did not name the product. Egg Prices: The ACCC has launched legal action against major egg suppliers over alleged cartel conduct, while saying it is pursuing supermarket price gouging. Shopping Costs: Coles has increased the price of its shopping bags, adding another expense at checkout. Cars: Chinese brands are gaining ground in Australia: they supplied 35.5% of new vehicles sold in September, while battery EVs reached 24.2% of sales. Retail: Lush is permanently leaving Westfield shopping centres across Australia, reshaping where customers can shop in person.

Food Safety: Nissin noodles sold in Australia were recalled over undeclared milk, while a separate urgent recall was issued over an E. coli scare. Grocery Costs: Coles raised paper-bag prices from 5¢ to 30¢, citing higher material and transport costs. Retail: Lush is leaving all Westfield centres as leases expire, leaving Perth with just one store. Target has joined Uber Eats in selected areas, offering fashion, homewares and essentials at in-store prices. Consumer Protection: The ACCC has taken major egg suppliers to court over alleged cartel conduct. Toyota agreed to a record $750 million settlement of diesel-defect class actions involving HiLux and Prado vehicles.

Food Prices: The ACCC has taken major egg suppliers to court over alleged cartel conduct, putting grocery competition under scrutiny. The case is ongoing. Household Costs: Australia’s new gas reservation plan would require some east-coast LNG exporters to set aside up to 20% of volumes for local buyers from 2028, with the government aiming to ease supply pressure and prices. Retail Pricing: Experts warn some businesses may use the credit-card surcharge ban as cover for larger price rises, leaving shoppers to watch total prices, not just fees. Smart Home: Apple’s new HomeView display starts at $299 in Australia on November 13, while the $149 HomePod mini 2 ships October 30. Siri AI requires the home’s owner to have a compatible iPhone or iPad.

Egg Prices: The ACCC has taken 12 egg producers and suppliers to Federal Court, alleging they coordinated production and supply to limit competition. The watchdog says the conduct affected consumers from 2020; the allegations follow sharp price rises, including during the 2024 bird flu crisis. Airline Disruption: Qantas apologised after passengers reported bedbug bites on a Perth–Rome flight on October 9. The aircraft was deep-cleaned, and the return service was cancelled, with affected travellers offered accommodation and alternative flights. Checkout Costs: Experts warn businesses may use the card surcharge ban as cover for broader price rises, blunting savings for shoppers. Food Safety: A cyberattack in France altered supermarket fridge settings, spoiling food at about 150 stores. Australian experts say compromised supplier access and insecure systems could expose local supermarkets to similar disruption.

Product Safety: A pre-workout powder has been recalled over an illegal stimulant linked to heart attacks, while an andrographis cold-and-flu medicine was pulled after a spike in allergic reactions. Food & Groceries: Australian supermarket testing found illegal pesticide residues on produce, with strawberries reportedly reaching ten times the permitted limit; another major supermarket has raised paper-bag prices. Local Manufacturing: Three Victorian food makers are backing a A$21.6 million factory expansion, a boost to local production. Health Services: Hims & Hers is replacing weight-focused Juniper in Australia with a broader women’s health clinic, adding hair-loss and menopause programs.

Product Safety: Australia has recalled several cold-and-flu medicines containing andrographis after the TGA reported a sustained rise in severe allergic reactions, including a fatal case. Affected brands include BioCeuticals, Faulding and Chemists’ Own. Fashion: Adidas is suing Australian label White Fox, alleging its four-stripe designs are too similar to the sportswear giant’s trademark stripes. Food & Drink: The Oatley family has bought the Rosemount, Ingoldby and Secret Stone wine brands from Treasury Wine Estates. Separately, a report on supermarket testing says some produce contained illegal pesticide levels, with strawberries recorded at 10 times the limit. Beauty & Wellness: Brenntag and Givaudan are extending their beauty-ingredient partnership to Australia and New Zealand, while Australian wellbeing brand KIC is launching an electrolyte range. Retail: Woolworths has unveiled its 2026 Christmas food range, including a $100 festive feast aimed at budget-conscious shoppers.

Food Safety: Nissin Salt and Sesame Oil noodles have been recalled over an undeclared allergen, while Australian supermarket testing reportedly found illegal pesticide residues on produce, including strawberries at 10 times the permitted limit. Retail Shake-up: TVSN’s $40 million rescue bid has failed, and suppliers say the shopping network is selling goods in a closing-down sale without paying them. Brand Battle: Adidas is suing Australian fashion label White Fox over clothing designs it says use deceptively similar four-stripe branding. Cars: Chinese EV maker Geely has reached 100 Australian dealerships in 18 months, with its EX5 and EX2 helping drive rapid expansion. Consumer Costs: Businesses are warning that card-surcharge reforms could push up prices, after the government reversed course on proposed changes.

Food Safety: Nissin Salt and Sesame Oil Aburasoba noodles have been recalled in Victoria over undeclared milk. Shoppers with a milk allergy or intolerance should not eat packs with a December 8 best-before date. Separate supermarket testing reportedly found illegal pesticide residues on produce, including strawberries at 10 times the permitted limit. Electric Vehicles: Geely has opened its 100th Australian dealership and sold 15,709 battery EVs in the first nine months of 2026, ranking third behind BYD and Tesla. Grocery Trends: High-protein versions of everyday foods are booming, but a nutritionist warns added protein doesn’t automatically make a product healthier; national data suggests most Australians already get enough. Checkout Costs: Small businesses say the card surcharge ban is pushing them to raise menu prices to cover merchant fees. Premium Tech: Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo, due October 23, is priced from $3,499 in Australia, as analysts watch to see whether shoppers embrace the costly new model.