The holiday season is well underway, and with Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, it's a good time to evaluate how things are going. The economy has shown resilience, with GDP outpacing income growth. Consumer confidence is a mixed bag, with expectations of a brief and mild recession in the first quarter of 2024. Retailers in India are experiencing growth, while the UK is bracing for the impact of business rate and wage increases on inflation. Online shopping has seen a rise in frustration, with more instances of rage clicks and error messages. Package theft remains a concern, with an estimated $8 billion worth of merchandise stolen in the past year. Millennials and Gen Z are spending money to alleviate stress related to the economy. The implementation of App Tracking Transparency on iOS devices has resulted in a decrease in financial fraud complaints. Mozilla's privacy report sheds light on companies that are collecting and sharing more data than ever before. Retail media networks are gaining popularity, with holiday series incorporating shoppable elements. LEGO is also experimenting with a new retail format that focuses on design and offers options for pickup or delivery. The holiday season remains unpredictable, but consumer spending continues to drive the economy forward. [2350637c]
The UK economy is no longer in recession, according to official figures. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% between January and March, the Office for National Statistics said. The previous set of figures showed that GDP shrank 0.3% between October and December. Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, was buoyant about the figures: 'It has been a difficult few years, but today's growth figures are proof that the economy is returning to full health for the first time since the pandemic.' When using the internet abroad, it is possible to avoid data roaming charges by using an eSim, which is a digital SIM card that allows users to activate a mobile plan on their phone without the need for a physical SIM. The eSim can be purchased through apps such as Global Yo, which offers short-term internet plans at a fraction of the cost charged by network providers. However, not all networks or mobile phones support eSims, so it is important to check with the network provider before purchasing. Additionally, the phone must be unlocked and connected to the internet to install the eSim. Dark chocolate with a high proportion of cocoa solids is considered a superfood due to its high concentration of antioxidants. Cacao, the main ingredient in chocolate, has more antioxidants than blueberries, acai berries, and cranberries. To get the health benefits of chocolate, it is recommended to choose dark chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa solids. Starting with lower percentages and gradually increasing the cocoa solids can help train the taste buds to enjoy dark chocolate with less sugar. Switching from milk chocolate to 70% dark chocolate can save 2.6kg of sugar per year, while switching to 90% dark chocolate can save more than 4.8kg of sugar per year. Fraud is prevalent on second-hand marketplaces such as Depop, Shpock, and Preloved, according to a survey by Which?. Of the 1,300 buyers surveyed, 32% had been scammed on a second-hand marketplace in the past two years. The most common scams involved receiving incorrect goods or nothing at all. Depop had the highest percentage of scams at 57%, followed by Shpock at 53% and Preloved at 51%. It is important for buyers to check the seller's reviews and profile and for marketplaces to have proper checks in place to remove scam profiles quickly. [efb830be]
