In a recent taste test conducted by Which?, Asda's Everyday Tea Bags emerged as the nation's favorite, outperforming well-known brands like PG Tips and Tetley. The test involved 79 experienced tea drinkers who evaluated 12 different varieties, with Asda's offering priced at £1.20 for 80 bags, while PG Tips and Tetley were priced at £3 and £2.50 for the same quantity, respectively [26d1c502].
In financial news, Nationwide has announced an increase in the monthly fee for its FlexPlus account from £13 to £18, effective December 1, 2024. This change comes amid a backdrop of rising house prices in the UK, which saw a 0.3% increase in August, bringing the average price to £292,505. In London, the average house price reached £536,056 [26d1c502].
The Bank of England's decision to cut the base interest rate to 5% in August has contributed to increased buyer confidence in the housing market, although challenges remain for many potential homeowners [26d1c502].
In the realm of consumer protection, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Ticketmaster over potential unfair practices related to ticket sales for the upcoming Oasis reunion tour. This scrutiny follows widespread complaints about inflated ticket prices and misleading advertisements [26d1c502].
Additionally, Italy is considering implementing a tourist tax of up to €25 per night to address issues of overtourism, reflecting a growing trend among popular destinations to manage visitor numbers more effectively [26d1c502].
On the employment front, a survey revealed that 2.7 million women in the private sector lack access to enhanced maternity pay, in stark contrast to just 149,400 women in the public sector, highlighting ongoing disparities in workplace benefits [26d1c502].