AGP Executive Report

Beauty & GLP-1: L’Oréal is studying how weight-loss drugs affect skin and facial volume, as beauty companies explore products for concerns linked to rapid weight loss. Trade & Prices: The U.S. is removing some 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, including packaging and machinery, while adding products such as shampoo and carpets to the list from Oct. 30. Retail & Spending: UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September despite quarterly growth, while U.S. consumer sentiment sank near a record low amid affordability worries. AI Shopping: Walmart is adding spending limits and purchase tracking so customers can supervise AI shopping agents. Product Safety: Poison experts warn that concentrated 7-OH products sold in convenience stores and online can carry serious risks, despite “natural” marketing. Luxury Brands: China’s slowdown and weak consumer confidence are weighing on sales at major global luxury houses.

Premium Spending: American Express raised its 2026 profit forecast after affluent customers kept spending on travel, dining and shopping; its higher-fee Platinum Card helped drive a sharp quarterly profit increase. Consumer Safety: US regulators plan to place concentrated kratom extracts containing 7-OH and MGPI in the most restricted drug category. The move does not cover plain kratom leaf. Retail Slowdown: UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September, while consumer confidence suffered its steepest monthly drop since 2020, adding pressure on retailers ahead of the Budget. Tech Costs: Global PC shipments dropped 21% in the third quarter as rising memory and component prices pushed up costs and squeezed affordable options. Beauty Demand: L’Oréal’s third-quarter sales beat forecasts, with consumers continuing to spend on premium beauty.

Dining Habits: Solo meals now account for 38% of U.S. restaurant visits, up from 30.5% in 2019. The trend has more than doubled at fine-dining and upscale casual restaurants. Consumer Confidence: UK confidence plunged 11 points to -24 in October, its steepest monthly fall since the early pandemic, as inflation and household budget worries weigh on shoppers ahead of the budget. Household Costs: Oil shipping costs have surged, adding pressure to fuel prices and raising the risk of higher costs for consumers. Product Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC uncovered an illegal herbal-products factory in Lagos, where products were made in unhygienic conditions and one carried a fake registration number. New Services: UK broadband provider YouFibre is preparing a pay-TV launch with more than 200 channels and no long-term commitment. Beauty Sales: L’Oréal’s third-quarter sales beat forecasts as consumers continued to spend on premium beauty products.

Retail Execution: A national dairy supplier reported sales 17% above trend after a U.S. retailer used targeted in-store merchandising to improve shelf coverage. Fresh Produce: A global industry survey found widespread cost increases for fuel, shipping, fertiliser and packaging, with most businesses expecting prices to rise further; Driscoll’s is focusing on consumer insights and berry health messaging to rebuild demand. Local Products: Togo is preparing to share 46 newly approved food standards with businesses, aiming to strengthen safety and help locally made goods reach new markets. Brand Moves: Courvoisier has launched its first global campaign in 20 years, while Bose’s acquisition of Skullcandy expands its consumer audio portfolio. Product Claims: India’s food regulator has issued notices to Nestlé, Abbott and Zydus over product claims.

Customer Privacy: SBI confirmed that 3,897 customers’ personal records were identified in data found on the dark web; the bank says an independent cybersecurity investigation is underway. Food Retail: Bulgarian agencies have begun inspecting major retail-chain warehouses after reports of steep dairy markups, with checks covering suppliers, logistics and prices. Consumer Spending: UK confidence in the economy fell for a third straight month ahead of the Budget, though expectations for retail spending rose as Christmas approaches. Audio Products: Bose acquired Skullcandy, which will remain a separate brand as the companies combine Bose’s audio expertise with Skullcandy’s lifestyle appeal. Local Craft: A new campus store in the Philippines will sell Mangyan-made baskets, woven bags and textiles, supporting artisan livelihoods and traditional skills.

Household Costs: South Africa will cut fuel levies from November to ease record pump prices, with relief of up to R3 a litre for diesel and R1.50 for petrol before it tapers in January. September inflation rose to 4.5%, driven partly by transport and fuel costs, while global food prices are near a four-year high. Product Safety: A recall covers 4.3 million tubes of toothpaste, including children’s products, over safety risks. Beauty and Retail: Estée Lauder named former Mattel executive Krista Lee Berger Clinique’s global marketing chief as the brand seeks to connect with younger consumers. Danish confectioner Lakrids by Bülow has opened its 50th global store in London, expanding a fast-growing UK presence. Food Products: Kazakhstani ice cream exports have surged, reaching $59.5 million in the first eight months of 2026, nearly 50 times the value recorded in the same period in 2017.

E-Waste: New Zealand generates about 99,000 tonnes of electronic waste a year, but only 2% enters formal recycling. TechCollect NZ is urging the government to approve a national stewardship scheme. Packaging Investment: Crown Holdings is building its first Indian beverage-can plant, a $219 million facility designed to produce 2.2 billion cans annually from 2027. Personalized Beauty: Torriden’s Seoul flagship has added an AI skin-analysis kiosk that recommends products and lets shoppers access results by QR code. Retail Shake-Up: JB Hi-Fi will leave Australian retail services group NARTA at year-end after 25 years, while retailer Corsa International has entered liquidation, owing $5.1 million. Candy Prices: Halloween sweets cost more than 15% more than a year ago in a new report; one Mondelez gummy assortment rose 39%, with packaging costs and higher company margins both cited.

Online Retail: Spreetail won marketplace recognition from Walmart, TikTok Shop and Lowe’s, citing faster delivery and a 97% in-stock rate as it expands sales of bulky goods. Consumer Protection: Federal consumer-protection lawsuits jumped 31% to 20,353 in 2025, a decade high, and filings in the first half of 2026 point to another increase. Food Prices: Rising energy, transport and food commodity costs could soon reach grocery bills, with supply disruptions and climate shocks adding pressure. Changing Shoppers: Adults aged 45 and over are projected to drive 51% of online-spending growth in emerging markets through 2036, a shift retailers will need to plan for. Automotive Design: Axalta’s new color-trends report says wellness, sustainability and personal expression are shaping the colors automakers will use to distinguish future vehicles.

Food Safety: Kano authorities sealed warehouses at West Africa’s largest grain market over suspected use of banned chemicals to preserve food, stopping distribution while they investigate. Food Prices: Supply disruptions and drought are expected to keep food costs under pressure into 2027, threatening household budgets. Consumer Rights: Mumbai restaurant chain Cream Centre dropped its challenge to an order barring mandatory service charges and agreed to withdraw a related national appeal. Food Brands: Ghana’s Arise Foods dedicated a 2026 manufacturing award to its customers, while 38 Vietnamese businesses are showcasing food and agricultural products at SIAL Paris to attract European buyers.

Consumer Tech: Chery’s AiMOGA is opening global pre-orders for Mobo, a home companion robot designed to understand instructions, recognize family members and navigate around the house. China Retail: Sales rose 1.1% year over year in September, beating forecasts as telecom equipment purchases surged 31.1%; auto sales fell 21.2%, tempering the gain. Product Safety: Indian quick-commerce platform Zepto is under food-safety scrutiny after a customer reportedly received expired gram flour. Packaging: Dow’s new REVOLOOP initiative aims to advance recycling in extruded plastics, as packaging makers face growing pressure to improve recyclability and manage costs. Consumer Input: Sezzle has formed a 30-member Gen Z council to test features and help shape its financial products.

Retail Expansion: South Korean fish-cake brand Samjin Food has opened its first Shanghai store, with plans to grow through both its own outlets and Chinese supermarket and convenience-store channels. Customer Experience: An Australian Choice survey found more than half of respondents think AI is worsening customer service, adding to concerns about chatbots and automated support. Product Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC seized or destroyed counterfeit and substandard goods worth more than N5.3 billion in a week, including suspected fake drinks and medicines. Food Policy: Jamaica is considering tougher measures to curb unhealthy consumption, including eliminating trans fats from foods. Packaging Rules: Jeju’s water company chief says imported bottled water should follow South Korea’s label-free rules, which aim to reduce plastic waste. Consumer Trends: Chinese shoppers are turning to second-hand goods and local labels as luxury spending weakens; meanwhile, Heytea and BLACKPINK’s LISA launched a limited-edition drink across more than 3,500 stores in 11 markets.

Consumer Pricing: U.S. shoppers are uneasy as retailers adopt AI tools and digital price tags, raising fears that personal data could shape what different customers pay. Food Costs: The Iran war is pushing up fuel, fertilizer and shipping costs for banana producers, squeezing an industry with little room to raise prices. Food Safety: A Malawi study found 91% of raw milk samples from informal markets were adulterated, while Nigeria’s NAFDAC destroyed fake and substandard goods. Medicine Access: India’s government has capped trade margins on 137 cancer drugs, a move expected to bring down retail prices. New Products: Chinese hair-care brand ISYUN named singer Victoria its global ambassador as it targets Southeast Asian consumers with at-home dye and care products. Retail Growth: JLR India is adding a Gurugram outlet and expanding its Delhi facility as it builds out its network in a key market.

Product Safety: Guyana is restricting imports of vaping products, with exceptions for uses approved by health authorities. India’s food regulator has proposed limits for two pesticide residues in tea, aiming to set clearer safety and compliance benchmarks. Retail Trends: Watsons Malaysia opened its largest health and beauty store, stocking more than 17,000 products alongside pharmacy and beauty services. At China’s Canton Fair, AI-powered products are drawing crowds and overseas buyers. Consumer Habits: An Irish survey found nearly half of respondents had discarded a small electronic gadget unused, after one use or within a month, raising concerns about fast-tech waste. Food and Dining: Cage-free egg commitments are spreading across global supply chains, with major food companies among those setting targets. Meanwhile, Panera faces growing customer criticism after sales fell 6.3% in 2024, and its new leadership is working on a turnaround. Household Costs: Retail price pressures linked to the Iran war are adding uneven costs for U.S. households ahead of the midterms.

Retail Expansion: Watsons Malaysia opened its largest store yet, an 18,000-square-foot outlet carrying more than 17,000 health, beauty and lifestyle products, with pharmacy and beauty services. Fuel Consumer Watch: India’s E20 petrol rollout is drawing calls for independent engine-test data. Officials say serviced vehicles face no problems, while critics say drivers need clearer assurances. Product Innovation: Canton Fair exhibitors are showcasing customized, greener goods and advanced manufacturing, including robots and smart appliances, to meet overseas buyers’ needs. Product Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC says it destroyed fake products worth ₦5.3 billion in a week, underscoring ongoing concerns about unsafe goods.

Grocery Disruption: A cyber incident has kept Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. supermarket websites and apps offline all week, restricting online orders and access to loyalty rewards at chains including Food Lion, Giant Food and Hannaford. Beef Prices: An analysis found the expanded U.S. beef import quota cut ground-beef prices by less than 2% in its first month, while prices paid to cattle producers fell as much as 13.9%. Consumer Protections: Australia’s competition watchdog warned AI-driven surveillance pricing could charge shoppers different prices based on personal data, while UK regulators fined three firms a combined £6 million for practices including misleading discounts and hidden fees. Product Safety: Families and researchers are raising concerns that toddler floaties marketed as swim aids may give parents a false sense of security, amid calls for clearer warnings and stronger oversight. Consumer Goods: Global smartphone shipments fell as much as 22% in the third quarter as rising costs pressured vendors. Halloween candy is also pricier: chocolate costs rose 15.5% year on year, and gum and candy prices climbed 8%.

Product Safety: Irish authorities seized more than €3 million worth of illegal vapes and cannabis products in searches across five counties; no arrests have been made and investigations continue. Connected Cars: Geely plans to bring built-in Google services, including Maps and Gemini, to eligible overseas vehicles from the second half of 2027. Consumer Spending: U.S. retail sales rose 0.8% in September, but higher gasoline bills accounted for much of the increase, and rising prices could dampen holiday spending. Smartphones: Global shipments fell about 20% in the third quarter as memory costs pressured manufacturers, particularly in the budget segment.