Retail Policy Push: China is rolling out a five-year plan to boost consumption and jobs by modernizing retail, with offline shopping expected to double as leisure and online retail set to expand standardized, high-quality offerings. Cyber & Consumer Data: Hollard says a cyber incident earlier this year affected a small slice of customers’ personal information tied to limited third-party systems, and it’s notifying impacted people. Food & Supply Chain Pressure: Sri Lanka’s poultry and livestock sector warns that maize shortages—after import delays and cancellations—are forcing the industry into a costlier, riskier market that will hit consumers. Tariffs Hit the Checkout: The New York Fed reports many U.S. service and manufacturing firms are planning further tariff-driven price increases, with some using a “trickle up” approach that keeps consumer prices rising over time. Local Retail Revamp: Ashburton’s council is asking whether businesses and property owners will help fund the next phase of CBD revitalization, after a $17.6M push left the town center still needing branding, boundaries, and signage. Product Safety Lawsuit: Costco faces a proposed class action over Orgain protein powder, with claims of heavy-metal contamination. Smart Tech for Customers: Meltwater expanded its AI assistant tools to generate reports and track alerts using its own licensed media data. Retail Security: Australia’s retail crime surge is driving more spending on tech, training, and security services to protect staff and inventory. Inflation Watch: China’s consumer inflation eased in June while producer prices accelerated on higher energy costs.