Online shopping stories

Job and financial scams are rising in Australia and New Zealand as cost-of-living pressures drive more consumers into risky online offers, warns Trend Micro.

UK retailers are urged to proactively plan for festive sales growth amid supply chain challenges, as forecasts predict stronger performance in the Golden Quarter.

New Zealanders show growing caution towards AI, privacy risks, and online misinformation, with 67% seeing misinformation as a serious issue, the 2025 survey finds.

New research reveals social media now leads as the top scam channel in the UK, overtaking email with 34% of incidents reported amid rising AI concerns.

AI, social media, and flexible payments like BNPL will shape festive shopping as 69% of consumers trust AI to assist their Black Friday and holiday purchases.

Most marketers feel unprepared for AI-driven, click-less customer journeys despite 62% expecting them to be common within a year, reveals new research.

UK retailers face a GBP £92 million risk as most AI initiatives fail to meet eCommerce needs, with many consumers dissatisfied and investments underperforming.

Consumers spent USD $88.7 billion online in October 2025, up 8.2% year-on-year, as AI-powered shopping and mobile sales continue to surge.

Singapore firms have reached USD $1.6 billion in global PayPal sales, driven by exports in gaming, fashion, and beauty sectors to markets like the US and Mexico.

CCL urges businesses to strengthen logistics and customs compliance ahead of the festive surge, as UK online sales hit GBP £115.3bn in late 2024.

Euromonitor forecasts rising demand for comfort, authentic self-expression, cutting-edge wellness, and greater East Asian brand influence by 2026 amid global shifts.

Most Australians plan to cut festive spending in 2025, focusing mainly on gifts and food, as economic caution shapes their holiday priorities.

Ecommpay merchants in the UK and Europe report a 3-6% rise in approval rates and fewer checkout abandonments after integrating Mastercard’s Click to Pay.

Exactly.com has launched Apple Pay Express Checkout, letting UK merchants offer one-tap payments to reduce online cart abandonment and speed up sales.

Retailers are urged to boost Black Friday sales by using programmatic out-of-home ads, blending digital speed with real-world shopper impact and flexibility.

Retailers are boosting observability investments to manage AI-driven complexity and reduce costly digital outages, with median losses at USD $1 million per hour.

Norton has launched its AI-powered Scam Protection globally for all Norton 360 and mobile users, enhancing defence against scams at no extra cost.

UK retailers face rising costs and complexity as de minimis import duty exemptions end, challenging cross-border eCommerce and holiday sales.

UK shoppers now combine AI tools, social media, and peer reviews to guide online purchases, reflecting a shift from relying on single search sources.

UK consumers increasingly prioritise trust and speed in digital purchases, with 77.6% researching online before buying amid booming eCommerce growth.