Acompanhe as Notícias da Recifes

Fining errant corporations is welcome – but when consumers are also getting shaken down on their local high street, it’s time for a new and boisterous approachIt’s a story that warms the heart and lifts the soul: last week, Virgin Media was fined a record £28m by Ofcom for repeatedly preventing customers from cancelling their contracts. Its methods were insidious: deliberate call-dropping, unnecessary call transfers and constantly putting customers on hold. For anyone who has experienc

Commons health committee also recommends end to junk food advertising on billboards and public transportFast food chains such as KFC should be stopped from opening near schools, and advertising for junk food on billboards and public transport should be banned to help curb obesity, MPs will say today.The Commons health committee will also urge ministers to stop giving in to food industry lobbying and get tough to tackle a problem that costs the UK £74bn a year and causes huge illness.Su

Recent strikes have sent oil prices climbing again, with average gas price per gallon up by 70 cents on last yearInflation cooled to an annual rate of 3.5% in June as the brief US-Iran ceasefire, which has since ended, brought energy prices down, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, has been elevated since the start of the war, largely because of higher energy prices. After mostly stayin

Despite spending increase in June, Barclays says most people still pessimistic about economyRelentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping last month, with purse strings expected to remain loose as England fans gear up for Wednesday’s semi-final.Most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, according to data from Barclays Bank based on debit and credit card transactions. Continue reading...

A bipartisan group argue in lawsuit that $110bn merger would hurt competition and lead to thousands of job lossesA bipartisan group of US state attorneys general are seeking to block the $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, arguing in a lawsuit filed on Monday that it would hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger s

Asian shares tumble with South Korea’s Kospi down nearly 10%Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.It’s a gloomy start to the week as attacks between the US and Iran in the Gulf continue. Tehran said it had closed the strait of Hormuz, while Donald Trump insisted the key shipping passage remained open and US officials said 20 ships were escorted through the waterway in the past 24 hours.For now, we remain hopeful that

As they slim down, UK and US users of GLP-1 jabs and pills are changing their spending habits – and their wardrobesTell us: what does the new weight-loss pill mean for you?“I’m now at a point where I’m going to buy even more clothes,” says Hayley Grice, 50, from Shropshire, who has dropped seven sizes after starting on the GLP-1 weight loss jab Mounjaro two years ago. “I’m very happy with my physique right now.”Grice, the financial director of a business she set up with her husband, tr

Direct oversight of ‘critical third parties’ such as Oracle and Microsoft given to ensure resilient cyber-defences and help safeguard UK economyThe Bank of England has been handed powers to regulate important tech firms including Amazon and Google from next week, amid fears that system failures could threaten financial stability and harm consumers.From Monday, the Bank and fellow City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be in charge of ensuring that four large-scale pr

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe sudden appearance of Apollo on the scene follows multiple rounds of talks between easyJet and Castlelake. EasyJet had told investors earlier this week that it had reached an agreement in principle with the firm at £6.90 per share. Apollo has said today regarding its chunkier offer:EasyJet management’s operational and commercial ambitions can be substantially accelerated via the access to incremental capital and longer-term b

Seven consumers sue the retailer, alleging it violated consumer protection and false advertising lawsA group of consumers have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corporation, accusing the retailer of selling protein powder “tainted” with toxic heavy metals with no warning to consumers.The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in federal court in Washington state, names seven consumers as plaintiffs. They allege that Costco violated consumer protection and false advertis

Measures aim to make it easier for victims to gain compensation, with firms such as Bolt and Lime held responsible for damageVictims hit by rental e-scooters on German streets will have an easier time gaining compensation from their operators under legislation due to be passed in parliament that would put the vehicles on a legal footing similar to that of cars.The draft law by the right-left coalition government, which has been welcomed by consumer rights advocates, says that given the

FCA clashes with Consumer Voice, alleging lack of transparency and conflict of interestThe City regulator is trying to get the only consumer group arguing for higher motor finance scandal payouts thrown out of court, alleging that its co-founders have not been transparent about their funding and potential conflicts of interest.The accusations, laid out in legal filings on Wednesday, are the latest controversy in the long-running saga surrounding mis-sold car loans, with fears of large