Affordability is the leading concern for 35 percent of global consumers today, according to new survey data from EY, increasing by 10 percent since October 2022. EY’s Future Consumer Index surveyed more than 21,000 consumers across 27 countries to understand consumer sentiment and behaviors with 94 percent reporting that rising living costs are a concern. The concern is presented in shifts in purchasing habits and many say they are losing trust in retail and consumer product companies.

Advertisements are a scourge upon society, the environment, and ultimately ourselves. They are among the worst that capitalism has to offer. Why not get rid of them?

How the cult of consumerism ushered in an era of badly made products.

More and more companies are turning to neuromarketing. This controversial practice involves studying consumers’ brains, analyzing how and why we respond to certain stimuli, in order to influence our decisions. It’s based on the idea that 90% of the decisions we make are taken at a subconscious level. If a brand can speak directly to our ‘gut instinct’, bypassing reason, they will sell more products.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a huge rise in cashless payments as society has attempted to limit the contact between people as much as possible. A new study from the University of Chicago explores whether this also influences our spending patterns, and especially our spontaneous purchases.

Some thoughts on buying a house, white privilege and homewares for the apocalypse

The effect of social media on mental health is complex and it depends a lot on the type of social media activity, real-life conditions, and type of interactions. Here is a summary of research on the psychological effects (positive & negative) of social media use on depression, anxiety, well-being, and social cognition.

Just ahead of the Canada Day long weekend, a Saskatoon man may have committed the most Canadian act ever: buying a full-sized canoe with a briefcase full of Canadian Tire money.

Mexican lager brand Corona is launching a pilot program to replace it’s plastic 6-pack ring packaging with a biodegradable alternative. The new packaging is 100% plastic-free and made from plant-based biodegradable fibres, with a mix of by-product waste and compostable materials.

"A particularly ridiculous proposition I received last week was from a company that sells loose leaf tea that supposedly 'enhances female intuition, self-reflection, and witchyness.'" By Sophia Richards.

There’s nothing they need, nothing they don’t own already, nothing they even want. So you buy them a solar-powered waving queen; a belly button brush; a silver-plated ice cream tub holder; a “hilarious” inflatable zimmer frame; a confection of plastic and electronics called Terry the Swearing Turtle; or – and somehow I find this significant – a Scratch Off World wall map.

Fever Ray, illustrations by Steve Cutts

As Palau bans sunscreen to protect coral reefs, we look at other products causing environmental damage.

On the accuracy of George Orwell's predictions about future society over those of Aldous Huxley. It's informative and scary at the same time. "In short, Orwell feared that what we hate would ruin us. Huxley that what we love will ruin us." It's unfortunate that Huxley got it right because the latter is much less obvious. By Scott McMillen.

What this $5 million mural says about art and finance stewing in the same nihilistic culture pot. By James McElroy.

Mark Osborne

Campaigners hail progress as Amsterdam store offers dedicated aisle of more than 700 products, with plans for a national roll-out. By Matthew Taylor.

Cookbooks can be a delight even just to look through - all of those amazing pictures of delicious possibilities that might end up in your mouth one day... However, not all of the recipe books are like that - some really need to reconsider their presentation. That is what Twitter user Mike Rugnetta noticed recently after seeing way too many book covers of instant pot cookbooks. By Agne.

Three years ago, we said the Echo was “the most innovative device Amazon’s made in years.” That’s still true. But you shouldn’t buy one. You shouldn’t buy one for your family. You definitely should not buy one for your friends. In fact, ignore any praise we’ve ever heaped onto smart speakers and voice-controlled assistants. They’re bad! By Adam Clark Estes.

The Democrats are all about reforming capitalism and making it palatable. By Dr. Bones.