Debt & AI Shift: South Africans under pressure are increasingly discussing overdue credit with AI voice agents instead of human collectors, as 10.54m of 29.24m credit-active consumers have impaired records (June 2025 data). Retail & Inflation Watch: Early 2026 retail FMCG sales rose as inflation eased, but NielsenIQ warns the “breathing room” may close as prices are set to climb again later in the year. Mr Price Europe Move: Mr Price has completed a R9.6bn acquisition of European retailer NKD, adding 2,100+ stores across seven countries. Housing Split: Western Cape home prices are surging while Gauteng stays more affordable, widening the gap for first-time buyers. HIV Prevention Rollout: South Africa officially launches twice-yearly Lenacapavir injections for HIV prevention, backed by $69m from the Global Fund and CIFF. Electricity Tariff Claims: Nigeria’s JED denies viral claims of charging different tariffs than approved by NERC. Food & Farming Ethics: FOUR PAWS links factory farming to climate and animal welfare crises, urging consumers and policymakers to act. Tech for Consumer Safety: Ghana’s “VERIFY BEFORE YOU BUY” campaign pushes phone-based checks (QR/barcodes) to fight counterfeits. Energy Deals: Eskom signs a gas-to-power agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal for a Richards Bay LNG-backed 3,000MW project. Trade Boost: Kenya and South Africa agree to remove tea trade barriers, aiming to grow Kenyan tea exports. Retail Supply Disruption: Clicks says a delayed warehouse system rollout cut turnover by about R175m before availability recovered.