In the turbulent economic environment, money is losing its value. Consumers are reevaluating their spending across sectors. With a looming crisis of trust in financial institutions, how are people managing their budgets? And how can brands navigate the complex relationship between value and cost?

Today, audiences are shaping the cultural agenda. Empowered to speak up for the causes they believe in, people are actively calling out brands they see as inauthentic. What are the main drivers of this behavioural shift? And how can brands win the trust of these outspoken advocates?

Aware of hidden agendas, people no longer believe in the possibility of absolute truth or complete transparency from institutions, public figures, and individuals. Yet they are still drawn to honesty, integrity, and – at times – even vulnerability, which they expect from peers and brands alike.

Charity shops are having a renaissance with sustainably-minded and fast fashion-fatigued young consumers seeking an alternative shopping experience. So, what’s fuelling the charity shop boom? And what can retail brands learn from this decades-old practice of prosocial consumerism?

Co-op and Crowdfunder have teamed up to boost funding for local charity organisations by matching donations to own-brand product sales. Despite people wanting to give to charity, financial worries and resistance to behavioural change are ever-present as barriers, something the scheme tackles head-on.

Communal kitchens funded by the British government during WWII are being used as a model for many in the food industry looking to help with the cost of living crisis. With millions facing food poverty, could the basic ideals of spaces that emphasise dignity and cross-class dining make a comeback?