Internet of Things, Luxury Brands, £5 Chicken

Almost all of us - an estimated 97% - own at least one smart device. They include doorbells, speakers, fitness trackers, watches and even toothbrushes that connect to the web – but just 14% of us understand how they collect, use and share our data. The Information Commissioner’s Office explains how new guidance will protect consumers.

The UK's luxury goods sector encompasses everything from watches to jewellery to whisky. It is a successful industry, contributing just under 4% of the UK's GDP, but the years since the pandemic have been difficult. However, a spate of new openings on Bond Street – London’s luxury epicentre – are giving signs of encouragement.

According to eBay, concerns around counterfeiting and seller legitimacy are leading people to buy new items and spend more in the process. It is creating a so-called Trust Tax, with the average person in the UK spending £149 more than they need to on items due to fears around dishonest sellers, fake goods and scams.

Theatre ticket prices hit the headlines again recently, with Olivier Award nominated actor Paul Rhys urging fans to "sit up and scream" at the current cost of tickets. This is after reports of some tickets changing hands for thousands of pounds. It isn’t just premium tickets on the West End either, with theatregoers all over the country concerned about whether rising costs may eventually price them out.

It’s nearly twenty years since Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall urged shoppers to think about the price of a chicken. We were encouraged to question how those bargain birds were produced and whether their price really reflected the true cost of our food.
At the time, the message was simple: if we all paid a bit more, the system could change. However, as families struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, this has become less of an option for many people. So, when you go into a supermarket today, what do those choices look like and what more can you get for your money?

PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSOn

PRODUCER: CHARLIE FILMER-COURT