AI Shops, Barbecues, House Building

Available for over a year

According to Trading Standards, more than 1 in 10 of us have lost money after buying something from a fake advert on search engines or social media. As AI becomes more sophisticated, only half of us believe we would be able to spot them. We’ll hear from a listener who bought clothing from an online shop that used AI-generated images to make it seem like a family-run business with physical stores in London. A pressure group made up of builders and suppliers to the construction industry is calling on the government to do more to help get new homes approved and completed. Labour has promised to build one and a half million new homes in England alone over the lifetime of this Parliament, but it doesn't look like the target will be met. Those in the construction business say that rising costs and a slow planning system are making it impossible to build homes, so is the government doing enough to help? British barbecues used to be a £20 disposable tray and a few burnt sausages, but there’s been a transformation in recent years. A growing outdoor cooking culture has seen millions of us fire up the barbecue with regularity, and as a result, some are spending big on the best equipment available. How many of you went to an out-of-town retail park this weekend to pick up food, garden equipment or sports gear? According to new data from estate agents Savills, the UK's retail parks are almost full. However, despite such success there are very few new ones are being built. The average car on UK roads is now close to 10 years old. The data suggests that we are holding onto vehicles for longer or buying older ones in the first place. This shift is thought to be due to rising costs, a shortage of newer used cars after the pandemic and uncertainty around electric vehicles. PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON PRODUCER: CHARLIE FILMER-COURT