Consumer Spending Watch: Vancouver retail sales rose 5.4% year over year, but the mix looks fragile—petrol station sales drove much of the gain while food, alcohol and department stores were flat or down. Food Costs & Supply Chain: Restaurant operators say wholesale prices have spiked since the Iran war, with big jumps in lamb, oil and tomatoes raising fears of higher menu prices. Retail Membership Model: Australia’s “pay-to-save” warehouse club idea is spreading as Grosco opens in Western Sydney, betting member fees beat big-box markups. Banking Scam Tactics: Halifax clarified card replacement timing and contactless activation, while another report shows how tellers can stop Zelle-based impersonation scams in real time. Consumer Safety: Jamaica’s food-safety reminder urges shoppers to buy inspected meat with the government stamp. Luxury Meets Space: Prada unveiled a NASA astronaut inner garment with Axiom Space, signaling luxury brands’ push into space products. Investing Access With Strings: Fidelity lowered the SpaceX IPO retail minimum to $2,000, but early selling can trigger a lifetime ban. Tech & Entertainment: “Planet Zoo 2” adds aquatic and avian species and a conservation focus ahead of its Oct. 13 release. Local Deals & Community: A new “clean coffee+” category targets people who feel jitters or crashes from regular coffee.