Petrol stations have taken a big jump up in consumers' esteem in the past year.

For the March quarter as a whole core retail sales paid for by credit, debit or charge cards were up 2.7 per cent - the fastest quarterly growth since December 2006.

Grey Lynn and Mt Wellington residents will have to cope with buying their posh nosh separately from their booze this week if they plan to shop at Farro Fresh.

Claims made about the benefits of natural health products such as vitamins will need to be backed by evidence under a new system.

Don't be sucked in by tempting rewards schemes when you're shopping for a credit card, says Consumer New Zealand.

A controversial loyalty card that offers to pay a chunk of a student's bar tab off their student loan has been launched.

The Commerce Commission's inquiry into an online toy and baby products retailer - accused of taking customers' money and failing to deliver - continues.

An international study suggests energy drinks can trigger heart attacks in young, healthy consumers, and scientists are warning parents.

A new website allows consumers to predict the cost of a taxi fare, accurate to within about $4.

Consumer-driven food trends are nothing new. "Organics", gluten-free and others have all captured consumers, encouraging supermarkets around the globe to respond.

Prices of nappies have fallen so sharply that one retailer estimates combined discounts from its stores alone will top $1m over the next year.

Consumer confidence has strengthened over the past three months, the Westpac McDermott Miller survey found, thanks to a rebound in rural New Zealand.

Lowering the threshold is easy but tax take for small items may not to be worth it.

Coffee pods use already-ground coffee, meaning that it is not as fresh, writes Sam Judd. They are also an environmental disaster.

An Auckland-based online toy seller is being investigated by the Commerce Commission after failing to deliver orders to customers on both sides of the Tasman.

Editorial: Any government is well aware there will be no applause from the many people forced to pay another 15 per cent for their online purchases.

The price of oil is tumbling again, rattling an already-shaken oil industry and heralding lower prices for consumers.

Tinted windows are becoming a fashion accessory for Kiwi motorists - but installing them can put owners at risk of a failed insurance claim.

Six complaints have been made to the Commerce Commission since its preliminary decision to allow infant formula companies to restrict their advertising.

Wellington company Flick describes itself as "the first retailer to give NZers access to the wholesale price of power direct from the market the big guys buy electricity from".

A low-calorie diet isn't necessarily a healthy and balanced diet.

Internet banking customers using a popular online payment system are being warned by banks that they might not be covered if fraud occurs.

Retail spending charged to electronic cards fell 0.4 per cent last month, its third monthly decline in a row, as lower prices at the pump offset increased spending elsewhere.

A big spike in the cost of raw materials has put pressure on chocolate makers - as Cadbury was quick to point out when it announced plans this week to reduce block sizes by 10 per cent.

Chocolate company Whittaker's say they won't be following Cadbury and reducing the size of their bars.

Cadbury is cutting the size of its chocolate blocks, citing manufacturing costs and a preference not to increase the price.

As the battle for the discretionary dollar heats up, loyalty schemes are rapidly evolving, providing retailers with screeds of data about customers.

Aucklanders desperate for a reprieve from the summer heat have shopped The Warehouse in Downtown Auckland out of fans.

He spent 18 months without power after his electricity supplier refused to reconnect him after a storm. Now he's won an out-of-court settlement - and an apology.

"Irradiated food is anything but fresh," writes Sue Kedgley. So why is the govt bending over backwards to bring more of it in, and remove labels that identify it?