An unseasonably warm autumn has left a surplus of winter goods and produce sitting on the shelves despite prices being slashed to as much as 50 per cent off.

British TV chef Jamie Oliver is taking his food campaign to the Olympics in a bid to ban McDonald's and Coca-cola from sponsoring the event unless they meet nutritional and ethical standards.

COMMENT: Len Ainsworth started making poker machines more than 60 years ago to subsidise his dental equipment business.

Prices have been slashed at Auckland's only downtown shopping mall as retailers try to get rid of their stock this week before the centre closes after 41 years.

New Zealand shirt and suit chain Nicholas Jermyn is in the hands of voluntary administrators, who have already shut two stores.

"Serious systematic failures" in used-car market, says regulator.

Top designer brands at knock-down prices and for limited periods of time: that's the deal from Chinese behemoth website Vip.com when it starts to sell here next year.

Making quick tempo choices - especially if there's a credit card involved! - can lead to runaway spending. A two-day or two-person strategy works.

COMMENT: Shutting down stores and ditching in-house brands might not sound like a recipe for success for a retailer, but it's paying off for Myer.

Spending on credit and debit cards rose in April, driven by an increase for accommodation, hotels, restaurants and takeaway food.

The executive director of the new website said New Zealanders can expect an improved range of products.

Dick Smith site relaunched with a sale to celebrate, but deals are limited on New Zealand site.

You know Dick Smith is desperate to get rid of absolutely everything when it describes a cardboard cutout of Redfoo as a "priceless collector's item".

Where have all the souvenir and convenience stores gone? Big stores are pushing them out of Queen Street.

Postie Plus' more than 100-year history has not all been smooth sailing. But new owners Pepkor are asking customers to give the brand a second chance.

Retail spending on credit and debit cards rose in March, led by increased spending at bars and restaurants.

COMMENT: When you factor in all the costs of short-term borrowing, is it really worth it?

COMMENT: You find lower prices online than at bricks-and-mortar stores, right? Wrong.

Will Foodstuffs locally-owned system mean it'll struggle to cope with online grocery shopping?

Customers at North Island stores of New Zealand's biggest supermarket chain will be able to order online from later this year.

A range of new food products are hitting the supermarket shelves and a food chain boss says much more is to come.

COMMENT: The rise of fast fashion wedding gowns is tacky and should be avoided, writes Rachel Wells.

COMMENT: The new rate of NZ Super gets us thinking about our future gap to fill, writes Tom Hartmann.

Not every milestone is worth celebrating.