Electricity Costs & Reliability: Meralco raised June power rates after tight Luzon supply and a weaker peso pushed generation charges higher, while Michigan braced for storms with 100,000+ customers reported without power and Consumers Energy staged crews for restoration. Energy Policy for Consumers: India waived excise duty on higher-ethanol petrol blends (E22–E30) to speed cleaner fuel adoption, and Gujarat proposed extending a INR 1.50 per-unit banking charge for green open-access consumers to Aug. 31, 2026. Inflation Watch: The US CPI hit 4.2% y/y in May, driven largely by energy costs, and China’s CPI rose 1.2% y/y with core inflation steady; the Netherlands reported 3.5% y/y inflation, above the eurozone rate. Consumer Protection & Affordability: California AG Rob Bonta launched an Affordability Response Team to target pricing, housing/healthcare practices, and fraud; Michigan AG Dana Nessel warned homeowners about home-improvement scams and contract traps. Retail & Marketplace Scrutiny: A report says Indian online marketplaces generate up to Rs 25,000–28,000 crore annually via dark patterns like hidden fees and auto-add-ons, with enforcement still reactive. AI in Consumer Goods: NIQ rolled out new AI capabilities for shopper and marketing measurement, while Pogo raised $32m to connect brands with verified buyers via AI-moderated research.