Further References & Specific Solutions
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
UK household essentials have surged: water and sewage bills rose 26 % in April 2025—“awful April”—pushing inflation to 3.5 % by May. Similar pressure in the US sees consumers trading down even while spending persists.
Plummeting Consumer Confidence
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
UK consumer confidence dropped to –10.4 % in Q2 2025 from –7.8 % in Q1, lowest since early 2024. Economic anxiety over debt and job security is dampening spending on experiences like holidays.
Worsening Customer Service
Rising Living Costs in USA and UK
Declining Experience Quality in the US
In the UK, automated chatbots and poorly logged “boomerang complaints” frustrate customers across sectors—banks, energy, retailers—even the contact process is buried behind endless clicks.
Declining Experience Quality in the US
Declining Experience Quality in the US
Declining Experience Quality in the US
Forrester reports that US customer experience scores have dropped for three consecutive years, now at 69.3 out of 100—the lowest since 2016. Consumers see little value amid rising prices and indifferent service.
Eroding Trust in Digital Services
Declining Experience Quality in the US
Painful Returns and Refund Delays
In the 2025 Thales Digital Trust Index, no digital sector achieved over 50 % consumer trust. Only banking (44 %) and government (42 %) held steady or rose; media ranked at a mere 3 %.
Painful Returns and Refund Delays
Declining Experience Quality in the US
Painful Returns and Refund Delays
In the UK, 58 percent of shoppers say returns fees are unjust, and poor refund processes erode trust—over half of consumers avoid buying again after slow refunds. Returns often take weeks, costing time and confidence.
Fatal Conveniences Book
Fatal Conveniences by Darin Olien exposes how everyday comforts – from cleaning products and processed food to sedentary habits and constant screen use – quietly damage health. Olien argues that the pursuit of convenience has normalised exposure to toxic chemicals, poor nutrition, polluted air and water, and destructive lifestyle patterns. Drawing on research and experience, he urges readers to recognise these hidden harms and take practical steps to reduce them.
The book provides specific strategies for change: swapping toxic household goods for safer alternatives, replacing processed food with whole, nutrient-dense options, filtering water, improving indoor air quality, setting boundaries with technology, exercising regularly, and prioritising sleep. Olien’s core message is one of empowerment – individuals can cut out harmful habits and products, reclaim control over their environment, and strengthen long-term health through informed, deliberate choices.