Once again, after 4 months, consumer confidence has risen, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS) with their monthly figures. In August, the figure was around -34, in the new statistics for September it went up by 1 to -33. 'Opinions on the economy are deteriorating and willingness to buy is improving', says Statistics Netherlands. In May, the figure was at its lowest this year at -46, the last time the figure was this low was 4 years ago. This year's peak is at -23 in the month of...

Discount Retail Chain Aldi is causing every major retail giant in China to lose sleep. Aldi doesn’t offer paid memberships, doesn’t run flashy ads, and refrains from making a big splash on the internet. How does it succeed? A bottle of milk for 7.2 yuan, and a fresh-baked pastry for 1.9 yuan. Right in tier-1 cities, it delivers everyday products at genuinely affordable prices. Recently, it went viral—not only because it sells grocery staples at bargain prices, but also because it has started...

Discount Retail Chain Aldi shows prices on the shelves that are almost unbelievably cheap. Toothpaste is 5.9 yuan, a 100ml cleanser is 9.9 yuan, a pack of sanitary pads is 3.9 yuan, a large tub of yogurt is just over 10 yuan, and a butter croissant is a little over 3 yuan each. Someone holding a shopping basket picks up items while remarking, "This is way too cheap," before turning around to post on social media: This place is simply a "poor-guy paradise." Aldi has in the recent years earned...