Shrinkflation: The big change coming to your Easter chocolate
Easter Bunny battles shrinkflation, Virgin to refund 61,000 customers, and popular sitcom home sells for $9.7 million. Here are five things you may have missed this week.
Home improvements take priority over eggs this Easter
If you have a DIY project lined up for the Easter break you're not alone.
Around 6.2 million Australians will use the upcoming long weekend to complete projects around the home, compared to 4.55 million people who plan to hit the road for an Easter getaway.
The common thread is that sweet tooths prevail.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) says 15.2 million of us plan to splurge on Easter food and chocolate this year, with a total food spend of $2.2 billion.
That's about $145 per person.
ARA chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown says, "Aussies consume some of the highest quantities of chocolate in the world."
But this Easter could leave a bitter taste.
Consumer group CHOICE says a number of popular Easter treats have fallen foul to shrinkflation, where consumers pay more for less.
CHOICE's Liam Kennedy says, "Last March, retailers were selling a 24 pack of Cadbury Dairy Milk hollow chocolate eggs with a recommended retail price of $12.50.
"However, a new version of the product only contains 22 eggs, with the price increasing to $15.00. That means consumers are paying 31% more per 100g of chocolate than they did last year,"
CHOICE says it pays to beware of "New & Improved" labelling or other slogan rebrands that are known to appear on products following shrinkage.
Virgin to refund 61,000 customers for pricing error
If you booked a Virgin Australia flight between April 21, 2020, and March 31, 2025, you could be due a refund.
Virgin Australia is offering refunds to 61,000 customers who were overcharged as a result of a mistake in the airline's pricing systems.
The pricing glitch was discovered when Virgin Australia tested an upgrade to its booking and ticketing system.
The average refund is expected to be about $55 and impacted guests will be contacted by Virgin Australia.
Unclaimed refunds are set to be donated to charity.
Full House home sells for $US6 million
The Victorian-era San Francisco house that shot to fame as the home of a widower raising three girls in the 1990s sitcom Full House, has sold for $US6 million ($9.7 million).
Only the exteriors of the home featured in the series but the property enjoyed a second claim at fame in the Netflix sequel series Fuller House, which ran for five seasons until mid-2020.
The home joins a lengthy cast of properties made famous by the silver screen.
The whopping 6-bedroom, 6-bathroom Home Alone mansion in Winnetka, Illinois sold earlier this year for $US5.5 million ($8.9 million) - $US250,000 more than its asking price.
Not every famous home has proven a smash hit with buyers though.
The Los Angeles home used for exterior shots in the popular 1970s series The Brady Bunch sold for $US3.2million in late 2023 - 42% below the asking price.
More ways for small businesses to accept payments
Global small business platform Xero has launched Tap to Pay on iPhone, enabling Australian small businesses to accept in-person contactless payments without requiring additional hardware or payment terminals.
Customers can choose to pay with a contactless credit or debit card, iPhone or Apple Watch with Apple Pay, or other digital wallet.
The move reflects Xero research that highlights the importance of small businesses offering a variety of payment methods.
More than one in four (28%) Australians say they'd shop elsewhere if a business doesn't offer at least one of their preferred ways to pay.
Digital payment options are fast growing in popularity, with 24% of Australians using digital wallets such as Apple Pay.
One bank bucks trend of regional bank closures
Many regional Australians are facing dwindling branch services as local banks shut up shop.
But Westpac is bucking the trend.
The bank is opening new service centres in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, which will provide face-to-face support for retail and business customers, along with digital banking assistance and access to cash.
Initially, Westpac's new Service Centres will open in Moree (NSW), Leongatha (VIC) and Smithton (TAS).
Westpac says it will add 150 new business bankers across its regional network over the next three years.
Westpac CEO Anthony Miller says regional Australia plays a vital role in the nation's economy.
"Two years ago we announced a moratorium on regional branch closures while we review and strengthen our regional banking services. Today marks an important step in delivering on that commitment," says Miller.
He adds, "Regional Australia is pivotal to the nation's economy. It's home to a third of the population and contributes 30% to GDP."
Get stories like this in our newsletters.
