Amazon starts loading products into online store … Aldi recalls nut products for containing nuts … Consumers pessimistic on Christmas spending

With Amazon Australia set to launch “really, really, really” soon, the company has begun loading some of its product offerings into the Australian store, including various laptops, monitors and other tech products.

Business Insider reports a search query for computer products manufacturer HP brings up a number of soon to be available laptops, monitors, networking equipment and other computer peripherals.

Lifehacker also reports various items such as Calvin Klein underwear, Sony products, Bose speakers and LEGO sets are showing up on the retailer’s website. Amazon Basic label products are also reportedly popping up on the .au Amazon store.

Analysts have predicted Amazon would start trading locally before November 24.

Aldi recalls nut product due to it containing nuts

Aldi’s UK arm has been left red-faced after failing to note its Clancy’s Barbecue Flavour Coated Peanuts product also contained cashews, forcing the company to recall the product.

News.com.au reports the popular nut product was recalled due to allergy issues for customers allergic to cashews but not peanuts.

Aldi Australia confirmed to news.com.au it does not stock the affected product.

Consumers pessimistic on Christmas spending

A new Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey has shown consumers’ attitudes towards spending as Christmas approaches have flipped back to pessimistic, dropping to 99.7 points from 101.4 over November.

The 100 mark represents an equal balance between sentiment, and a drop below shows a swing towards negativity.

The ABC reports just under a third of Australians are expecting to spend less over the Christmas period, and only 11% saying they will spend more.

“Overall, the consumer mood has been downbeat in 2017 with clear pressures on family finances and an uncertain economic outlook weighing on sentiment,” Westpac’s chief economist Bill Evans said in the report.

“The net balance of ‘more minus less’ is marginally more negative than last year, suggesting we’re in for a repeat of last year’s lacklustre Christmas spend.”

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