How Scamming Consumers Became Normalised
The text explains 'shrinkflation,' which is when products get smaller but their prices stay the same, or even go up. This has been happening for a long time, but it's more noticeable now. Companies say they do this because of inflation and higher costs, but some also use it to make more profit, a practice called 'greedflation.' Another problem is 'skimpflation,' where companies use cheaper ingredients. Some governments are trying to stop these practices with new rules and fines, but it's hard to control. The text suggests that being aware and comparing prices can help consumers, and that if people stop buying these products, companies might have to change.
Key Vocabulary
Significant or important enough to be worth considering; not easily dismissed or overlooked.
Examples:
- Solving the complex engineering problem required a nontrivial amount of research and development.
- The impact of the new policy on the local economy is expected to be nontrivial.
- Although it seemed like a small adjustment, it had a nontrivial effect on the machine's performance.
To cause a large amount of damage or harm.
Examples:
- The sudden storm threatened to wreak havoc on the coastal town.
- A single miscalculation could wreak unforeseen problems for the entire project.
- The virus was designed to wreak maximum disruption on the network.
Examples:
- The art critic spent hours scrutinizing every brushstroke of the painting.
- Before making a final decision, the committee was scrutinizing the financial reports.
- The detective was scrutinizing the crime scene for any overlooked clues.
A central display of information, often graphical, that provides an overview of key metrics or data.
Examples:
- The project manager used a digital dashboard to track the team's progress in real-time.
- Our new software includes a user-friendly dashboard for monitoring website traffic.
- The CEO's dashboard provided a quick summary of the company's financial health.
In an open and unashamed manner, often implying something obvious or offensive.
Examples:
- The company was blatantly ignoring environmental regulations.
- His refusal to acknowledge the mistake was blatantly disrespectful.
- The advertisement was so blatantly misleading that it drew immediate complaints.
An excessive desire for wealth or possessions, especially more than one needs or deserves.
Examples:
- The executive's greed led him to embezzle funds from the company.
- Unchecked greed can often lead to unethical business practices.
- The story served as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of greed.
Stopped developing, growing, or progressing; became inactive or dull.
Examples:
- Without new investment, the local economy would have stagnated.
- Her career had stagnated, leaving her feeling unfulfilled.
- The research project stagnated due to a lack of funding and interest.
A generous quantity or amount of something, often referring to natural resources or goods.
Examples:
- The harvest yielded a bounty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- The ocean provided a rich bounty for the fishing community.
- The company offered a bounty of rewards to its most productive employees.
Remaining hidden, often in wait or as a potential threat; existing unobserved.
Examples:
- A sense of unease was lurking behind his calm demeanor.
- The hacker was lurking in the system, gathering sensitive information.
- Hidden dangers were lurking in the uncharted forest.
Involving two or more people working together to achieve a shared goal.
Examples:
- The success of the project was a result of the team's collaborative efforts.
- They engaged in a collaborative discussion to find a solution.
- The artist and the musician created a truly collaborative piece of work.
Defrauded or tricked someone into giving away money or possessions.
Examples:
- He was scammed out of his life savings by a convincing online impostor.
- Many elderly individuals are frequently scammed by phone calls requesting personal information.
- The tourist realized too late that she had been scammed by the street vendor.
The act of removing something, especially content from the internet, or dismantling an operation.
Examples:
- The company issued a legal takedown notice for the copyrighted material.
- The police operation resulted in the takedown of a major criminal network.
- She requested a takedown of the embarrassing photos from social media.
Flows out in a rapid and plentiful stream, or speaks with excessive enthusiasm.
Examples:
- Water gushes from the broken pipe, flooding the basement.
- The oil well gushes crude petroleum after hitting a new deposit.
- She always gushes about her children's achievements.
Increasing very rapidly and to a very high level.
Examples:
- Housing prices in the city have been skyrocketing for the past year.
- The demand for electric vehicles is skyrocketing globally.
- With the new marketing campaign, online sales started skyrocketing.
Paid less than is fair, appropriate, or sufficient for the work done.
Examples:
- Many essential workers feel they are severely underpaid for their crucial contributions.
- Despite her extensive experience, she believed she was underpaid compared to her male colleagues.
- The company faced criticism for employing underpaid interns without proper benefits.
A person or group that monitors and publicizes the activities of an organization or person to prevent illegal or unethical behavior.
Examples:
- A consumer watchdog group exposed the unsafe practices of the toy manufacturer.
- The financial watchdog agency ensures that banks comply with regulations.
- Environmental watchdogs are constantly monitoring industrial pollution levels.
Preliminary work or preparation; the basic work on which something larger is built.
Examples:
- The research team spent months laying the groundwork for their groundbreaking experiment.
- Before launching the new product, they needed to do the groundwork in market analysis.
- His early studies laid the groundwork for future advancements in the field.
A state of sleep; also used metaphorically to describe a state of inactivity or dormancy.
Examples:
- The city slowly awoke from its morning slumber.
- After years of economic slumber, the region finally began to see growth.
- The ancient volcano had been in a deep slumber for centuries.
A small, typically sweet, baked product, often made with fruit or nuts, similar to a cupcake but usually less sweet.
Examples:
- She baked a batch of blueberry muffins for breakfast.
- The aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip muffins filled the kitchen.
- He preferred savory muffins with cheese and herbs over sweet ones.
A plan or procedure for achieving a goal, especially a specific maneuver or action in a strategy.
Examples:
- The company employed a clever marketing tactic to attract new customers.
- Negotiating directly was a successful tactic to resolve the dispute quickly.
- The military commander devised a new tactic for the upcoming battle.