August reveals Australians’ big appetite for weight-loss drugs, love for ‘dupe’ brands and an accelerating EV uptake

High petrol and diesel prices are causing Australians to turn to electric vehicles, with almost a third of new car sales in July being an EV. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Australians are buying less pizza but more weight-loss drugs. They love “dupes” but don’t enjoy writing letters.

Here are five key takeaways from the August reporting season that show what consumers are buying as cost of living pressures reignite, and how retailers are responding.