Retail news round-up on February 11, 2016: Watchdog to ban misleading offers by supermarkets, Ikea recalls Lock and Hyby lamps and Amazon's share buy back.
Regulator mulls banning misleading special deals in supermarkets
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking to ban potentially misleading supermarket offers such as 'buy-one-get-one-free' and special deals after research found they are ‘seducing’ customers into spending an extra £1,000 a year.
The CMA is finalising plans to launch action against British supermarkets for allegedly using unlawful pricing and promotional tactics to lure shoppers to shell out more, according to the Telegraph.
Major grocers including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda are facing official investigation after consumer group Which? invoked a rarely-used legal power to launch a "super-complaint" and demand action against supermarkets.
Ikea recalls ceiling lamp shades owing to safety concerns
Furniture specialist Ikea has issued a worldwide recall of thousands of lamps after 11 customers were injured when the glass shades from some of their 'Lock' and 'Hyby' lamps fell from ceilings.
The Swedish retailer has urged all customers to immediately return the two ceiling lampshades over safety concerns to a store for a full refund.
The company said it has received 224 confirmed reports in total of dropping lights around the world so far, with 12 in the UK.
A spokesman for the company said: "We have received reports that Lock and Hyby ceiling lamp shades have fallen. In order to safeguard customers and avoid further incidents we are recalling the products."
Amazon authorises $5bn share repurchase programme
Amazon’s board has authorised a $5bn (£4bn) share repurchase programme, replacing the buyback of $2bn (£1.38bn) of shares approved in 2010.
The company had $763m (£528m) remaining under the previous plan.
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