It’s been a busy week across the board, with pets taking centre stage . Finance also stayed in focus as speculation around the Autumn Budget continued, a dramatic heist at the Louvre captured readers’ attention, while Diwali preparations lit up engagement across food, music and decorations. Halloween buzz continues to build, and half-term planning lifted interest in education, crafts and DIY.
Topical Headlines
The Pets category is up 40% WoW after a UK watchdog investigation into veterinary practices has uncovered concerns that some vets may be overcharging pet owners. The news has caught audience attention; Pet Supplies are up 2.9x and Veterinary Medicine up 2.6x as owners check what this could mean for their future vet bills.
Uncertainty around the upcoming Autumn Budget continues, following speculation that Rachel Reeves is considering scrapping the motability scheme for disabled drivers. Audiences are flocking to the Personal Finance category, up 19%, with the Personal Taxes subcategory surging 40%. Elsewhere, widespread outages among multiple internet service providers drove a sharp 30.6x spike in engagement for Internet Services.
Elsewhere, a heist in the Louvre resulted in the theft of several very expensive items. Museums & Galleries page views have surged 2.4x as audiences catch up on the developments of the film-like heist.
A fragile peace deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, and continued controversies about Prince Andrew drove a 4% uplift for News & Politics. Almost 80% of engagement across Ozone is with non-news categories, while hard news like this is subject to guaranteed brand safety across our premium, editorially governed environments.
Seasonal Events
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, takes place this week and is already sparking activity across multiple categories. The Religious Events category has jumped 23%, while Religious Music & Audio has seen an impressive 3.5x surge. The festive spirit is also stirring appetites, with Desserts & Baking and Cooking up 23% and 10% respectively as audiences search for the perfect celebratory recipes. Party Supplies & Decorations has also risen 2.6x, fuelled partly by early Halloween preparations, which takes place next week.
Indeed, the Halloween buzz is gripping Brits. Costumes are up 69% WoW, and Events & Attractions has climbed 7% as Brits read up on Halloween celebrations ideas – with Nightclubs up 27% as adults look to join the spooky fun.
Elsewhere, October half-term starts for many schools this week. Parents are clearly in planning mode, with Education up 16% as they check term times, and Hobbies & Interests up 5%, driven by spikes in DIY, up 84%, and Arts & Crafts, up 68% as they read up on ways to entertain their children.
With a few months of indulgence ahead as the festive season approaches, many Brits are turning their attention to healthier habits. Healthy Living content is on the rise, up 18%, with Nutrition up 91% and Fitness & Exercise up 22%.
Finally, the FIFA World Cup qualifiers took place last week, kicking up Football related content by 5%.
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