The Break Is Over. Companies Are Jacking Up Prices Again. at WSJ. “Companies from Levi Strauss to McCormick…say they are raising prices early this year…increases appeared to be stronger than normal for January for electronics, appliances and other durable goods, said UBS economist Alan Detmeister…Columbia Sportswear said it is upping prices of spring and fall merchandise by, on average, a high single-digit percent…” WSJ subs.

 

Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigators work with Walmart after identifying suspect’s backpack at AP

 

Jim, Rob and Alice Walton are now the world’s 8th, 9th and 10th wealthiest people with a combined net worth of $465.8 billion Bloomberg subs.

 

How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market at NY Times. “The smashed window at Ms. Felvus’s local shop may have been part of the violence that has been called the “tobacco wars” between criminal gangs vying for market share. The police have said there have been at least 100 cases of firebombings related to the turf war among organized groups, concentrated in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city. One group has tallied more than 250 attacks.” NY Times subs.

 

Canada’s annual inflation rate edged down to 2.3% in January CBC

 

Stop and Shop union employees vote to ratify new contract WJAR NBC 10

 

Lowe’s CEO secret to climbing the corporate ladder was volunteering for jobs ‘nobody else wanted’ at Fortune. “Ellison’s approach to (DEI) initiatives look different from other CEOs. While many executives threw money at the issue or made performative hires…Ellison is getting more hands-on. “Talk less and do more,” Ellison said. “I just wanted to fix it. We didn’t go out and make some big public announcement. I didn’t do a series of interviews. I didn’t put any white papers out. I just said, ‘We’re gonna fix this by making it a priority.’” Fortune subs.

 

Shoe Prices Climbed ‘Fastest in More Than 36 Months’ in January, FDRA Says Footwear News

 

Costco launches mobile app ordering for custom cakes and deli trays at NY Post. “Previously, shoppers were required to drive to Costco just to fill out paper order forms in-store…Fox 11 Los Angeles said customers can expect the “Order Grocery/Bakery” feature in the app by the end of 2026.” Read more

 

Amazon plans second big store in Chicago area Chain Store Age

 

Gen Alpha Can’t Be Ignored at Bloomberg. “The eldest only just turned 16; the youngest still wear diapers…Very young boys across the globe spend hundreds of dollars on fancy colognes, and millions of Alpha girls are into makeup and skin care from adult-focused stores…“Gen Alpha already shapes adult purchasing decisions,” Chidiac says. “Cars, appliances, groceries—parents consistently report that their kids have a voice, and often a decisive one.” Bloomberg subs.