With brief, occasional, italicized and sometimes gratuitous commentary…
• Walgreens announced that the majority of its 8,700 stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, the first time the company has made such a move. The only Walgreens stores that will be open on the holiday are the roughly 700 24-hour stores.
"We have consistently heard from our team members — who are the face of Walgreens — that time off is a meaningful way for us to demonstrate we value them," Walgreens executive vice president Tracey Brown said in a statement.
There has been a growing movement by retailers in this country to close on Thanksgiving, led by companies such as Walmart and Target.
Nice that Walgreens wants to demonstrate to its employees that they are valued, since much of the recent evidence is to the contrary - they're overworked, over-stressed, and under-valued.
• USA Today reports that mid-Atlantic-based Sheetz "is reducing the price of its Unleaded 88 gas to $1.99 per gallon this Thanksgiving week, now through Monday, November 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
"Unleaded 88, a fuel blend also known as E15, is 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles. The $1.99 price offers more than $1 in savings per gallon for many shoppers. The national average for unleaded is $3.274 per gallon."
• USA Today reports that "the U.S. Postal Service will raise shipping prices starting on Jan. 21, 2024."
According to the USPS, Ground Advantage prices will rise by 5.4% … Priority Mail service prices will rise by 5.7% … and Priority Mail Express service prices will rise by 5.9%.
"The USPS is also considering possible price adjustments for post office box rentals, international mail services and other special services products," the story says.
