Federal regulators have announced a sweeping recall affecting hundreds of commonly purchased consumer products sold in small grocery stores and markets across parts of the Midwest, citing serious sanitation concerns that may pose a risk to public health. The action follows an inspection of a Minneapolis-based distribution facility that supplies food, medication, and household goods to retailers in Minnesota, Indiana, and neighboring states. According to the Food and Drug Administrat

As Christmas Day approaches, shoppers across central Ohio are adjusting their plans as many retailers prepare to close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day. This year, the holiday falls on a Thursday, prompting widespread schedule changes as businesses balance customer demand with time off for employees to spend with family and friends. For consumers making last-minute purchases or gathering ingredients for holiday meals, knowing store hours ahead of

As Christmas approaches, shoppers and workers across the country are navigating adjusted schedules as many retailers, government offices and financial institutions modify their operating hours ahead of the holiday. With Christmas Eve falling midweek this year, the final days before the holiday are expected to be among the busiest for stores and grocery chains, while closures on Christmas Day and limited hours on surrounding days are prompting consumers to plan ahead. Several major retailers are extending hours in the days leading up to Christmas to accommodate last-minute shoppers, though most will close earlier than usual on Christmas Eve. Wholesale club Costco has confirmed that its warehouses will operate on reduced schedules, closing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24. Walmart locations nationwide are also expected to close early, with most stores shutting their doors at 6 p.m. Target locations may vary by market, but many stores will close around 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve after offering extended hours earlier in the week. Sam’s Club members should expect a 6 p.m. closing time on Christmas Eve, while Trader Joe’s stores are planning to end operations at 5 p.m. Department and apparel retailers are following similar patterns. Macy’s and Nordstrom locations will generally close earlier than normal on Christmas Eve, with many stores ending the day by 5 p.m. Old Navy locations are expected to close around 6 p.m., while Walgreens stores will largely remain open during regular business hours, though pharmacy counters may operate on limited schedules. Grocery chains including Mariano’s, Jewel-Osco, Meijer, Sunset Foods and Heinen’s are also adjusting hours, with most closing between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., depending on the brand and location. Whole Foods stores are expected to operate with modified hours, and Starbucks customers are advised to check individual store schedules. Shopping malls across the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs are also reducing hours on Christmas Eve after extended shopping days earlier in the week. Many major malls will close between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., including Woodfield Mall, Oakbrook Center, Water Tower Place and several outlet centers. Shoppers are encouraged to verify hours directly with mall management, as opening times may differ by location. Beyond retail, several essential services are operating on altered schedules. Most banks will remain open on Christmas Eve but are expected to close earlier than usual. Mail delivery through the United States Postal Service will continue on Dec. 24 and again on Dec. 26, though post office branches will be closed on Christmas Day. Government services in Illinois, including secretary of state offices and DMVs, will be closed on both Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 before reopening on Friday. Financial markets are also observing holiday schedules. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will end trading early at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve and remain closed for Christmas Day, resuming normal operations on Dec. 26. With a mix of early closures and full-day shutdowns across sectors, consumers are advised to complete errands early and confirm local hours before heading out. The compressed holiday schedule is expected to drive heavier traffic in stores and malls during limited operating windows, making advance planning essential in the final stretch before Christmas.    

Two women from New York are facing shoplifting charges after police say they stole more than $9,000 worth of merchandise from multiple stores at the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey. Authorities allege the thefts took place Monday afternoon and involved a coordinated effort to bypass store security systems. According to police, the suspects, identified as Jenai Crawford and Shanique Roberts, were observed moving between several retail locations inside the mall and repe

WASHINGTON — As the holiday shopping season accelerates, consumer protection officials are warning residents to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated gift card scams. District Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a public consumer alert on Monday, cautioning shoppers about a growing form of retail fraud known as gift card draining, which has become more prevalent during peak gift-giving periods. According to Schwalb’s office, gift card draining differs from traditi

A new international fashion entrant has arrived on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile as Mango formally opened its first Illinois store on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s ongoing national expansion. The two-story boutique, located at the prominent intersection of Michigan Avenue and Erie Street, represents the company’s 60th U.S. location and underscores its intention to strengthen its presence in major retail corridors across the country. Crowds gathered ahead of the

As Thanksgiving Day 2025 arrives, many households will spend the holiday preparing meals, hosting gatherings, and enjoying time with family. Yet it is also a day when some people inevitably need to make a last-minute run for ingredients, or choose to stop by a store or café during their celebrations. Holiday schedules vary widely across the country, and several major grocery chains and retailers have updated their hours in anticipation of the seasonal rush. With Thanksgiving 2025 expected to

Costco has issued a widespread recall of two popular deli products after determining that certain packages may contain small pieces of plastic. The company notified its members through a letter dated November 7, stating that Caesar Salad Item #19927 and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad Item #11444 are being pulled from shelves because of the potential presence of plastic material in the salad dressing used in both prepared meals. The notice was also published on the retailer’s official website as part of the company’s standard food safety communication process. According to the advisory, the affected items were sold with sell-by dates ranging from October 17 through November 9. These products were available in the deli section and were distributed to select Costco locations across the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions. While the company confirmed the geographical reach of the recall, Costco did not specify which individual warehouses were impacted within each region. The retailer advised customers who purchased either item to discontinue consumption immediately and return the products to any Costco warehouse for a full refund. Ventura Foods, the supplier responsible for the dressing used in the salads, collaborated with Costco on the recall announcement. The company stated that the concern stems from the possibility that fragments of plastic may have entered the dressing during production, prompting a precautionary recall to protect consumer safety. Costco emphasized that member wellbeing remains its top priority and encouraged customers to check the sell-by dates on any deli salads purchased during the affected period. This recall marks the second significant product alert from Costco in recent weeks. Earlier, the company initiated a safety notice involving its Kirkland-branded Prosecco in the Midwest, warning consumers that certain bottles could unexpectedly shatter due to pressure-related issues. While the two incidents are unrelated, both highlight the retailer’s efforts to address product risks as soon as they emerge and to maintain transparency with customers. As of now, there have been no reported injuries or illnesses linked to the recalled deli items. The company has stated it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. Consumers seeking additional information are encouraged to review notices posted in their local warehouse or contact customer support to confirm whether their purchases fall within the affected range.

WASHINGTON — Carter’s, one of the most recognizable baby and children’s clothing retailers in the United States, has announced plans to close 150 stores and reduce its workforce by 15% as rising tariffs continue to pressure company finances. The Atlanta-based company outlined its restructuring strategy in its latest earnings report released Monday, citing significant cost increases tied to ongoing trade policies. The retailer said higher tariffs have had a substantial impact o

It has been more than two weeks since the rollout of GST 2.0 on September 22, but a nationwide consumer survey indicates that the expected benefits of lower taxes are not being fully passed on to buyers. The reform, which aimed to make a wide range of goods and services more affordable, appears to have produced uneven results across product categories, with automobiles emerging as the only sector showing substantial price reductions. According to a large-scale survey conducted acros

  Hundreds of new laws are officially taking effect this week across Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, bringing with them significant changes that will impact wages, taxes, cannabis use, driving penalties and criminal justice policies. From Virginia’s new criminal record sealing system to Maryland’s stricter reckless driving penalties and D.C.’s tax adjustments, the region is entering a new phase of legal reforms that touch nearly every household in so

After six years of serving customers in Cranford, Witch Baby has officially closed the doors of its Eastman Street brick-and-mortar store. The closure, which came just before the busy holiday shopping season, reflects the mounting challenges faced by small businesses in New Jersey and beyond. Owners cited rising electricity costs and tariffs as the key reasons for the difficult decision, underscoring the financial pressures that continue to weigh heavily on independent retailers. Wi

Walmart has confirmed that its Neighborhood Market at 3112 Santa Rita Road will close on October 2. The store’s pharmacy will also shut down on the same date. Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield did not give a specific reason for the closure, but noted there are three Walmart locations within eight miles of the Pleasanton market including a full-service Walmart in Livermore and a newly remodeled Neighborhood Marke

Authorities in Virginia say a woman accused of stealing more than $10,000 worth of appliances, mostly Ninja Slushi machines, has been arrested after a series of retail thefts stretching across several counties. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Christine Woodson, was allegedly behind more than a dozen thefts at multiple stores, with most incidents linked to Target locations in Springfield and surrounding areas. According to police, the thefts occurred over the course of several

Home Depot is preparing for modest price increases on select products as new tariffs begin to take effect, marking a shift from the company’s earlier stance that it would avoid raising costs for customers. Just a few months ago, company executives expressed confidence that diversified sourcing strategies would help shield shoppers from tariff pressures. However, officials now acknowledge that some categories will see adjustments, though not across the boar

Claire’s, the popular accessories chain known for its earrings, trendy jewelry, and tween-focused items, has once again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing was made on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. This marks the second time the company has filed for bankruptcy, the previous instance being in 2018. Despite this, the brand is attempting to continue operations for the majority of its stores while assessing various strategic options

Walmart has officially revealed its ambitious vision for the future of shopping—one where traditional search bars are no longer a necessary part of the customer experience. On July 24, the company introduced a comprehensive artificial intelligence roadmap, unveiling a suite of agent-based tools aimed at transforming how people shop, how employees work, how suppliers interact, and how systems are developed. Central to this new initiative is Sparky, an AI-powered customer shop

Target will soon end its long-standing price matching policy that included matching prices from Amazon and Walmart. Effective July 28, the company will limit its Price Match Guarantee to only include its own online platform, Target.com, and promotional pricing available through Target Circle. This shift marks a significant change in how the retailer is approaching competitive pricing and customer loyalty in 2025. Under the new policy, shoppers who buy items in a physical Target st

An Indian woman currently visiting the United States is under investigation after allegedly attempting to shoplift merchandise worth around $1,300, equivalent to approximately Rs 1.1 lakh, from a retail store in Illinois. The incident has gained attention after video footage emerged showing her being confronted by a store employee for trying to leave the premises with a cart full of unpaid goods. Reports suggest the woman spent over seven hours inside the store, during which her u

A steep decline has gripped Indian exchange stocks after the high-profile regulatory crackdown on US-based quant trading firm Jane Street, which was barred from participating in Indian markets earlier this month. In just over four weeks, investors have seen a combined Rs 1.4 lakh crore wiped out in the market capitalisation of BSE and NSE. The cascading impact of regulatory scrutiny, crashing derivatives turnover, and cautious sentiment among brokerages has driven BSE and NSE stocks deep into