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☆ Grocery prices are finally falling
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Food shoppers can finally breathe a slight sigh of relief: After years of increases followed by months of plateau, grocery prices fell last month. Grocery prices retreated 0.2% from March to April, adjusted for seasonal swings, according to inflation data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But back in February, overall food prices remained flat for the first time since April 2023. Fast food prices jumpWhile grocery prices have been moderating, menu prices remain high, especially at fast food spots. At sit-down restaurants, prices went up 3.4%, while at limited-service restaurants — where you’re served at the counter — prices rose 4.8%.

Persons: Milk, you’re, McDonald’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: New York, Ukraine, Texas, —, McDonald’s

☆ MDMA therapy could be legalized by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +52 min

Last summer, thousands of tie-dyed Burners and Patagonia-clad tech founders converged on the MAPS Psychedelic Science conference in Denver. The experience "broke the spell of this trauma, and she was able to rebuild her life," Doblin told The Guardian . The video team's job was to store recordings of every MDMA therapy session performed in the clinical trials. Grof believes in something called an "inner healing intelligence," an innate capacity for self-healing that psychedelic therapy helps unleash. Another time, a patient who had come to an MDMA therapy session later acknowledged they had been under the influence of LSD during treatment.

Persons: Jaden Smith, Aaron Rodgers, bro, Andrew Huberman, Rick Doblin, Doblin, mainstreaming psychedelics, influencers, Johnson, Elizabeth Nielson, Aubrey Marcus, ayahuasca, Matthew Stockman, Helena —, Timothy Leary, —, Hitler, Stanislav Grof, zombified, Brad Burge, Michael Mithoefer, Annie Mithoefer, Oprah, Sen, Joe Biden, MDMA's neurotoxicity, they'd, Albert Hofmann, David Bronner, Dr, Joe's, Bronner, Bronner's, Richard Rockefeller, John D, Rockefeller Jr, Rockefeller, Neşe, Johns Hopkins, who's, Devenot, Rick Friedman, Betty Aldworth, MAPS's multimillionaire, Tim Ferriss, Cody Swift, Zendo, Aldworth, Erica Siegal, Seth Whitelaw, Amy Emerson, JULIE JAMMOT, Ifetayo Harvey, Harvey, Lauren Unger, Unger, Casey Hardison, Harvey didn't, Hardison, Doblin's, Baylee Ybarra Gatlin, Gatlin, negligently, There's, Michael Pollan's, Steve Jurvetson, Elon Musk's who's, Genevieve, Steve Cohen, Alexandra, Mark Zuckerberg's, Dustin Moskovitz, Cari, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paltrow, Sergey Brin, Joe Green, Green, Zuckerberg, Genevieve Jurvetson, Michael Pollan, Jonathan Lubecky, he'd, Rebekah, Robert Mercer, Elizabeth Koch, Charles Koch, Rachel Nuwer, Koch, she'd, MAPS's, Elizabeth Crystal, Joe Rogan, didn't, Jesus Christ, Crystal, Meaghan Buisson, Richard Yensen, Donna, Yensen, Buisson, weren't, Robert, Rebekah Mercer, Sean Zanni, Grof, They've, Kayla Greenstien, it's, George Sarlo who'd, Vicky Dulai, Sarlo's, Dulai, Gul Dolen, Michael Mullette, who'd, Marla Aufmuth, Mullette, Lily Kay Ross, David Nickles, Ross, Greenstien, Rick, Lenny Ignelzi, biostatisticians, Lykos, Peter Thiel, Kara Swisher, Kris Lotlikar, Federico Menapace, Mo Septimus, Handout, Monnica, Williams, Lotlikar, Henry Elkus, Helena ., Elkus, Emerson, ICER Organizations: Science, New York Jets, rockstar, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, Lykos Therapeutics, and Drug Administration, FDA, Business, Florida's New College, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Sarasota Herald, Tribune, New College, Guardian, Drug, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, eBay, Nevada, Doblin, Pentagon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Staff, Corporation, PBC, pharma, New Yorker, New York Mets, Bloomberg, CBS, Breitbart, CBC News, BI, Porsche, Santa Cruz, New York Times, longtime, Mullette Corporation, New York, Health Canada, Compass, Sciences, Psychedelic Science, Whole Foods, McKinsey, Big Pharma, Vine Ventures, Lucid, Street Journal, Investments, Gawker, Publicly, PBC alums, Numinus, US Army Locations: Patagonia, Denver, Harvard, Colorado, Skokie , Illinois, Ireland, Czech, Sarasota, Arcturus, Florida, Swiss, Vietnam, Washington, Santa Cruz, Chicago, California, Iraq, British Columbia, New York, Hawaii, Santa, Nature, Moderna, Europe, Helena, Yale, Australia, Canada, Israel, Ukraine, ICER, . Upper

☆ Fast food is expensive. Applebee’s and Chili’s are moving in
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For them, and the fast food chains they’re now competing against, the stakes are high. “Fast food has gotten really expensive,” Henkes said. On X, Chili’s asked whether Chili’s is better than fast food, and promised rewards to those who said yes. Chili’s also ran video ads comparing its food favorably to fast food burgers. “People go to sit-down restaurants, generally speaking, for different occasions, than they go to fast food restaurants,” he noted.

Persons: New York CNN — McDonald’s, Applebee’s, ” John Peyton, it’s, Peyton, “, ”, Henkes, McDonald’s, Chris Kempczinski, Ian Borden, we’ve, Chili’s, Kevin Hochman, Chili's, Jeffery Greenberg, David Henkes, ” Henkes Organizations: New, New York CNN, Dine Brands, CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bloomberg, Applebee’s, Brinker International, Universal, “ Locations: New York, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Chili’s, Technomic

☆ Slaughterhouse cleaning company fined $649,000 for child workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A janitorial company has been fined $649,000 after an investigation found it hired minors for dangerous jobs cleaning slaughterhouses, the United States Department of Labor said Monday. Fayette Janitorial Service had employed at least 24 children, including those as young as 13, according to the DOL investigation. The minors had been working overnight shifts at two separate slaughter facilities, according to the DOL. The company said in February that it had ended all of its contracts with Fayette, according to the Sioux City Journal. Instances of illegal child labor have been growing in recent years, and other contractors have been fined over employing minors.

Persons: ” Fayette, “, Perdue “, ”, – CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Ramishah Maruf Organizations: New, New York CNN, United States Department of Labor, CNN, Seaboard Triumph Foods, Perdue, Labor Department, Seaboard, Sioux City, Packers Sanitation Services Locations: New York, Fayette, DOL, Sioux City , Iowa, Accomac , Virginia

☆ Starbucks to begin talks with Workers United union
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Starbucks said Tuesday it will begin talks with the Workers United union to discuss bargaining agreements and union organizing. Starbucks also said it is using the framework to begin to resolve litigation related to partner benefits announced in May 2022 and the use of the Starbucks brand in an intellectual property lawsuit. “As a sign of good faith, Starbucks has agreed to provide partners represented by Workers United with the May 2022 benefits, including credit card tipping,” the statement said. In November, thousands of Starbucks workers at hundreds of stores went on strike, protesting the lack of their first contract despite a nearly two-year organizing drive. Since the first location voted to unionize in December 2021, Starbucks has fought aggressively against the union drive.

Persons: – CNN’s Danielle Wienner, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Workers United, NLRB Locations: New York

☆ Starbucks is launching its olive oil-infused beverages nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Starbucks is taking its extra virgin olive oil-infused drinks — which some customers previously complained of sending them straight to the bathroom — nationwide beginning Tuesday. On the Oleato menu are two drinks: An oat milk latte infused with the extra virgin olive oil; and a new toffeenut iced shaken espresso with golden foam, which is vanilla sweet cream infused with extra virgin olive oil into a cold foam. Schultz met olive oil producer Tommaso Asaro, who introduced him to the practice of consuming a tablespoon of olive oil each day. Schultz picked up the habit himself, wondered if he could combine it with his daily coffee routine, and asked Starbucks’ beverage team to see if they could pull it off. One pair of reviewers posted a video titled “We Tried Starbucks Olive Oil Coffee Drinks and Seriously Regret It.”Others had mixed feelings but concluded that the drinks seem more like a stunt — something worth trying but not necessarily worth coming back for.

Persons: we’ve, ” Oleato, Howard Schultz, Laxman Narasimhan, Schultz, Tommaso Asaro, Bon, Narasimhan, Danielle Wiener, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, CNN Locations: New York, Canada, Italy

☆ CosMc’s first location had twice as much traffic last month than a typical McDonald’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —McDonald’s new trendy beverage-led spinoff CosMc’s is pulling in younger customers at a faster clip than a typical Mickey D’s with Big Macs and fries, according to one early traffic estimate. McDonald’s unveiled its CosMc’s specialty drinks cafe spinoff in December, with the first location opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois. That first CosMc’s location saw more than double the number of visits that a typical McDonald’s saw chainwide in the same month, despite only being open since Dec.7, according to a report from Placer.ai, which uses location data from mobile devices to estimate visits to specific locations. CosMc’s generated triple the number of visits per square foot than an average McDonald’s restaurant (CosMc’s has a roughly 2,500 square feet footprint compared to 4,000 to 4,500 square feet for the average McDonald’s location), the firm said. RJ Hottovy, head of analytical research with Placer.ai, said that the one CosMc’s location sometimes has to accommodate spillover traffic in a separate parking lot because the drive-thru lanes were often at full capacity.

Persons: New York CNN —, D’s, Big, McDonald’s, it’s, It’s, RJ Hottovy, ”, ” McDonald’s, Danielle Wiener, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks Locations: New York, Bolingbrook , Illinois, Placer.ai, McDonald’s

☆ The Burt’s Bees ranch-flavored lip balm is already sold out
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

On Wednesday, Burt’s Bees and Hidden Valley Ranch announced an unusual collaboration — a set of lip balms that taste like a basket of chicken wings. The lip balm may remind customers of some classic American dishes — so just apply it to your lips if you dare, but don’t eat it. By Thursday, the collaboration of nightmares (or dreams) was already sold out on the Burt’s Bees website. Burt’s Bees collaboration with Hidden Valley Ranch sprung from an April Fools’ Day social media post. Burt’s Bees posted a Hidden Valley Ranch-flavored lip balm on its Instagram on April 1, 2022 — with the assurance on the fake packaging that it retained a 100% natural origin.

Persons: Kraft Heinz, Burt’s Bees, Danielle Wiener, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Burt’s, Valley, Bees, KFC Locations: New York

☆ Supreme Court agrees to hear case over Starbucks’ firing of pro-union employees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Luciana Lopez | Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The US Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a case in which Starbucks was ordered to re-hire pro-union workers that the coffee company had previously fired. Starbucks appealed, and on Friday, the Supreme Court said it would take up the case. Since then, Starbucks has fought those unionization efforts, often resulting in NLRB and court battles. In that case, the judge said the company displayed “egregious and widespread misconduct” in its dealings with employees involved in unionization efforts. “We are pleased the Supreme Court has decided to consider our request to level the playing field for all US employers,” Starbucks said.

Persons: ” CNN’s Danielle Weiner, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, National Labor, Board, Starbucks Workers United Locations: New York, Memphis , Tennessee, Memphis, Buffalo

☆ One in 78 audio streams was a Taylor Swift song in 2023, data shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Taylor Swift practically owned 2023. One in every 78 US audio streams was a Taylor Swift song in 2023, according to Luminate. The data company reported 1.2 trillion on-demand US audio streams in 2023, up 12.7% from the year prior. In 2023, Swift released two re-recorded albums: “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” The deluxe “Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition)” album came out in 2023, following the album’s original release the year prior. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” had the highest-grossing concert film domestically for an opening weekend, according to AMC.

Persons: New York CNN — Taylor Swift, Taylor, Swift, ”, “ Taylor Swift, Pollstar, – CNN’s Krystal Hur, Bryan Mena, Danielle Wiener, Bronner Organizations: New, New York CNN, Spotify, Bloomberg, AMC, Office Mojo Locations: New York, Luminate

☆ A woman who lives in a 'housetruck' in the woods showed how she washes her hair in the freezing cold — and responded to critics about not using eco-friendly products
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A TikToker who lives in a housetruck in the woods showed viewers how she washes her hair during winter months. Winters are the hardest part about living in a housetruck, Kai told BI — and one struggle in particular riveted viewers recently. AdvertisementBut some people — including one top-voted commenter — criticized her for her use of commercial hair products. While it's not an excuse for using conventional products, Kai told BI her overall lifestyle is "much more eco-friendly than … most other people." Nevertheless, she solicited recommendations for eco-friendly hair products that were affordable and accessible in Canada.

Persons: Garnier, Kai, who's, Winters, commenter —, she's, shea, it's, She's Organizations: Service, BI Locations: British Columbia, TikTok, Canada

☆ Panera hit with another wrongful death suit over caffeinated lemonade
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A loyal Panera customer, he started regularly ordering “charged lemonade” in late September, according to the suit. The complaint resembles another wrongful death suit filed earlier this year by the parents of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old woman who died in September 2022 after drinking Panera’s charged lemonade. “Panera Charged Lemonade is a juice beverage marketed to children and adults alike,” the suit claims. Katz, who died last year, may have believed the caffeinated drink was regular lemonade, her parents alleged in the suit they filed against Panera. Now, a 30-ounce charged Panera drink has no more than 237 milligrams of caffeine, according to Panera’s site.

Persons: New York CNN —, Dennis Brown, Brown, Sarah Katz, Katz, Panera, “, Brown’s, Kline, Specter, ” Panera, — CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, ”, CNN, Food and Drug Administration Locations: New York

☆ Turkey prices are down. A deadly bird flu could change that
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Egg and turkey prices are down. But a deadly bird flu is still threatening poultry flocks, turkey in particular. Turkey takes a hitThis year, turkey prices were low ahead of Thanksgiving — partially because turkey farmers expected an outbreak in the spring that didn’t really happen, boosting turkey supplies, explained Matt Busardo, poultry market reporter at Urner Barry. But the uptick of bird flu cases has hit turkey farms hard, and threatens to tighten supply in groceries this spring. In part that’s because unlike eggs, turkey isn’t a kitchen staple — meaning that higher prices could just lead people to skip that turkey sandwich after all.

Persons: ” Dennis Summers, Summers, We’re, ” Summers, Emily Metz, “ We’ve, Ryan Hojnowski, Urner Barry, skyrocket, ”, Hojnowski, it’s, Matt Busardo, Barry, “, there’s, ” Busardo, —, Kasinger, Ohio’s Summers, Christine McCracken Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, American Egg Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bloomberg, Getty, Rabobank, “ Locations: New York, United States, Iowa, Ohio, Turkey, Minnesota

☆ Chicken wings are on Popeyes menu for good
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Back in 2019, Popeyes’ chicken sandwich created a frenzy in the fast food industry, prompting a wave of copycats and became a barometer for success. Wings are here to stayOver the past few years, Popeyes has brought wings to the menu on a limited-time basis. Popeyes' line of chicken wings Courtesy PopeyesWith wings, Siddiqui said, Popeyes once again saw long lines and a sales lift. Siddiqui doesn’t expect enthusiasm over Popeyes wings to reach the same kind of fervor inspired by the chicken sandwich. A good time to sell cheap chickenOther chains have seen success with chicken wings in recent months, as people cut back on spending by buying cheaper food.

Persons: New York CNN — Popeyes, Pepper, it’s, Popeyes, Sami Siddiqui, ”, Siddiqui, Michael Skipworth, It’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Wings, Popeyes, CNN, “ Locations: New York, Popeyes North America, United

☆ Why apple prices plunged in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But apple prices plunged 7.9%. A Goldilocks year for applesIn general, apple prices dip in the fall, because that’s when they’re harvested and flood the market. An apple orchard near Leavenworth, Washington state. “We have a lot of volume, but I don’t know if we’re gonna be making any money this year.”Though gas prices have fallen, apple farmers have other rising costs, including labor. To cope with rising costs and improve sustainability, many farmers have been making adjustments to how they operate, said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, which promotes the state’s apple industry.

Persons: it’s, ”, Chris Gerlach, ” Gerlach, “, Jon DeVaney, Gerlach, Lynsee Gibbons, we’ve, Association’s DeVaney, …, Craig Campbell, Campbell, DeVaney, “ I’ve, Jonathan Haines, Todd Fryhover, “ We’re, “ They’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Apple Association, Gro Intelligence, Tree Fruit Association, USDA, “, ” Farmers, Harmony Orchards, Washington Apple Commission Locations: New York, United States, India, Leavenworth , Washington, Washington, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, East, South Asia, Yakima, Wenatchee

Ustrell is one of scores of European winemakers struggling to grow enough grapes as extreme and unseasonable weather becomes more commonplace. Falling prices, rising costsAcross the border, French winemakers are grappling with the opposite problem: Too much wine. Many French winemakers have suffered as retail prices have fallen this year. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty ImagesFrench winemakers struggling to sell their own produce have taken out their anger on imports from Spain. The supply of French wine has exceeded waning demand in France and abroad this year.

Persons: New York CNN — Jordi Ustrell, “, Celler, Ustrell, Giogio Delgrosso, Delgrosso, Greg Jones, ”, hasn’t, pip Italy, ’, Charly Triballeau, Rouanet, Michael Baynes, they’ve, Baynes, Arnaud Finistre, John Mitra, Penelope, It’s, Penelope Mitra, Faure Haut Normand, John Mitra More, Mitra Organizations: New York CNN, CNN, International Organisation for Vine, European Union, Getty, European Commission, Vineyards, Estate, “, Burgundy Wine Company Locations: Paris, New York, Spanish, Gratallops, Italy, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Chile, United States, an Oregon, Oregon, Barcelona, Sauvignon, France’s Bordeaux, France, French, Toulouse, AFP, Aude, Bordeaux, Argentina, Burgundy

☆ Homebuilder stocks could get another boost from rate hikes ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —For over a year, the red-hot housing market has been at the mercy of the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes, which have driven mortgage rates to sky-high levels. Mortgage rates have hovered above 7% since August, according to Freddie Mac data. Both those factors have helped create a scorching-hot housing market and a boom in homebuilder stocks, as Americans turned to building as a buying alternative. Moderating bond yields could change the narrative for the housing market. Tight supply and elevated mortgage rates this year made home purchases the least affordable they’ve been since 1984.

Persons: Bell, Freddie Mac, Toll, DR Horton, Lennar, Price, Steve Sosnick, ”, John Petrofsky, Chris Isidore, Danielle Wiener, Bronner, haven’t, Clare Duffy, Donie, Meta Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New, New York CNN, Homeowners, DR, Federal, Treasury, Interactive, National Association of Home Builders, FBB Capital Partners, Starbucks, United Auto Workers, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Starbucks Workers United, Facebook, Street, Washington Post Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, Buffalo , New York, United States, Brazil, Israel, Italy

☆ New York lawsuit blames PepsiCo for plastic litter – not people
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —New York’s water and parks are full of plastic waste. PepsiCo has downplayed the risks of its plastic packaging and created a public nuisance in the state, she alleged in a lawsuit filed against the company on Wednesday. Additionally, PepsiCo has failed to properly warn the public about where its plastic packaging ends up, according to the lawsuit, making it sound like recycling will effectively deal with plastic waste. Environmental advocates activists are hopeful that the complaint could help change the way lawmakers approach plastic pollution. Generally, lawsuits surrounding plastic pollution are brought by non-profits, not government officials, she said.

Persons: litterbugs, Letitia James, It’s, James, ”, “, Kirstie Pecci, Just, “ There’s, Judith Enck, James ’ Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York, PepsiCo, Pepsi, Research, CNN, Environmental, Beyond Plastics Locations: New York, Buffalo, City, Lake Erie, ”, Niagara, Vermont, York State

☆ Largest Starbucks strike in history is planned for Thursday. It shows US labor unrest isn’t over yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But the union said the limited duration strike on a key promotion day for Starbucks is important in its efforts to win their first contract at the chain. The union, Starbucks Workers United, won its first representation vote at the company in December 2021, at a store in Buffalo, New York. But many of the stores on strike remained open in past strikes, because management replaced the unionized striking workers with workers from nearby non-union stores and managers. That’s possible because of the close proximity of many Starbucks stores to one another. The union earlier this fall filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB over Starbucks’ refusal to bargain around promotion days.

Persons: haven’t, Moe Mills, Mills, “, ” Mills, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, United Auto Workers, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Starbucks Workers United, CNN, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Red, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, Teamsters, UPS, Michigan, Boeing Locations: New York, Buffalo , New York, St, Louis , Missouri, Kaiser, Detroit, East Coast

☆ High menu prices lift food bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In the 12 months through October, higher restaurant prices drove food prices above overall inflation, even as grocery prices were relatively low. For the year, grocery prices rose 2.1%, according to Consumer Price Index data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But menu prices were up 5.4%, driven largely by a 6.2% rise at limited-service restaurants, which include fast food and fast casual spots. Many fast food and fast casual places say they’ve seen some benefit from customers trading down from pricier options. Grocery prices rose 0.3% and menu prices rose 0.4% in that period.

Persons: Anthony Behar, McDonald’s, Liu Guanguan, Rice Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, McDonald's, AP, China News Service Locations: New York, California

☆ A milk carton shortage has the industry scrambling. Here’s what’s going on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Julia Galliker learned out of the blue that there was a problem with milk carton supplies. For Galliker, executive vice president of the Pennsylvania-based Galliker Dairy Company, that’s a big problem. The little milk cartons go not only to schools, but to other institutions like nursing homes and correctional facilities. “Like other milk carton producers across the industry, Pactiv Evergreen continues to face significantly higher than projected demand,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “So there’s really not been any replacement for school milk cartons.”

Persons: Julia Galliker, there’s, Galliker, ”, she’s, “ There’s, “ It’s, ” Galliker, “, aren’t, —, Matt Herrick, it’s, ” Seth Teply Organizations: New, New York CNN, Galliker Dairy Company, Department, Agriculture, Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, CNN, Industry, International Dairy Foods Association, USDA, Springville, Griffith Institute Central School District, Tetra Pak, Tetra, “, American Dairy Association North Locations: New York, Pennsylvania, United States, Springville , New York, Everett , Washington, Tetra, Canada

☆ Drugstore closures could make pharmacy deserts even worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Pharmacy closures have been a problem for years. “You had a routine: You would go to a pharmacy that was geographically accessible — ideally affordable — was probably preferred for your health insurance plan. Thompson, who himself lives close to a pharmacy in the South Side, said there is now more pressure on remaining locations. But chain closures aren’t likely to lead to more business for independents, which face challenges apart from competition from national chains. Recently, pharmacy workers have been staging walkouts over working conditions they say put patients at risk.

Persons: drugstores, Jenny Guadamuz, ”, “, Guadamuz, Melvin Thompson, Thompson, We’re, Angus Mordant, Omolola Adepoju, University of Houston’s Tilman J, Douglas Hoey, PBMs, Hoey, JC Scott, ” Hoey Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Walgreens, Aid, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Health Policy, Management, Endelo Institute, Bloomberg, Getty, National Community Pharmacists Association, USC, University of, Fertitta Family College of Medicine, Rite, Walmart, Target, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Locations: New York, Chicago, United States

☆ Starbucks announces higher pay, but union workers will have to bargain for it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Starbucks employees are getting more pay and new benefits, but some are only going to baristas that haven’t unionized. The question of which workers get what perks and benefits has been one part of a bitter fight between Starbucks and union organizers across the country. Workers who have been at Starbucks for 2-5 years will get a pay bump of at least 4%. “Starbucks has adhered to long-standing legal obligations, which required it to differentiate between unionized or organizing partners and partners in all other stores,” Starbucks spokesperson Rachel Wall said in a statement to CNN Monday. “Withholding benefits from unionized stores is against the law,” said Starbucks Workers United member Alex Yeager in a statement shared by union representatives Monday.

Persons: ” Sara Kelly, ”, Victor J, baristas, Rachel Wall, Alex Yeager, Yeager, “ We’ve, ” Yeager, Joshua Bessex, unionize Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, National Labor Relations, NLRB, Investments, Workers, Union, Bloomberg, CNN, Starbucks Workers Locations: New York, United States, Buffalo , N.Y, Buffalo , New York

☆ Pricey lattes helped boost Starbucks sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Extra shots, cold foam, oat milk and sugary syrups — coffee snobs might turn their noses up at Starbucks’ custom, often wildly indulgent, lattes and cappuccinos. High-priced lattes and customized drinks helped lift the coffee chain’s US sales in the quarter ending on October 1, the company said Thursday. In North America, sales at Starbucks-operated stores open at least 13 months jumped 8% in the quarter, driven mostly by people spending more per visit. Starbucks’ financial results beat Wall Street’s expectations, sending shares of the company up about 11% Thursday. But as Starbucks customers are shelling out more for ever-more elaborate drinks, other consumers are pulling back.

Persons: Rachel Ruggeri, Ruggeri, Laxman Narasimhan, “, ”, we’ve, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Narasimhan, we’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, ”, Investors Locations: New York, North America, China

☆ DoorDash is testing warnings about bad service if you don’t tip your driver
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Thinking of skimping on a DoorDash tip? The message is just a test, DoorDash spokesperson Jenn Rosenberg told CNN in an email. DoorDash, along with other third-party delivery providers, has opposed efforts to create a minimum wage for delivery drivers. Federally, the tipped minimum wage is just $2.13 per hour (some states have higher minimums). Employers are required to make up the difference if tips don’t bring workers up to the federal minimum wage.

Persons: Jenn Rosenberg, we’re, ”, ” Rosenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, DoorDash, CNN, Employers Locations: New York

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