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From living rooms to landfills, some holiday shopping returns take a 'very sad path'

A postal worker carries packages through the snow on Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images hide caption

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Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Business

From living rooms to landfills, some holiday shopping returns take a 'very sad path'

It's peak season for returns, which are setting a new record. Some end up back on shelves or get resold to other merchants, and some wind up in landfills or sail overseas.

From living rooms to landfills, some holiday shopping returns take a 'very sad path'

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Friday

The hidden costs of holiday consumerism

Buy now, pay later and online returns are just a couple of the hidden costs of holiday shopping. the_burtons/Getty Images hide caption

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It's Been a Minute

The hidden costs of holiday consumerism

A lot of consumers are worried about supply chain delays this holiday season — but there are also other issues to watch out for when shopping. Guest host Ayesha Rascoe talks about the hidden costs of holiday consumption with The Atlantic staff writer Amanda Mull and The Washington Post retail reporter Abha Bhattarai. They discuss the potential downfalls of buy now, pay later services and where online shopping returns really go. Then, they play a game of Who Said That?

The hidden costs of holiday consumerism

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Thursday

Starbucks and Costco raise wages in the nationwide competition for workers

Facing a union effort, Starbucks, which is also making changes to training and scheduling, says that it supports the workers' right to organize but that a union was unnecessary. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Business

Starbucks and Costco raise wages in the nationwide competition for workers

Costco pays $17 an hour after a second raise this year. Starbucks is raising hourly pay to $15 amid a union effort. Major chains are pushing to draw workers, who have shunned a million retail jobs.

Friday

Santa's sleigh is looking emptier. Fewer toys, higher prices loom for holiday season

An employee organizes an aisle at Mary Arnold Toys, New York City's oldest toy store, on Aug. 2. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

Stuck in transit: The supply chain in disarray

Santa's sleigh is looking emptier. Fewer toys, higher prices loom for holiday season

Toy-makers are warning of emptier shelves and pricier toys this holiday season. Their supplies are ensnarled in floating traffic jams of container ships wallowing near key U.S. ports.

Santa's sleigh is looking emptier. Fewer toys, higher prices loom for holiday season

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Monday

Retail Jobs Are Treated As A Temporary Bridge To Something Better. But Why?

At any moment of this past decade, U.S. retail jobs have supported about 15 million workers. Inti St Clair/Getty Images/Tetra images RF hide caption

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Inti St Clair/Getty Images/Tetra images RF

Help Wanted: Where Are The Workers?

Retail Jobs Are Treated As A Temporary Bridge To Something Better. But Why?

At any moment, some 15 million Americans work in retail. Many stay for years. Now companies face a labor crunch, and workers wish these jobs were designed as durable careers.

Retail Jobs Are Treated As A Temporary Bridge To Something Better. But Why?

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Monday

All In On Malls
Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

All In On Malls

With the pandemic shutting down in-person life, thousands of retail stores closed up shop. But, some retailers see an opportunity for growth by moving into American malls. Let's go to the mall.

All In On Malls

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Thursday

More Retail Workers Are Quitting Than Ever, But More Stores Are Opening Than Expected

People shop at a Macy's in New York this month. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

More Retail Workers Are Quitting Than Ever, But More Stores Are Opening Than Expected

The U.S. retail industry is setting records: workers quitting and workers hired. Wages are finally growing. And despite the pandemic devastation, brand-new stores are still opening.

More Retail Workers Are Quitting Than Ever, But More Stores Are Opening Than Expected

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Tuesday

Who Cares About Calendars? The Pumpkin Spice Latte Is Here, Which Means Fall Has Begun

Starbucks beat its own record this year, rolling out the pumpkin spice latte a full 24 hours earlier than it did last year. Still, it lags behind the Aug. 18 Dunkin's rollout of a similar beverage. Chelsea Kyle/Starbucks hide caption

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Chelsea Kyle/Starbucks

Business

Who Cares About Calendars? The Pumpkin Spice Latte Is Here, Which Means Fall Has Begun

Love it or hate it, the PSL gods have spoken. The flavored coffee beverage — and all of the iterations it has spawned — is upon us.

Tuesday

Families Splurge On Clothes And Electronics In Likely Record Back-To-School Spree

Some families already got a head start on shopping for the school year when Amazon, Walmart, Target and others held huge summer sales. Now, parents are getting a new financial boost from the government: an increased child tax credit of up to $3,000 for school-age children. Michele Abercrombie/NPR hide caption

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Michele Abercrombie/NPR

Business

Families Splurge On Clothes And Electronics In Likely Record Back-To-School Spree

Last year it was all about chairs and headphones. This year it's time for T-shirts and sneakers — and more laptops. Back-to-school shopping in the U.S. is expected to top $37 billion.

Families Splurge On Clothes And Electronics In Likely Record Back-To-School Spree

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Friday

Dogecoin, Retail And The Cafe Table Indicator
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Dogecoin, Retail And The Cafe Table Indicator

For this edition of Indicators of the Week, we hear from economists Kate Waldock and Ben Ho about what they're looking at to signal the health of the economy: the strength of retail and Dogecoin.

Dogecoin, Retail and the Cafe Table Indicator

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Thursday

Stimulus And The Shopper
GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Stimulus And The Shopper

Stimulus checks have started to hit many Americans' bank accounts. Will this give an extra boost, or maybe even a lifeline, to retailers?

Stimulus And The Shopper

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Thursday