Here are the headlines from Cheddar News that are Good 2 Know.
NOSTALGIA SELLS
Nostalgia is a top seller among Gen Z shoppers, according to a report from the Washington Post. The outlet cited research from buy now, pay later firm Klarna showing that "vintage tech" sales are rising, with sales of wired headphones up 300 percent in February 2022 compared with the year before, and flip phone sales were up more than 80 percent in August. Other products to cash in on the nostalgia craze included McDonald's, which started offering adult Happy Meals, and candy maker Just Born Quality Confections, which doubled down on its Easter favorite Peeps. Movie studios also continue to capitalize on the trend with a line-up of TV and movie reboots.
DOLLAR STORE GROCERIES
Research from Coresight found that more than 20 percent of consumers are now purchasing groceries at dollar stores such as Dollar Tree and Dollar General. This follows another report from the American Journal of Public Health finding that dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers in the U.S. As a result, major chains are in the middle of a massive expansion. Dollar General, for instance, is building 1,050 new stores and remodeling 2,000 others in 2023.
Have you been hearing about all the passport delays that are currently affecting travelers around the U.S? If you're in a rush to get your passport, it could cost you hundreds of dollars. So to protect your dollar, we brought in travel expert Francesca Page to give some tips on how to avoid extra fees for expedited passports down the line.
While it's already July, there's still time to plan those last minute summer vacations. and we've got expert tips that can help you save. Consumer Reporter Janice Lieberman has more.
New York City has debuted its first vending machine for drug overdose treatment Narcan, but for some reason, not everyone is on board with this progressive community offering. Cheddar's own Ashley Mastronardi explored this complex issue.
A new study shows that there could be an unexpected side effect of climate change happening right under your feet. Researchers at Northwestern University used temperature sensors underground across Chicago and found that the city's concrete structures (think parking garages, basements, or train tunnels) are absorbing heat from rising temperatures, and it's causing the city to slowly sink.
