• The Washington Post reports that "the hot labor market could be starting to soften, as U.S. employers posted 10.7 million job openings in June, tapering off a bit from previous months. The number of people who quit their jobs was still elevated at 2.8 percent, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
The story notes that "the June data follows several months of record-high job openings and quit rates, which marked the high point of the hot labor market, as employers scrambled to find workers amid shortages across many sectors. June’s figures continue to reflect a strong labor market."
• The Houston Chronicle reports that Dollar General has opened new Popshelf stores - a format with a merchandise mix that "includes seasonal and home décor, health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, household items, arts and crafts, party goods, toys, candy, games and electronics" - in the Houston market, with stores in Cypress, Webster and north Houston.
"Since introducing Popshelf in the Nashville market in 2020," he story says, the format "has grown to 60 locations and 25 store-within-a-store locations inside Dollar General in eight states. The shop, which competes with retailers such as Five Below, Dollar Tree and T.J. Maxx, aims to deliver a fun, affordable shopping experience with a revolving selection of products, seasonal specials and limited-time items … Popshelf plans to open an additional 100 additional stores in fiscal 2022 and operate up to 1,000 stores by 2025."
• CNBC reports that "federal regulators have fined Family Dollar more than $1.2 million in penalties related to safety violations at two Ohio stores, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday.
"In January and February of this year, OSHA inspected Family Dollar stores in Columbus and Maple Heights and found blocked exits, unstable stacks of goods, cluttered working areas and inaccessible electrical equipment and fire extinguishers.
"At the Columbus location, the agency found 'water-soaked ceiling tiles' had fallen to the floor on at least two occasions in 'close proximity' to employees, according to the citation. The agency found 11 violations between the two stores, adding to more than 300 total violations by Family Dollar and its parent company, Dollar Tree, over the last five years, OSHA said in a release."
The story notes that "the fines come just months after a Food and Drug Administration investigation found rodents, dead and alive, in more than 400 Family Dollar stores, leading to mass voluntary recalls of products this past February."
