Price check: Walmart has warned the Trump administration that its latest batch of proposed tariffs could make it more expensive for U.S. households to buy items ranging from cribs to Christmas lights, USA Today reports. The world’s largest retailer delivered the message in a letter dated Sept. 6 to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In it, Walmart joined other industry players in sounding an alarm that American shoppers will suffer the most if another batch of levies is imposed on goods and parts bought from China. Read the full story.
Up in the air: Just before Labor Day, JetBlue and United Airlines raised the bag fee for most travelers to $30 from $25. Delta Air Lines followed suit on Wednesday, and American Airlines said Thursday that it, too, was raising bag charges, The New York Times reports. Airlines continue to see the much-maligned bag fees as a way to protect their bottom lines from rising fuel and labor costs. Read the full story.
Trimming down: Wells Fargo & Co announced Thursday it would reduce its headcount by about 5% to 10% within the next three years as part of a turnaround plan, Reuters reports. As of June 30th, the nation’s fourth largest bank had roughly 264,500 employees, making a 10% reduction representative of about 26,450 jobs. Wells Fargo said the latest reduction would reflect displacements as well as normal team-member attrition. Read the full story.
