Dollar stores are supposed to do well regardless of the economy. Turns out, that's not true.

Tech Insider
A woman wearing a light pink headband and a red-and-grey hoodie carries a bottle of Coca-Cola and some salad dressing while talking on a cell phone and standing in front of a Family Dollar store. To the left, a white, red, and yellow sign that reads
Dollar stores have run into trouble lately after years of doing well regardless of the economy.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Why we don't actually know whether retail theft is a big problem

Tech Insider
A store employee wearing a red vest and a black long-sleeved shirt handles a jug of laundry detergent at a locked case with other jugs of Downy detergent on shelves. At the top of the photo, a keychain hangs from the lock used to secure the shelf when it's not open.
Many retailers have locked up goods in response to a supposed rise in retail theft.

Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

I shopped at Family Dollar and saw why the chain is struggling and shuttering stores

Tech Insider
Business Insider reporter Alex Bitter wears a dark blue polo shirt and sunglasses while standing outside a Family Dollar store in Maryland on a cloudy day. A black mini-van is visible to his left, as are thin grey bars in the window of the dollar store.
Business Insider visited a Family Dollar store in Mt. Rainer, Maryland.

Alex Bitter/BI

Dollar General is taking checkout back out of your hands because of theft

Tech Insider
Two people, one wearing a pink hoodie and pink sandals, the other pushing a stroller with a toddler in it, walk on the sidewalk past a brick building and a yellow-and-black sign that reads
Dollar General is cutting self-checkout at hundreds of stores.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Costco says it's actually cutting prices on some products as inflation stabilizes

Tech Insider
Costco in Wisconsin
Costco is cutting prices on some items, the latest sign that inflation is cooling for consumers.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Some Walmart stores are limiting self-checkout lanes just for Spark drivers and Walmart+ customers

Tech Insider
A Walmart self-checkout kiosk with a camera and yellow

Insider Source

Whole Foods is launching mini-stores for quicker shopping trips

Tech Insider
Pedestrians walk by the sign and entrance to a Whole Foods Market store in New York in 2017.
Amazon is reportedly planning new Whole Foods mini-stores for New York City.

CARLO ALLEGRI/Reuters

It's not just you – stores are cutting back on product variety and how many choices you can make

Tech Insider
A customer shops at a Walmart in Florida.
A customer shops at a Walmart in Florida.

Jeff Greenberg/Getty

Walmart says hackers took over some Spark drivers' accounts and had access to their Social Security numbers

Tech Insider
A silver-colored Hummer sits outside of a Walmart in New Jersey as customers walk along the side of the store. The white
Hackers reportedly got access to about 200 Walmart Spark accounts.

SIDDHARTH CAVALE/Reuters

Ikea is betting you'll come to its coworking space in a mall, then shop at one of its stores

Tech Insider
Cars sit parked outside of an Ikea store in California. The store is painted in the retailer's blue and yellow colors, and a sign that says
Ikea is buying malls and adding coworking spaces, food halls, and other attractions.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images

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