“Power casual” Lulu fit… Workers are slowly returning to offices, and there’s less room for Zoom. While office occupancy is still lower than prepandemic, 88% of employers are offering workers incentives to return IRL. The number of workers returning to cubicles is rising, and 9 in 10 companies surveyed said they planned to require workers in offices (at least part time) by 2023. That hurts pandemic powerhouses like Zoom, which reports today. Last quarter it cut its sales forecast as growth majorly slowed from the pandemic Zoom boom.
Forks up, sweatpants on… wallets out. Thanksgiving is on Thursday, but grocery prices are already eating into budgets. A third of Americans plan to spend less on their feasts this year, with the average meal for 10 hitting $64, up 20% from last year. Turkey is up 21% while stuffing mix has soared 70%. Some retail giants are gaining customers by keeping prices (relatively) low: Walmart says it’s keeping Thanksgiving meal prices the same as last year, and more higher-income shoppers turned to the retailer last quarter for discounts.