New research links access to dollar stores with higher rates of several health problems across the U.S.

• A new study found a link between nearby dollar stores and higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

• Researchers compared access to dollar stores and traditional grocery stores across U.S. metro areas.

• The findings suggest that access to healthier food options may matter just as much as access to food itself.

Dollar stores can be an appealing option when grocery prices are putting pressure on household budgets. But new research from the University of California, Riverside suggests that where people shop for food and the quality of the food available there could be connected to their health.

The study, published in BMC Public Health, found that communities with greater proximity to dollar stores had higher rates of several health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. By comparison, greater access to traditional grocery stores was associated with better health outcomes.

The researchers point to differences in the types of foods available. Traditional grocery stores generally offer more fresh produce, whole grains, and lean proteins, while dollar stores tend to have fewer of these healthier options.

I want to raise awareness that higher grocery costs are pushing people to buy highly processed, lower quality food at dollar stores, and it is negatively impacting their health in a similar way to fast food, researcher Ryan Bruellman said in a news release.

How the researchers studied the connection

The researchers analyzed data from 2016 through 2020 covering traditional grocery stores and dollar stores across the contiguous United States. They used geographic mapping software called ArcGIS to measure how close different communities were to each type of store.

The analysis focused on census tracts in metropolitan areas included in the CDC's 500 Cities Project. Researchers then used statistical models to examine whether proximity to traditional grocery stores or dollar stores was associated with various health outcomes.

They also accounted for socioeconomic factors using the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. That was important because factors such as difficulty affording groceries could influence both where people shop and their health.

What the findings mean for consumers

The researchers found that greater proximity to traditional grocery stores was significantly associated with lower rates of adverse health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, proximity to dollar stores was significantly associated with all of the health outcomes examined, even after researchers accounted for socioeconomic factors.

That doesn't mean shopping at a dollar store directly causes a particular health condition. Instead, the study identified an association between the food environment and health across communities.

The researchers say the findings highlight the importance of making healthier foods more accessible. Suggestions include increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at dollar stores and bringing farmers markets and food banks closer to communities where dollar stores are common.

For consumers, the takeaway is less about avoiding dollar stores altogether and more about recognizing that having an affordable place to buy food doesn't necessarily mean having equal access to nutritious choices.

The overarching thing is we shouldnt think of traditional grocery stores as the only places to get food. People need to look beyond that, Bruellman said.

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The retailer is launching a campaign focused on value, convenience, and helping customers feel more confident about their purchases

• JCPenney is encouraging shoppers to rethink the idea that getting a good deal means making compromises.

• A new Retail Rejuvenation campaign highlights the retailers clothing, beauty, home, and other offerings.

• From Aug. 2830, shoppers can trade in a retail regret for $15 off a $50 purchase, with donated items going to Good360.

Ever bought something because it was close enough to what you were looking for, only to leave it sitting in your closet with the tags still attached?

JCPenney is turning that familiar shopping frustration into the centerpiece of a new campaign.

The retailer recently introduced its Retail Rejuvenation campaign, which aims to encourage shoppers to feel more confident about finding quality, style, and value without having to settle. The campaign comes with a decidedly playful approach, framing disappointing shopping experiences as retail regrets that consumers can finally leave behind.

A look at the campaign

As part of the campaign, JCPenney invited six value-focused shoppers to a Retail Rejuvenation Retreat, where they participated in activities designed to help them rethink their shopping habits.

The retailer also surveyed consumers about their experiences at JCPenney. Among the 733 people surveyed in one poll, 88% said shopping at JCPenney is easy, while 76% said they find what they came for in their size. A separate survey of 1,235 consumers found that 92% felt they got a good deal at JCPenney.

What this means for shoppers

Theres also a tangible offer attached to the campaign. From Aug. 28 through Aug. 30, customers can bring a retail regret to a JCPenney store nationwide and receive $15 off a $50 purchase. The items brought in will be donated through Good360.

For shoppers, the campaign is essentially an invitation to think about value beyond simply finding the lowest price.

JCPenneys message is that a deal is only worthwhile if you actually want and use what you bought and that finding the right size, quality, and selection can be part of getting a better value, too.

Now through September 7, consumers can save on all the back-to-school essentials

• Shop school supplies for $5 or less from retailers including Staples, CVS and Family Dollar.

• Stock up on snacks and groceries from ALDI, Albertsons, Kroger and other participating stores.

• Deals are available nationwide to all Uber Eats users, with no order minimum and automatic discounts.

Back-to-school shopping doesnt exactly scream relax by the pool, but this year, you may be able to do both. Uber Eats is offering a lineup of $5-or-less deals on school supplies, groceries, and snacks through September 7.

The deals are available nationwide to all Uber Eats users not just Uber One members and theres no order minimum for these promotions. Taxes and fees still apply, and prices and product availability can vary by location.

What can you get for $5?

If youre still working through your childs school supply list, there are plenty of basics to choose from. Participating retailers including Staples, CVS, and Family Dollar are offering deals on items such as Ticonderoga pencils, Paper Mate and BIC pens, Sharpie markers, and highlighters, crayons, colored pencils, spiral notebooks, glue sticks, and Post-it Notes.

And because back-to-school shopping also means preparing for school lunches, participating grocery retailers such as ALDI, Albertsons and Kroger have $5-or-less options including Welchs Fruit Snacks, Gushers, granola bars, Greek yogurt, Cheerios, orange juice, and Gatorade.

Theres more beyond the basics, too. Uber Eats says shoppers can find products from brands including Apple, Bose, Nike, Adidas, and Owala at retailers such as Best Buy, Dicks Sporting Goods, Sephora, and Ulta.

How to find the deals

The back-to-school promotions launched August 3 and are available in the Uber Eats app through September 7. The discounts are automatically applied, so theres no promo code to remember at checkout.

Uber Eats says shoppers can visit its back-to-school hub in the app to browse the available deals throughout the season. Since pricing and selection can differ by location, its worth checking the app for whats available near you before you start filling your cart.

The retirement magic number just jumped $200,000

• Americans now think they'll need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, up $200,000 from last year, as retirement anxiety grows.

• Your actual retirement target depends on your spending, lifestyle, retirement age, and other income.

• Calculate your own number instead, using rules like 25x or 4%, then factor in Social Security, pensions, and other expected income.

How much money do you need to retire comfortably? According to Americans, the answer is now $1.46 million.

That's the average amount U.S. adults believe they'll need for a comfortable retirement, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2026 Planning & Progress Study. The number jumped $200,000 from last year's $1.26 million, an increase of nearly 16%, and returned to the same $1.46 million estimate reported in 2024.

The survey also reveals plenty of retirement anxiety. Nearly half of Americans (46%) don't expect to be financially prepared for retirement, while 48% believe they're somewhat or very likely to outlive their savings.

But before you look at your 401(k) balance and panic, there's something important to understand: You don't necessarily need $1.46 million to retire.

Your retirement number is personal

The $1.46 million figure isn't a recommendation. It's what surveyed Americans believe they'll need.

Northwestern Mutual itself says there is no universal retirement number. How much you'll actually need depends on factors including when you retire, where you live and the lifestyle you want. The company suggests replacing roughly 80% of your pre-retirement income as one starting point.

In other words, someone who owns a paid-off home and plans a relatively inexpensive retirement may need considerably less than someone carrying a mortgage and planning to travel extensively.

Instead of obsessing over $1.46 million, calculate a target based on your spending.

Three quick ways to estimate your number

The study offers several useful rules of thumb.

1. Try the 25x rule. Estimate how much you'll need to spend each year in retirement and multiply it by 25. If you expect to need $50,000 annually, for example, that produces a savings target of roughly $1.25 million.

2. Use the $1,000-a-month rule. Northwestern Mutual says every $1,000 of desired monthly retirement spending translates to roughly $300,000 in savings. So $4,000 per month would point toward about $1.2 million.

3. Consider the 4% rule. This rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your savings during your first year of retirement, then adjusting that dollar amount for inflation in subsequent years. At $1.46 million, that translates to roughly $58,000 in first-year withdrawals. These are rules of thumb rather than guarantees, and actual results depend on factors such as investment returns and how long you live.

Don't forget income you'll already have

Your retirement savings don't necessarily have to pay every bill. When estimating how much you'll need from your nest egg, dont forget about your expected income such as Social Security or a pension.

Start with your estimated monthly retirement expenses, subtract the income you know youll be getting, then you can determine how much of your savings youll need to fill the gap.

By doing it this way, youll get a much more useful number than simply aiming for $1.46 million because a survey says so.

More Americans expect to keep working

One finding from the study also suggests retirement itself is changing.

About 41% of Americans say they're planning to work or are already working during retirement. Among millennials and Gen X, that figure reaches 50%.

Money isn't the only reason. While 47% say they'll need the additional income to afford retirement, 56% say working will help them continue feeling useful or stimulated.

What to do now

Rather than getting intimidated by a seven-figure national average, take 15 minutes and calculate your own number.

Estimate your annual retirement expenses, subtract expected Social Security and other reliable income, then use a rule such as 25x to establish a rough savings target.

Then compare that number with what you're currently on track to save. If there's a gap, the solution doesn't have to be finding another million dollars overnight. Increasing your retirement contribution even a few percentage points, capturing your full employer 401(k) match, reducing expected retirement expenses or working a little longer can all change the math.