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The China Earthquake Networks Center officially reported that a magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, at 12:40 PM on September 3, with a focal depth of 20 kilometers.1. According to CNN, citing two US officials familiar with the operation, the US military escorted 40 merchant ships carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, setting a new wartime record. 2. According to Longzhong Information, as of September 2nd, the total inventory of high-cis butadiene rubber in sample enterprises in China was 25,500 tons, a decrease of 1,100 tons, or 4.14%, compared to the previous period. 3. On September 3rd, Mysteels statistics for 114 steel mills showed a total imported sintering powder inventory of 29.1302 million tons, a decrease of 53,200 tons compared to the previous period. The total daily consumption of imported sintering powder was 1.1842 million tons, an increase of 20,900 tons compared to the previous period. The inventory-to-consumption ratio was 24.6, a decrease of 0.49 compared to the previous period. 4. This week, Mysteels statistics for 523 coking coal mines showed a capacity utilization rate of 67.8%, a decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous period. The average daily output of raw coal was 1.524 million tons, a decrease of 5,000 tons compared to the previous week; raw coal inventory was 4.013 million tons, a decrease of 9,000 tons compared to the previous week. 5. According to Longzhong Information, as of September 3, 2026, the total inventory of domestic soda ash manufacturers this week was 1.9113 million tons, an increase of 2,900 tons from Monday, a rise of 0.15%. Among them, light soda ash was 1.0429 million tons, a decrease of 700 tons compared to the previous week, and heavy soda ash was 868,400 tons, an increase of 3,600 tons compared to the previous week. 6. As of September 3, 2026, Longzhong Informations statistics show that the inventory of sample enterprises with a fixed liquid soda ash production capacity of 200,000 tons or more nationwide was 494,800 tons (wet tons), an increase of 3.19% compared to the previous week and an increase of 27.6% year-on-year. 7. According to Longzhong Information, Guangxi Nanning Float Glass Co., Ltd.s kiln, with a design capacity of 700 tons/day, cooled down on the afternoon of the 2nd. The specific time of water release will continue to be monitored. 8. According to Aladdin, the sea freight rate from Guinea to Cape, China, continued to strengthen on September 3rd, reaching $40.5/ton, up $4.5/ton from a low of $36/ton, a new high in nearly five years. 9. According to Longzhong Information, as of September 3, 2026, the sample inventory of pulp at major Chinese ports was 229.2 tons, an increase of 0.5 million tons from the previous period, a month-on-month increase of 0.2%. The inventory at major sample ports showed an accumulation trend this period. 10. South Korea announced a major restructuring of its state-owned energy and transportation companies, part of a broader public sector reform aimed at reducing costs and enhancing competitiveness. 11. According to CCTV, Iranian sources reported on the 3rd that Iran used missiles and drones to strike a US military base in Kuwait. Sources said thick smoke billowed from the scene. Earlier, the Kuwaiti military said its air defenses were responding to the missile and drone attacks. 12. According to Mysteel, in early September, inventory at the Kanchanaburi border crossing fell below 1.9 million tons, indicating the initial completion of environmental inspections. The number of vehicles clearing customs saw a slight increase, with an average of 701.5 vehicles clearing customs daily in September, a 20.97% increase month-on-month. The number of vehicles clearing customs today is expected to continue to rise. 13. The Governor of the Bank of Thailand stated on Thursday that the central bank supports the proposal to tax gold transactions. A 0.01% gold tax would not harm the industrys interests. The central bank plans to take further measures to curb illicit capital flows.New York gold futures rose 1.00% on the day, currently trading at $4,478.80 per ounce.Audi China: The first model developed by the Audi SAIC Innovation Center is planned to be launched in 2028.September 3rd - The Governor of the Bank of Thailand stated on Thursday that the central bank supports a proposal to tax gold transactions. A 0.01% gold tax would not harm the industrys interests. The central bank plans to take further measures to curb illicit capital flows.

Costco Margins Are Impacted by Growing Freight And Labor Expenses, And The Stock Price Falls

Charlie Brooks

May 27, 2022 09:50

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Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:COST) announced a decline in gross margins on Thursday, impacted by rising freight and labor expenses across the United States. The news sent shares of the membership-only retailer down 2% and overshadowed an otherwise positive quarterly report.


Fresh COVID-19 lockdowns in China and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have compounded the problem for U.S. businesses.


Costco announced that it would increase prices in certain food categories in order to battle inflation.


Retailers such as Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Inc and Target Corp (NYSE:TGT) have warned that decades-high inflation will have a negative impact on their earnings, as shoppers hesitate from purchasing non-essential and high-margin goods.


The average Costco buyer earns more than the average Walmart and Target shopper, allowing Costco to generate quarterly earnings and revenue that easily exceeds expectations.


Memberships and sales have been boosted by the company's efforts to keep gas prices several cents below the national average.


Costco, in contrast to Walmart, reported that there has not been a significant shift from branded products to its private label product, Kirkland Signature.


"We aren't really observing a decline in commerce. This year, more money is being spent on tickets, dining out, travel, tires, and gasoline "In a post-earnings conference call, Robert Nelson, senior vice president of finance and investor relations, said.


Costco's gross margins decreased by 99 basis points in the third quarter.


According to data from Refinitiv IBES, Costco's total sales for the quarter ending May 8 increased by 16 percent to $52.60 billion, surpassing analysts' projections of $51.71 billion.


Excluding adjustments, Costco's earnings per share were $3.17, exceeding analysts' expectations of $3.03.