Aldi hiring fair set for Saturday
The discount grocery chain Aldi is conducting a hiring fair from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4243 Shallowford Village Drive, to fill 15 open jobs for its local stores in Hixson, Brainerd, Ooltewah, Fort Oglethorpe, Cleveland, Tenn., and Dalton, Ga. Job applicants are sought for store associates, which are paid a starting wage of $11.50 an hour, and shift managers, who are paid $16 an hour.
Applicants must be 18 years or older, available to work any day between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., and capable of lifting 45 pounds. A high school diploma or GED is preferred, retail experience is preferred and applicants will be subjected to a drug screening and background check.
CBL adds tenants at Illinois mall
Fashion retailer H&M, fitness center Planet Fitness and the Outback Steakhouse are moving into the Eastland Mall in Bloomington, Ill., replacing the former JCPenney store in the mall operated by the Chattanooga-based CBL Properties.
The new tenants are part of CBL’s ongoing program to refashion its shopping centers with more entertainment, fitness and eating establishments to replace major anchor retailers who closed a record number of stores last year.
“We are thrilled to kick off 2018 by announcing a major anchor redevelopment project at Eastland Mall,” said Stephen Lebovitz, president & CEO, CBL Properties. “The additions of H&M and Planet Fitness are a perfect example of our commitment to bringing a dynamic mix of uses to our centers. Dining, value and fitness are increasingly in demand, and we are pleased to deliver names that not only meet this demand, but elevate the overall customer experience.”
CBL’s portfolio is comprised of 119 properties totaling 74.4 million square feet across 27 states, including Hamilton Place and Northgate malls in Chattanooga.
Gas prices to rise 19 cents a gallon
Motorists will be digging a bit deeper for the second straight year as the yearly national average will rise 19 cents versus last year to $2.57 per gallon – the highest since 2014 – according to the 2018 forecast of fuel prices by the online gas price website GasBuddy.com
The nation’s yearly gasoline bill is forecast to rise to $364.6 billion, some $25 billion higher than what motorists spent last year as the average household sees its yearly gasoline bill rise to $1,898, up from $1,765 in 2017. Compared to 2016, motorists will be shelling out $62 billion more during the year, enough to buy a fleet of 670 Boeing 737s.
GasBuddy’s forecast does not expect any record-breaking prices to be set in 2018, and most of the country will see prices peak under $3 per gallon, but unexpected disruptions could push the national average close to $3.
“Ultimately, OPEC bears much of the responsibility for cutting oil production, leading oil inventories to begin 2018 nearly 50 million barrels lower than a year ago,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Even one event can completely change trajectory of fuel prices for months. Look what impact Hurricane Harvey and Irma had on gas prices and availability.
Mortgage rates drop to 3.95 percent
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, making it slightly more affordable to borrow for a home.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped to 3.95 percent from 3.99 percent last week. The average has tumbled from 4.20 percent a year ago.
The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 3.38 percent from 3.44 percent in the prior week. This same rate average was 3.44 percent last year.
Southwest settles over price collusion
Southwest Airlines will pay $15 million to settle class-action lawsuits that accuse the four biggest U.S. carriers of conspiring to boost prices by holding down the supply of tickets for sale.
Southwest denies breaking the law but said it settled to avoid the expense of more litigation. It also will provide information to the plaintiffs.
American, United and Delta said Thursday they did nothing wrong and will continue to defend themselves.
Lawyers for consumers filed dozens of lawsuits against the four airlines in mid-2015 after The Associated Press first reported the Justice Department was investigating possible collusion.
Federal officials demanded documents from the airlines – which control more than 80 percent of the U.S. air-travel market – to see if they were colluding to limit the number of seats in order to keep prices high.