Aldi says complete Thanksgiving dinner cheaper than a year ago and more business news

An Aldi sign is shown in this file photo.
An Aldi sign is shown in this file photo.

Aldi gives workers two $30 gift cards

Though Thanksgiving may look different this year, the grocery store chain Aldi said shoppers should be able to buy a complete traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of its fixings for less money this year than in 2019.

"We're proud to provide shoppers everything they need for a traditional Thanksgiving meal from ALDI for less than $30," said Jason Hart, president and CEO of Aldi US.

With the spirit of Thanksgiving in mind, the German-based grocery chain said it is paying kindness forward and giving every employee two $30 gift cards. Each card covers the cost of a Thanksgiving meal from its stores, and employees are welcome to use the gift cards for themselves or pass one or both along to someone in need.

Mortgage rates rise, 30-year at 2.86 percent

U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week. They remain at historically low levels, now around a percentage point below a year ago.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year benchmark loan increased to 2.84% from 2.78% from last week. By contrast, the rate averaged 3.75% a year ago.

The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up to 2.34% from 2.32%.

Breaking their downward trend through most of this year, mortgage rates were bolstered by the news Monday that a COVID-19 vaccine may be 90% effective, based on early and incomplete test results.

Air bag in BMW kills Arizona driver

U.S. investigators have determined that shrapnel from an exploding Takata air bag killed a BMW driver during a crash in Arizona.

The September death of the unidentified male is the 18th in the U.S. since 2009 and 27th worldwide caused by the faulty inflators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wouldn't release further details on the death, citing privacy concerns. But the agency said the incident underscores the importance of getting recall repairs done.

In a statement, BMW said the man in the crash was driving a 2004 3 Series BMW. The company said it has been working to identify and contact owners of older BMWs with recalled Takata air bags.

"We urge all owners to take the recall notices seriously and to have the recalls completed at any authorized BMW Center, as soon as possible," the statement said.

Airlines worry travel hurt by virus upturn

Southwest Airlines cautioned Thursday that the tenuous recovery in air travel could be fading as coronavirus cases spike across the United States.

The nation's fourth-biggest airline said after a modest rise in leisure-travel bookings from August through October, it now sees a slowdown in what were improving revenue trends for November and December.

Separately, JetBlue Airways announced it will stop blocking seats starting Jan. 8 - a bet that people feel more confident about traveling on full flights during a pandemic. The airline currently limits flights to 70% of capacity but will raise that to 85% on Dec. 2.

Airline stocks surged on Monday after Pfizer reported promising early results from a trial of a coronavirus vaccine. Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the vaccine news a "welcome glimmer of light in the darkness." However, the stocks have retreated as new confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared this week, topping 140,000, to set a new record Wednesday.

- Compiled by Dave Flessner

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