{
  "id": 15853967,
  "title": "Shoppers turn to warehouse stores as grocery bills climb",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/shoppers-turn-to-warehouse-stores-as-grocery-bills-climb",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T06:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/others/20261021/shoppers-turn-to-warehouse-stores-as-grocery-bills-climb"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul residents like Kim Eun-young, a 42-year-old mother of two, are increasingly turning to warehouse stores like Costco to help ease the burden of rising grocery costs. Frustrated by the increasing prices at their local supermarkets, Kim now makes a monthly trip to Costco instead. She explains that while the initial bill may be higher, purchasing groceries and household essentials in bulk allows her family of four to save money.\n\nAccording to market tracker WiseApp Retail, the combined estimated card spending at Costco and Emart Traders reached a record 1.45 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in September. This figure is based on a sample of Korean consumers' credit and debit card payments and excludes cash and bank transfers. The rise in warehouse shopping among consumers is a direct response to the pressure of high prices, as they seek more affordable alternatives.",
  "summary": "For Kim Eun-young, a 42-year-old mother of two living in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, a monthly trip to Costco has become routine this year. She used to pick up what she needed at a nearby supermarket, but rising prices prompted her to change her shopping habits. She said buying groceries and household essentials in bulk seems more economical, at least for her family of four. “The bill is bigger…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}