{
  "id": 4129072,
  "title": "Costco facts of the day",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/costco-facts-of-the-day",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-29T06:42:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Marginal Revolution",
    "slug": "marginal-revolution",
    "url": "https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2026/08/costco-facts-of-the-day.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Costco sold 157.4 million rotisserie chickens worldwide last year, nearly double the quantity from a decade prior. The $4.99 price point, exclusively for Costco members, is hailed as an exceptional bargain by Walt Shafer, who managed a Nebraska Costco site before retiring. These birds have remained at $4.99 since 2009 despite the US retail price of chicken more than doubling. This product has become a well-documented \"loss leader,\" bolstering the loyalty of Costco shoppers who pay membership fees for the privilege of shopping there. Rotisserie chickens account for just a fraction of the chicken processed in Nebraska; the facility also cuts breasts, thighs, and other cuts into six-pouch \"saddle packs\" for distribution to stores. Raw breast meat, priced at $2.99 per pound, helps offset losses on the more expensive rotisserie birds.",
  "summary": "Costco sold 157.4mn rotisserie chickens worldwide last year, almost double the number of a decade ago. “It’s $4.99 and for Costco members, that’s one fantastic deal. I don’t think you can produce it for that,” said Walt Shafer, who oversaw the construction and management of the Nebraska site before he retired from Costco this year. […] The post Costco facts of the day appeared first on Marginal…",
  "key_points": [
    "Costco sold 157.4 million rotisserie chickens globally last year.",
    "$4.99 price point for chickens has remained constant since 2009.",
    "Rotisserie chickens are a loss leader to boost Costco membership loyalty."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Selling rotisserie chickens at a loss cements loyalty among Costco members, who help offset the shortfall by buying higher-priced raw chicken and paying membership fees.",
  "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."
}