Dollar General

Major retailers are reversing course on self-checkout, scaling back or removing the machines from stores. The shift follows widespread shopper frustration with malfunctioning scanners, constant staff interventions, accusations of theft, and research suggesting the kiosks drive up losses without clear cost savings. Social media users have long complained about the checkout experience, and those discussions are now being cited as evidence of why chains like Walmart, Target and Dollar General are rethinking the technology.

Retail investors shifted toward defensive consumer staples this week, with Costco, Dollar General and Walmart leading gains in the sector, according to Stocktwits' weekly retail sentiment roundup. Traders appear to be rotating into safer names, a move often read as a sign of caution about broader market conditions.