Wal-Mart to Infiltrate Cities

One-dollar socks hold a magnetic lure, even in cities. The Financial Times reports that Wal-Mart is stepping up its efforts to move in to New York City, open a second Supercenter store in Chicago, and is raising its profile in Philadelphia, in part by taking a political approach to charitable giving. Traditionally, the UFCW grocery workers' union and its political allies have opposed Wal-Mart, which is the nation's largest private employer and strongly anti-union, but due to the world's largest retailer's strong performance during the recession, and its embrace of environmental sustainability over the last four years, the national reputation of the biggest company in the U.S. has improved.