A few cheers for the American economy

I USUALLY shop at the Whole Foods supermarket in my Chevy Chase, Maryland, neighbourhood. It is part of a company that caters to consumers who reside in urban areas, whose earnings are above the national average, who are conscious of the environment, and who like to be treated like high-value customers.

Which explains why the supermarket is known for its products that are free of fats, artificial colourings, flavours and preservatives, for its organic selections and great customer service.

Indeed, it would have typically taken me between 5 and 10 minutes to wait in the check-out line at Whole Foods, and even less than that in the express line for those purchasing fewer than 10 items.