From gas pumps to the food court, Costco is known for its wide range of value-packed products.

Some shoppers, however, say that just one item in particular makes the $65 annual warehouse membership worthwhile.

Tillamook block cheese has been a standout bargain for many households, according to Food Republic, which conducted a taste test that ranked the cheese brand in first place for burgers. 

A 2.5-pound block of Tillamook Medium or Sharp Cheddar is priced at roughly $11.23, though prices may vary by location.

COSTCO’S LESSER-KNOWN MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, EXPLAINED

At just 28 cents an ounce, Costco’s bulk blocks are considerably more affordable than its competitors. For instance, Walmart sells its medium cheddar for 39 cents an ounce; Kroger at 62 cents and Target at 55 cents, the outlet reported. 

With those savings, warehouse shoppers can expect to save 11 to 34 cents per ounce, or $1.76 to $5.44 per pound, compared with similar products at other grocery stores.

COSTCO’S SURPRISE NIKE COLLABORATION SENDS SNEAKER RESALE MARKET INTO COMPLETE FRENZY

Last year, one cheese fan said on social media that they found 2-pound Tillamook blocks on sale for $5.95 each and bought 17 blocks, 34 pounds total, for their yearlong supply.

“You never see Tillamook Sharp Cheddar for less than $9 on its best sale, and usually sells for $10-11,” the user said on Reddit. 

According to the Tillamook County Creamery Association, the farmer-owned co-op based in Oregon uses real milk with no artificial growth hormones or fillers.

“For basic supermarket quality, Tillamook Sharp Cheddar because they’re local and generally better than their competitors,” another Reddit user wrote, referring to it as their go-to Costco dairy item.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
COST	COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP.	977.92	+9.56	+0.99%

Due to their large bulk size, the average shopper typically struggles to finish the item before mold develops. Experts recommend wrapping the blocks tightly in parchment or wax paper, vacuum-sealing them or freezing portions if they cannot be eaten quickly.

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Xi Jinping has clearly emphasized the goal of elevating the Chinese renminbi (RMB) to global reserve currency status, offering the most definitive expression yet of China’s ambition to expand its currency’s international influence.

The renewed discourse strengthens China’s strategy for de-dollarisation; however, the immediate effect on the market is minimal since capital controls and a cautious policy approach keep the demand for yuan reserves in check.

This directive, published in the Communist Party’s ideology journal Qiushi and originating from a 2024 speech, outlines the need to build a “powerful currency” widely used in international trade, investment, and foreign exchange markets.

To support this ambitious goal, Xi Jinping detailed several critical foundations:

• Robust Financial Infrastructure: The establishment of a “powerful central bank” for effective monetary management.
• Competitive Institutions: The development of globally competitive financial institutions.
• Influential Financial Hubs: The creation of international financial centers capable of attracting global capital and exerting influence over global pricing.

The timing of these comments reflects a strategic response to global economic shifts and uncertainties:

• Global Market Dynamics: The call comes amidst a weaker US dollar, changes in Federal Reserve leadership, and rising geopolitical and trade tensions, prompting central banks worldwide to reconsider their exposure to dollar assets.
• Shifting Global Order: Analysts note China’s perception of a changing global order, with the RMB positioned as a “strategic counterweight” to limit US leverage in an increasingly fractured financial system.

Despite China’s ambitions, the renminbi’s current international standing reveals significant challenges:

• Trade Finance Role: The RMB has become the world’s second-largest currency in trade finance since 2022.
• Limited Reserve Status: However, its role in official global reserves remains limited, accounting for only 1.93% as of Q3 2025, placing it sixth behind the US dollar (57%) and the euro (approximately 20%).
• Key Obstacles for Greater Adoption: Analysts identify an open capital account and full convertibility as crucial for increasing global investor and central bank holdings of RMB.
• Calls for Appreciation: International trading partners and the IMF have urged Beijing to allow the RMB to appreciate more sharply, arguing it is undervalued, contributes to China’s large trade surplus, and has recently experienced real exchange rate depreciation due to deflation. Chinese policymakers, while stating no intention to use a weaker RMB for trade advantage, have shown tolerance for mild appreciation against a weaker US dollar, though it has depreciated against the euro.

Beijing has intensified efforts on several fronts to bolster its influence in global finance and trade. One significant development is the expansion of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), which serves as a parallel settlement mechanism to the established SWIFT network. This move is particularly evident in transactions involving Russia, especially in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions and economic sanctions. By facilitating transactions in yuan instead of the US dollar, China aims to create a more resilient financial framework that can withstand external pressures.

In the realm of energy trade, the collaboration between China and Russia has grown stronger, with an increasing number of transactions being settled in yuan. This shift not only enhances the bilateral momentum of the two economies but also shields their financial exchanges from the risks associated with international sanctions, which have affected both countries in various capacities.

Beyond its relationship with Russia, China has proactively signed currency swap agreements with approximately 50 countries. These agreements serve as liquidity backstops, enabling participating nations to engage in local-currency trade without relying on US dollars. This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to promote financial cooperation and enhance the use of the yuan on the global stage, facilitating smoother trade relations and reducing dependency on Western financial systems.

As a result of these efforts, China is positioning itself as a key player in the global financial system, where it seeks to establish a more multipolar currency landscape that diminishes the dominance of the US dollar while fostering economic partnerships with a diverse array of countries.

Looking ahead, analysts believe that while Xi’s rhetoric won’t immediately transform global foreign exchange markets, it solidifies a long-term strategic tilt that investors are already observing. China’s focus on domestic growth and advances in emerging technology are expected to support longer-term appreciation for the renminbi, as Beijing continues to “nudge its currency forward” amid perceived weakening of the dollar’s global dominance.

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‘We believe tax should be paid where real economic value is created’

Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos has been recognised for its responsible tax practices by the Fair Tax Foundation. The South West lender said it was “incredibly proud” to receive the ‘Fair Tax Mark’ – a globally recognised standard.

To receive the mark, companies are required to pay the right amount of corporate income tax in the right place at the right time, according to the letter and spirit of the law.

Firms must also shun corporate tax avoidance, such as the artificial use of tax havens, and need to be transparent about profits and taxes paid.

According to Triodos, it is the first international bank to secure the certification. It joins companies such as as cosmetics retailer Lush, Network Rail and Co-op to receive the mark.

Kees van Kalveen, chief financial officer of Triodos Bank, said: “We are incredibly proud to achieve the Fair Tax Mark certification.

“It reflects our long-standing commitment to responsible tax conduct and transparency. We believe tax should be paid where real economic value is created, and that businesses must contribute fairly to the societies they operate in.”

Triodos Bank is headquartered in the Netherlands, with operations in Bristol in the UK, as well as Spain, Belgium and Germany. The Fair Tax Mark accreditation covers Triodos Bank and its subsidiaries, including Triodos Investment Management and Triodos Bank UK.

Paul Monaghan, chief executive of Fair Tax Foundation, said his organisation was “immensely impressed” with Triodos’s commitment to responsible tax conduct, “not just through their operations, but also through their investment and lending decision-making”.

“In all areas, they are committed to complying with both the spirit and the letter of the law,” he said.“They are exemplars of ‘total transparency’, and that includes providing a breakdown of income, profits and taxes paid on a country-by-country basis. Their commitment to ‘make money work for positive change’ resonates strongly with the principles of the fair tax business movement.”

The announcement comes a year after Triodos appointed a former HSBC boss as its new chief executive. Mark Clayton had a 23-year career at the High Street lender, where he held various senior roles and led large teams within the retail banking division.

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Markets staged a strong rebound on Tuesday, driven by a landmark trade agreement between India and the United States.
Analysts say the sharp surge in the Nifty suggests a potential shift in the near-term trend after the Budget-related sell-off, as the index has reclaimed its key moving averages.

In today’s trade, shares of Trent, BPCL, Bajaj Finance, Mankind Pharma, Apollo Tyres among others will be in focus due to various news developments and third quarter results.

Trent, NHPC, Tube Investments, Hexaware Technologies, Apollo Tyres

Shares of Trent, NHPC, Tube Investments, Hexaware Technologies and Apollo Tyres will be in focus as the companies will announce their third quarter results today.

BPCL

State-run refiner Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) has raised its capital expenditure plan for the coming fiscal year by 35% to Rs 25,000 crore, driven by an aggressive push into petrochemicals, even as peers Indian Oil and ONGC have trimmed their investment budgets.
Bajaj Finance

Bajaj Finance on Tuesday reported a 6% year-on-year (YoY) decline in its consolidated net profit for the third quarter at Rs 4,066 crore. The drop in bottomline was mainly due to an accelerated ECL provision and one-time charge of new labour codes. Adjusted for the above and tax, the profit grew 23% to Rs 5,317 crore.Pidilite Industries

Pidilite Industries on Tuesday reported 12% rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 624 crore for the third quarter ended December 2025. The company had posted a profit of Rs 557 crore in the third quarter last fiscal, Pidilite Industries, manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and construction chemicals.

AB Capital

Aditya Birla Capital reported a 33% jump in its December quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 945 crore compared to Rs 708 crore reported in the year ago period. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to the owners of the company.

Mankind Pharma

Indian drugmaker Mankind Pharma reported a higher ‍third-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven by strong domestic demand for its ⁠drugs used for treating long-term illnesses. The company, which makes Gas-O-Fast antacid tablet and Manforce condoms, said its consolidated net profit climbed ‌to Rs 409 crore ($45.3 million) for the quarter ended December 31, from Rs 380 crore.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

The rupee surged the most in seven years and India’s equity gauges logged their largest gains in nine months after Washington agreed, as part of a long-awaited trade deal, to reduce tariffs hurting shipments and foreign inflows.

News of the successful US-India agreement caused both the Nifty and the Sensex to surge as much as 5% intraday. The central bank, meanwhile, reportedly bought dollars, preventing the rupee from appreciating too much, too soon. The Nifty 50 advanced 639.15 points, or 2.5%, to 25,727.5 at close of trading, while the Sensex climbed 2,072.67 points, or 2.5%, to end at 83,739.1.

“The tariff-related uncertainty was one of the many reasons for India’s rising trade gap, equity market underperformance, $19 billion of selling by foreign investors in 2025, and a weakening currency,” said Ashish Gupta, chief investment officer, Axis Mutual Fund. “The new framework removes a key source of uncertainty around the growth outlook, supporting external demand, improving business sentiment, and potentially catalysing a pickup in private capex.”

The rupee, which had the dubious distinction of being the worst performer in Asia in 2025, rallied 125 paise on Tuesday to 90.26 a dollar from 91.51. Its logical advance beyond 90, dealers said, was halted only by the central bank’s decision to buy the US currency, which it had relentlessly sold from its stockpile earlier to prevent the local unit’s rout.

Trade Anxiety Abates
“Capital flows could see an improvement as the deal lifts overall sentiment,” said Shailendra Jhingan, head of treasury, ICICI Bank. “Foreign capital, which had stayed on the sidelines over the past few months, may begin to return, leading to inflows into both equity and debt markets.”
He expects the rupee, the value of which vis-à-vis the dollar has a disproportionate say on overseas capital flows into Mumbai-listed growth assets, to trade between 90 and 89.50 per dollar by end of March.
India’s volatility index VIX—the stock market’s fear gauge— fell 7% to 12.90, reflecting a thaw in trader anxiety. Analysts said the index could challenge its all-time high of 26,373.2 in the near term.

Altius, Fortius
“The Nifty has traded in a broad range of nearly 1,500 points for most part of May to now, and after the announcement of the trade deal, we may see this range shifting upward, with a potential for Nifty to move toward 26,650 levels on the back of improved sentiment in the coming weeks,” said Rohit Srivastava, founder, indiacharts.com.

Foreign portfolio investors were net buyers of ₹5,236 crore on Tuesday, while domestic institutions bought shares worth ₹1,014 crore. So far this year, overseas investors have net sold to the tune of nearly ₹28,180 crore.

BNP Paribas Securities said the trade deal supports its positive outlook on Indian equities this year. It expects a return of foreign fund flows to benefit IT and financial stocks.

Across Asia, markets surged Tuesday, reversing some of the recent losses. Japan gained 3.9%, China 1.3%, Hong Kong 0.2%, South Korea 6.8% and Taiwan 1.8%. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 was up 0.1% at the time of going to press.

At home, the broader market too ended strong, with the Nifty Mid-cap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250 surging more than 2.9% each. Of the total 4,422 stocks traded on the BSE, 3,279 advanced and 1,015 declined.

Harendra Kumar, managing director of Elara Securities, said the deal strengthens India’s long-term macro setup. “With the tariff overhang now behind us, India’s longterm growth outlook has strengthened, with the GDP potentially expanding at 8-8.5% from FY28-FY29 onwards,” Kumar said. “This should support higher valuation multiples for Indian markets and, alongside a weaker rupee, improve India’s appeal to FIIs.”

Kumar expects the Nifty to hit 30,000 by March 2027.

Gupta said the tone for equities has turned more favourable after a weak start to 2026. The backdrop, he said, is improving thanks to better valuations, stronger earnings expectations, firmer economic momentum following the budget and steady domestic flows. “With tariff uncertainties now resolved, the near-term risk-reward has shifted in favour of equities, and these factors together are expected to meaningfully strengthen India’s FY27 growth outlook,” he said.