Consumers want value. This is about the umpteenth straight quarter we’ve heard big companies say that shoppers are getting more choosey, chasing deals as they continue to spend against elevated inflation, with wages that aren’t keeping up. We’ll talk about one big move from this quarter, and what it says about the broader economy. Plus, how Magic is moving Wall Street and what $1,000 will get you at the World Series (not much). — Tony Wagner, newsletter editor

While Walmart owns Sam’s Club, the two have — at least, from the outside — operated pretty separately.

That’s until now. The company announced Tuesday that it’ll start bundling subscriptions for Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus for $120 a year. Though it’s probably a play to take on retailers like Amazon and Costco, it’s also about customers’ favorite word these days — value.

Generic products are maybe the ultimate example of consumers’ newfound passion for value. Just a few decades ago, they were something shoppers hid at the bottom of their grocery carts.

“It was the store brand, but it was like the black and white can that said ‘beer’ on it,” said Aaron Cheris, who leads Bain & Company’s global retail practice. “Like, that it was not really a brand, and it was clearly the knockoff product and you knew you were making a sacrifice.”

Today, there’s less stigma around store brands like Trader Joe’s and Aldi because consumers have demanded better options as they’ve demanded more value.

“Value’s number one,” Cheris said. “Let’s be honest — customers, no matter where they are on the income scale, feel like value is the most important thing.”

Value is even prized among higher-income shoppers.

“It’s become a badge of honor,” said Wendy Liebmann, CEO at WSL Strategic Retail.

Shares in Elon Musk’s space and AI company were actually trading a bit below $150 today, though they popped after hours on a big earnings report. Musk announced plans this week to gift a share to every child in America, but who really benefits from that charity? 

The World Series is set. The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a small-market matchup that will give one team their first championship ever.

The Brewers have come a long way since 2015, when, 33 years after their last World Series appearance, the franchise offered $1,000 “Timeless Tickets.” The $1,000 custom engraved bronze plaques were redeemable for seats at any future game — even the Fall Classic.

Some fans say they’ve tried to redeem these forever tickets, just to have their decade-plus of faith rewarded with cheap seats or worse — standing room only.

Let’s do some numbers: The Timeless Tickets would be $1,441.72 when adjusted for inflation, and the get-in price for the first two World Series games sits between $2,300 and $3,000 today. Brewers diehards may be better off flying to Tampa for game 3.