In the U.S., when you are checking out with your groceries, most supermarkets have a selection of magazines for purchase, along with candy, gum, and other impulse buy type items near the register.
Many Americans use these as a short term library to entertain themselves while waiting to check out. I'm frequently mystified by the news as it's about celebrities I've never heard of. The tabloids there are like your mainstream Sun, etc. National Enquirer, the now defunct, but more entertaining, Weekly World News (Color TV found on Mars, Statue of Elvis Found on Mars are two headlines that I recall). There is usually news about the Kardashians, the Royals (marriage trouble, accusations against Prince Charles -- alleging that he had Diana murdered, suggestions that Camilla and Kate are at odds, that the Queen doesn't like Meghan) or marital spats between celebs like J. Garner and her ex, Ben Affleck. The themes are pretty consistent, only the individuals involved change. There are also small specialty mags like Soap Opera Digest, and women's magazines, like Better Homes & Gardens, Cosmopolitan, People, and then cooking magazines. I normally don't read there, except the information on the covers.
Interestingly, there are no magazines in the Self Check Out area. It's much more dull to wait in line there.
