Restaurants’ hottest menu item in 2025 was ‘value.’ That won’t change next year

Restaurants’ hottest menu item in 2025 was ‘value.’ That won’t change next year

McDonald’s restaurant in San Diego, California, U.S., Oct. 31, 2025. Mike Blake | Reuters “Value” was the buzzword du jour for restaurant executives that lasted all year — and it will likely stick around in 2026, too. Over the last year and a half, diners, particularly those who make less than $40,000 a year, have … Read more

Fewer burritos, more bargains: Consumers flash holiday warning signs

Fewer burritos, more bargains: Consumers flash holiday warning signs

Shoppers walk through Manhattan on Nov. 7, 2025, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images High-income consumers are trading down, Gen Z is spending less, and low-income shoppers are still struggling, according to many consumer companies that shared their latest quarterly results in recent weeks. Those trends may not bode well for the … Read more