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
The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images At 12:30 p.m. in midtown Manhattan on mid-week office days, long lines still form outside Chipotle, Cava, and Sweetgreen. Fast-casual bowls remain the defining lunch of the hybrid-work era, something quick to carry, simple to eat at a desk, and familiar enough to order without … Read more
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