Continue to Site >>>

economy

Financing

McDonald's has a $73B impact on the U.S. economy

 By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 03, 2026

The fast-food giant also supports 1 million jobs, including 740,000 people who work in the chain's restaurants, according to a study the company commissioned by Oxford Economics.

Financing

Expect more of the same in 2026: A bifurcated economy, slow growth and a lot of uncertainty

 By Jonathan Maze and Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 16, 2026

Projections suggest the restaurant industry can expect a better year, buoyed by easier comparisons and tax law changes. But many other factors could inhibit that growth, and not everybody will benefit.

Financing

Restaurants keep hiring despite a tough market

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 09, 2026

Restaurants and bars added 27,200 jobs in December, more than half of the jobs created by the economy as a whole.

Financing

The outlook for restaurants in 2026

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 07, 2026

A Deeper Dive: Technomic’s David Henkes joins the restaurant finance podcast to discuss the outlook for restaurants this year and what has been holding consumers back.

Financing

5 big questions going into 2026

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 07, 2026

The Bottom Line: What will it take to get consumers to return to restaurant chains this year? This is one of the big questions we have about the restaurant industry in 2026.

Financing

Study: Weight-loss drug users spend less on fast food

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 07, 2026

A study from Bain & company found that users of GLP-1 medications spend 5% less on fast food. That could be a sales challenge as more Americans start using the drugs.

Financing

Restaurant sales and job growth are slowing

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 16, 2025

New economic data released on Tuesday show declining restaurant sales in October, followed by slower hiring in November.

Financing

What will get the consumer spending at restaurants again?

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 11, 2025

The Bottom Line: November was another tough month for fast-food chains. It could take a sustained run of higher-than-inflation wage growth to ease the restaurant industry’s pressure points.

Financing

Penny-wise, pound-foolish: Restaurants feel short-changed by the elimination of the penny

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 11, 2025

To the federal government, it makes sense to ditch the penny as it costs more to make than it’s worth. Restaurants are hoping Congress will help them buy time while the consumer adapts to the change.

Financing

Fast-food sales are weak, even as overall restaurant sales thrive

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 25, 2025

Restaurant sales were strong in September, according to new federal data. But same-store sales and traffic at fast-food chains continued to be weak last quarter and consumer confidence is low.

  • Page 1