Finance & Economics Articles
210 PIECES · UPDATED DAILY
Restaurant sales projection cut $190 billion after Census benchmark
New Census benchmarks shrink the estimated market but leave the 2026 growth forecast intact.
Restaurant spending rises as Wendy’s and Starbucks shares rally
U.S. food-service sales reached $92.9 billion in September. Earlier results at McDonald’s and Wendy’s show how larger checks can support sales and cushion rising costs.
Grocery slowdown widens September’s inflation gap with restaurants
Limited-service annual inflation held at 3.2% as grocery inflation slowed to 1.8%. BLS also reported a monthly decline in real earnings.
What lifted Domino’s Q3 operating income
Higher supply-chain gross profit and royalties explain the pizza franchisor’s third-quarter operating-income increase.
MarginEdge: Fast-casual sales growth tops full service’s in September
September’s reported sales-growth gap was 4.88 percentage points.
Wendy’s sought to keep seven Meritage restaurants open
The proposal would replace seven planned closures with closures elsewhere, Fast Company reports.
QSR property asking yields rise in Q3
Boulder’s October report puts corporate and franchisee property asking yields 97 basis points apart, with separate comparisons by lease term.
Red Robin refinances after transferring 108 restaurants
Completed restaurant transfers preceded Red Robin’s five-year refinancing. Its pricing and coverage tests account for debt and rent.
Uber agrees to buy ezCater for $2.3 billion
ezCater's Online Ordering service connects restaurant websites to a branded catering checkout and lets restaurants export their own customer records.
True Food Kitchen gets interim borrowing approval
The chain is seeking a buyer or new investment through a proposed process that could preserve leases and beverage permits.
Grain prices rise as U.S. wholesale beef prices ease
New reports show rising grain prices and easing U.S. wholesale beef.
Digi plans $130 million sensor acquisition for SmartSense
Digi’s planned acquisition would bring Disruptive Technologies into its SmartSense business.
SBA's October 1 acquisition rules: earnings, equity and the $3 million test
The updated SBA manual separates initial acquisitions from qualifying expansions, ties earnings reviews to the business purchase price and sets conditions for equity contributions.
Restaurant outlook forecasts modest purchasing-power growth
The Association forecasts 0.5% growth in real disposable income for 2026. Its separately released survey describes restaurant use and spending choices.
Wendy’s operator Meritage plans closures, Fast Company reports
Fast Company reports planned closures as Meritage’s bankruptcy proceedings continue.
Pizza Inn signs a 10-buffet development agreement
The first five openings are anticipated in fiscal 2027.
Starbucks plans 250 North American closures
Starbucks estimates $300 million in restructuring charges and lowers its global net-opening forecast to about 440.
McDonald’s plans $8.5 billion in franchise support
Rent relief and capital backing would help fund restaurant upgrades.
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