America has a new lunch habit that's hurting McDonald's
Biz Carson/Business Insider
Grocery prices have been falling, and as a result, a growing number of Americans are choosing to pack their lunches and eat dinner at home versus visiting restaurants, according to McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook.
"There is a widening gap between food away from home and food at home, where the commodity decreases are being passed through by the grocers," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said Tuesday on a call with analysts.
"So the food at home, there's value to be had for families there, whereas eating out, there is a price inflation environment."
Easterbrook made the remarks in response to a question about McDonald's slowing sales growth.
McDonald's same-store sales increased 1.8% in the second quarter of the year, down from 5.4% growth in the previous quarter.
Americans' overall uncertainty about the presidential election and the economy have also been contributing to a slowdown industry-wide, Easterbrook said.
"I think generally, there's just a broader level of uncertainty in consumers' minds at the moment, both trying to gauge their financial security going forward, you know, whether through elections or through global events, people are slightly mindful of an unsettled world," he said. "And when people are uncertain, when families are uncertain, caution starts to prevail and they start to hold back on spend."
McDonald's isn't the only restaurant affected by consumers' spending pullback.
In fact, same-store sales have been so lackluster this year that one Wall Street analyst thinks they may be a "harbinger" for a US recession next year.
In a note to clients published Tuesday, Stifel analyst Paul Westra said the slowdown "reflects the start of a US restaurant recession"and that it "may also represent a harbinger to a U.S. recession in early 2017."
"Restaurants have historically led the market lower during the three-to-six-month periods prior to the start of the prior three US recessions," he wrote.
- I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
- Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
- I tutor the children of some of Dubai's richest people. One of them paid me $3,000 to do his homework.
- Why are so many elite coaches moving to Western countries?
- Global GDP to face a 19% decline by 2050 due to climate change, study projects
- 5 things to keep in mind before taking a personal loan
- Markets face heavy fluctuations; settle lower taking downtrend to 4th day
- Move over Bollywood, audio shows are starting to enter the coveted ‘100 Crores Club’