McDonald's and other big brands warn that low-income consumers are
starting to crack

Some of America's best-known corporations are saying their consumers
are being pinched by inflation as prices continue rising.
...
...
"It is clear that broad-based consumer pressures persist around the
world," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the fast-food chain's
earnings call early Tuesday. "Consumers continue to be even more
discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they faced
elevated prices in their day-to-day spending."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/30/companies-from-mcdonalds-to-3m-warn-inflation-is-squeezing-consumers.html

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 1 May 2024 23:02:55 -0400, Auric Hellman
<[email protected]> wrote:

Many of the low-income consumers that I've encountered could use
skipping a few Big Macs.

Kind of depends upon where a person works/travels. Home prepared
meals taken to work can cost several dollars or more, but
MACs/Fries/Drink tend to be high in calories with extra fat.

Years ago, McDonald's marketing department targeted the kids, and
there can be a problem when a family passes by a McDonalds.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 1 May 2024 23:02:55 -0400, Auric Hellman
<[email protected]> wrote:

Many of the low-income consumers

Sidebar: Termination of Affordable Connectivity Program

According to the White House, Louisiana is expected to be most widely
affected, as about 30% of households are enrolled in the program.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/internet-cost-more-millions-californians-222106888.html

If future news follows this, it will be interesting to see what they
do for Internet access.

Around here, low income consumers tend to use a Smartphone for
Internet access. 30% of households suggests a large number of
consumers in Louisiana have an insufficient income.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 2 May 2024 15:53:20 -0400, Auric Hellman
<[email protected]> wrote:

In today's world, internet access is essential, not a luxury.

For some, its more like Trick-or-treating :-)

I use it more for cerebral activities, but for some, usage may be more analogous to A Streetcar Named Desire, a play written by Tennessee
Williams.

Internet is like a Swiss Army Knife that can be used in different
ways....but there are many who are indulging

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 1 May 2024 23:02:55 -0400, Auric Hellman
<[email protected]> wrote:

Many of the low-income consumers that I've encountered could use
skipping a few Big Macs.

Here's a different take.....


Financial experts told consumers to stop 'wasting' money eating out.

They're finally listening -- and companies are rattled.

'Americans need to reprioritize their cash flow in difficult times,'
one financial planner says. 'McDonald's and Starbucks will survive.'


https://www.marketwatch.com/story/people-are-spending-less-on-fast-food-that-makes-sense-for-consumers-even-if-its-a-red-flag-for-companies-and-the-economy-bbe4b7d3

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JAB wrote:
McDonald's and other big brands warn that low-income consumers are
starting to crack

Some of America's best-known corporations are saying their

consumers

are being pinched by inflation as prices continue rising.
....
....
"It is clear that broad-based consumer pressures persist

around the

world," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the fast-food

chain's

earnings call early Tuesday. "Consumers continue to be even

more

discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they faced
elevated prices in their day-to-day spending."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/30/companies-from-mcdonalds-to-3m-warn-inflation-is-squeezing-consumers.html

You
have to be desperate to eat fast-food nowadays. even Subway ( which
has been found with problems with ingredients )
is not good anymore. Most food made at these places are food
substitutes.

I will admit one thing. I miss having baconators, strawberry lemonade,
and big curly fries. I miss having big Wendies sized Sandwiches. I
miss food that is cheap I miss greasy White-Castle burgers. At the
same time every cent even from when we were kids could have been put
away inside a bank account on every meal we brought.

I miss the innocence of a hot-dog, and milk-shake, to sodie-pop, and

The reason why people are upset over the food because they know it is
not worth that much. Right now a dollar literally equals $5 dollars.
That is how bad the inflation is. When your a small business paying
$15 an hour for minimum-wage, or even more. You have to install robots
over highering employees to avoid health-insurance costs, among other
costs. That is insanity.

You want to eat fast-food you might as well buy the whole meat ( like
in the past ) and slice, dice, separate and pre-make
your food. It is not hard to setup to make the same food and drinks in
these joints. Maybe your just too lazy or too tired to make that
investment.

What your paying for at Wendy's is literally for the facility,
portability, and actual service so you can go home to your box, or
hole in the ground.I mean thinking about it, look at McDonalds
nowadays. Computerized to the brim. They even bring the meals to your
table like a boss. Makes you feel better then gold nowadays. Rather
then standing in line for $@#$#$


This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=664589489#664589489

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 05 May 2024 17:50:56 +0000,
[email protected]d (Danart) wrote:

Right now a dollar literally equals $5 dollars.
That is how bad the inflation is.

Wage increases must be considered in relation to inflation.

Inflation - measures how much more expensive a set of goods and
services has become over a certain period.

Either a person's wage is in step with inflation, or it is not..

I bought a 6.5 oz bottle of Coke for a nickel (5 cents) when minimum
wage was $1.00/hour. So, do the math in today's cost. ====================================

Bonus - So how many employment hours required in 1960 vs 2024's
vehicles to purchase? Some 2,600 hours in 1960 (quick averaged)

How much did a 1960 Impala cost in 1960?

The Impala was available as a four-door Sedan from $2,590, a four-door
Hardtop Sport Sedan from $2,662, a two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe from
$2,597 and a Convertible from $2,847.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Retailers jacked up prices and squeezed consumers. They might have
just blinked

Retailers are feeling jittery. Consumers aren't shopping like they
used to. In a game of chicken between stores and shoppers, it's the
stores that appear to be yielding first, by dropping prices on
thousands of products.
...
...
"The 'budget conscious consumer' is no longer just low- or
middle-income earners. By far the starkest decrease in intent to spend
is coming from the higher-income groups, and those that were
previously the most immune to an economic downturn are now tightening
their belts," said Chad Lusk, managing director in global consultancy
firm Alvarez & Marshal's consumer and retail group. "Retailers should
be thinking about targeted deals on higher-priced discretionary
merchandise, too, to increase buying frequency."


https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/business/retailers-cutting-prices/index.html

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JAB wrote:

Bonus - So how many employment hours required in 1960 vs 2024's
vehicles to purchase? Some 2,600 hours in 1960 (quick averaged)

How much did a 1960 Impala cost in 1960?

The Impala was available as a four-door Sedan from $2,590, a

four-door

Hardtop Sport Sedan from $2,662, a two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe

from

$2,597 and a Convertible from $2,847.

You forget to mention that when you purchase a car, you also have
insurance, maintenance, and up-keep of the vehicle.
If it is new then your paying monthly rates for something that will
not be new in the future.

If your replacing employees with machines, rather then paying
insurance policy then your not helping the system

You think anybody within a minimum wage area would work those hours?


This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=664589489#664589489

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 16 May 2024 22:51:20 +0000,
[email protected]d (Danart) wrote:

You think anybody within a minimum wage area would work those hours?

Generally these days, white males would not, but others would.

I have worked those long hours when I left military service, but with
a decent company, FritoLay...loading trailers in a warehouse.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)