logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
26m 23s

Restaurant tabs … as an economic indicat...

MARKETPLACE
About this episode

The average consumer is hungry — to go out, that is. Sales at restaurants and bars are up nearly 25% since last January, but that spending surge coincides with dimming consumer confidence. What can all that going out tell us about the economy more broadly? Also on the show: bans on American investments in China, TikTok’s numbered days on government devices and Tubi’s CEO on ad-supported streaming.

Up next
Mar 2024
Will safety issues at Boeing seriously impact air travel?
Consumer trust in Boeing is wearing thin since an airplane door ripped off a 737 Max 9 in January, which has been followed by a string of other recent Boeing safety incidents. So how much does faltering trust actually impact the business of air travel? Plus, President Joe Biden w ... Show More
8m 36s
Mar 2024
China’s National People’s Congress comes to a close
From the BBC World Service: China’s annual policy meeting has drawn to a close at a time when the country has mountains of debt, high youth unemployment and a property sector in crisis. So what is the government’s plan to boost confidence and steady the economy? Also on today’s p ... Show More
7m 44s
Mar 2024
AI can’t handle the truth when it comes to the law
Almost one in five lawyers are using AI, according to an American Bar Association survey. But there are a growing number of legal horror stories involving tools like ChatGPT, because chatbots have a tendency to make stuff up — such as legal precedents from cases that never happen ... Show More
9m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
Consumers Under Pressure… And Bitcoin’s Next Move 3/27/24
<p>One trend in the fast-food space could be pointing to a cash-strapped consumer. How diners are tightening their belts and the impact on the restaurant stocks. Plus Bitcoin’s next move. Crypto crushing it over the last few months, and with Bitcoin’s halving just a month away, c ... Show More
43m 30s
Oct 2024
Why is fast food so expensive now?
There’s a growing shift in consumer sentiment about the fast-food industry. As inflation pushes menu prices steadily upward, more people are asking themselves if that weekly trip to Taco Bell, Wendy’s, or KFC is still worth the cost. ‘Fast Company’ senior editor Christopher Zara ... Show More
57m 13s
Jul 2025
Can Toast Thrive in the Restaurant Renaissance?
Despite inflation concerns and tariff uncertainty, restaurants are busier than ever. Can it continue? Tim Beyers and Rick Munarriz discuss: - Surprisingly good data from the Restaurant Performance Index. - The metrics that matter when investing in the restaurant sector. - And a F ... Show More
23m 37s
Apr 2024
Grocery prices, credit card debt, and your 401K (Two Indicators)
What's going on with consumers? This is one of the trickiest puzzles of this weird economic moment we're in. We've covered a version of this before under the term "vibecession," but it's safe to say, the struggle is in fact real. It is not just in our heads. Sure, sure, some data ... Show More
17m 41s
Sep 2025
The "little treat" economy
The latest retail sales data shows U.S. consumers are still spending it up, even in the face of higher tariff costs and a shaky labor market. Wealthier Americans are driving the trend, but a “culture of treats” might also play a role. Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly t ... Show More
17m 21s
Sep 2023
An end-of-summer consumer bum-out
Earlier this year, people were feeling more upbeat about the economy, with the job market hot and inflation cooling. But consumer confidence fell for the second straight month in September, according to The Conference Board. What’s weighing on consumers’ minds? We also unpack the ... Show More
7m 45s
May 2025
Buy less, pay more?
This week, President Trump acknowledged his tariffs were resulting in costlier items in the U.S., but maintained his position that China was taking the majority of the heat. If people can’t afford to buy as much, might that be a recipe for recession? We’ll discuss, and answer a l ... Show More
10m 47s