Checkout

Lower-Income Americans Are Starting to Cut Back Restaurant Spending

  • Chipotle, McDonald’s say poorer consumers are cutting back
  • Both companies have increased prices amid higher expenses

Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Earnings reports from Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and McDonald’s Corp. are reinforcing data that shows lower-income Americans cutting back on spending as inflation erodes their finances.

Both chains reported seeing behavior changes among less-affluent customers. Chipotle singled out diners who earn less than $50,000 a year as eating out less, which it said make up less than 40% of its base of diners.