McDonald’s Sales Beat Estimates as Value Strategy Pays Off
Original Report
McDonald’s US sales grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in the fourth quarter as value meals continued to resonate with cost-conscious diners. Sales from established US restaurants jumped...
McDonald’s US sales grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in the fourth quarter as value meals continued to resonate with cost-conscious diners. Sales from established US restaurants jumped 6.8% in the period from a year ago when foot traffic was dented by an E. coli outbreak, ahead of expectations and the highest since 2023. Earnings, excluding one-time items, also outpaced the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg, as did comparable sales at the company’s two international divisions. The shares declined less than 1% at 4:48 p.m. in extended trading in New York, erasing an earlier gain. The stock has advanced nearly 6% this year through Wednesday’s close, outpacing the gain of the S&P 500 Index over the same period. Abby Roach, Senior Portfolio Analyst for the Empiric LT Equity Team with Allspring Global Investments, joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. She speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Glass House Analysis
International economic policy has concrete impacts far beyond diplomatic circles. Tariffs show up in the price of goods at stores, supply chain disruptions affect whether products are on shelves, and trade tensions can mean job losses in export-dependent industries. The globalized economy means that decisions made abroad can affect workers and consumers domestically.
Inflation is the silent tax that erodes purchasing power, hitting hardest those who can least afford it. When grocery bills rise faster than wages, families face impossible choices between food, medicine, and rent. Unlike market volatility that mainly affects investors, inflation touches everyone who buys groceries, fills a gas tank, or pays rent.
Corporate decisions reverberate through local communities—a merger might mean headquarters relocating, a restructuring could eliminate jobs, and strategic shifts affect suppliers and service providers in countless towns. Behind quarterly earnings numbers are real employment decisions, investment choices, and community impacts that shape the economic landscape of regions across the country.
The implications extend beyond the immediate news cycle. Every economic development creates ripples that affect employment, prices, and opportunities in ways that may not be immediately visible but are deeply felt. By tracking these connections, we can better understand how the economy truly works—not as an abstract machine, but as a human system shaped by and shaping the lives of millions.
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