Group 1 - The core idea of the article is that Chengdu is launching a new round of consumption vouchers to stimulate food consumption, particularly through a campaign themed "Food in Chengdu" [1] - The consumption vouchers will be available from December 22 to December 31, with a promotion of "spend 301 yuan to get 300 yuan off" for dining, with 600 vouchers released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 AM [1] - Consumers located in Chengdu can claim the vouchers via the Alipay app, and the vouchers can only be used at participating dining establishments within the city [1] Group 2 - Various districts in Chengdu are also issuing their own dining consumption vouchers, with the Tianfu New Area offering a significant "spend 1000 yuan to get 500 yuan off" voucher [1] - The Wuhou District has a unique approach where consumers can receive discounts directly at merchants without needing to pre-claim vouchers, simply by "tapping" at the point of sale [1]

Key Takeaways BJRI expanded restaurant-level margins to 12.5% as operating profit rose 8.8% on efficiency gains.BJRI is driving guest engagement with menu innovation that lifts check averages and brand visibility.BJRI continues to face food cost inflation and limited international exposure, pressuring growth outlook.BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) has been benefiting from increased traffic growth, improved operational efficiency and effective marketing execution. In addition, its AI-driven activity-based labo ...

Key Takeaways McDonald's shares gained 8.5% in three months, outperforming the restaurant industry, which fell 4.3%.The Accelerating the Arches strategy supports traffic share through menu innovation, marketing and value.Digital engagement, loyalty platforms and localized menus help McDonald's stay resilient amid cost pressures.Shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD) have gained 8.5% in the past six months against the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry's fall of 4.3%. The company is standing out in a period ...

Available starting Dec. 23, the DJ Moore meal lets fans feast on Portillo’s like a pro athlete Portillo’s guests can also dip into its new “Comeback Sauce” launching in January CHICAGO, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following one of the most exciting comebacks by Chicago’s beloved football team this past Saturday, Portillo’s is teaming up with DJ Moore – the famed wide receiver who made the game’s record-making and winning touchdown – to give fans the ultimate victory meal. Whether you are a football f ...

Available starting Dec. 23, the DJ Moore meal lets fans feast on Portillo’s like a pro athlete Portillo’s guests can also dip into its new “Comeback Sauce” launching in January CHICAGO, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following one of the most exciting comebacks by Chicago’s beloved football team this past Saturday, Portillo’s is teaming up with DJ Moore – the famed wide receiver who made the game’s record-making and winning touchdown – to give fans the ultimate victory meal. Whether you are a football f ...

Consumer Confidence and Economic Outlook - Consumer confidence data for December came in at 89.1%, below the expected 91, but higher than November's reading, which was the second lowest since the pandemic [6][8] - The current conditions index has significantly declined, indicating consumers are feeling worse about their financial situation, with a notable drop into negative territory for the first time in four years [11][12] - A slowdown in economic growth is expected going into 2026, influenced by high inflation and tariffs impacting consumer prices [14][19] Restaurant Industry Trends - The restaurant industry is experiencing a shift, with a 10% move away from dining out towards grocery shopping due to high prices, particularly in the QSR burger segment, which has seen over 50% price increases since 2019 [44][45] - Domino's Pizza is identified as a top pick for 2026, having only increased prices by about 27% since 2019, making it more affordable compared to QSR burger chains [47][48] - The value meal strategy is becoming crucial as QSR chains like McDonald's aim to regain lost customers by suppressing check growth to align with grocery inflation [51] Venture Capital and AI Investment - In 2025, 40% of deals and 65% of capital invested were in AI companies, indicating a strong focus on AI across various sectors, including life sciences and fintech [79][80] - The investment environment for AI companies is expected to remain robust in 2026, with a quality gap emerging where only companies meeting high growth benchmarks will attract significant funding [82][83] - The IPO landscape is anticipated to be favorable for sectors like crypto and AI, with companies like Circle benefiting from regulatory support [84][86] Tax Implications for Consumers - The child tax credit has been increased by $200, and a new $6,000 deduction for seniors will be available, providing some tax relief for families in 2026 [21][25] - Tariffs are estimated to cost US households an average of $1,100 in 2025, expected to rise to $1,400 in 2026, impacting consumer spending and sentiment [27][29] - Despite tax cuts, the burden of tariffs may lead consumers to feel worse off, as the perception of affordability is affected by rising prices [40][42] Future of Circle and Economic Infrastructure - Circle's CEO envisions the company playing a significant role in the future economic infrastructure, focusing on AI-driven productivity gains and the frictionless exchange of value [70][72] - The company aims to be foundational to a new economic system that integrates AI and enhances global economic prosperity through innovative financial solutions [75][76]

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is one of the 13 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy. On December 15, Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating on McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) with a price target of $360. Earlier, on December 10, Bernstein SocGen Group had also reaffirmed its Market Perform rating on McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and kept the price target at $320. Bernstein SocGen Group’s analysis indicates that there is huge potential in the company’s a la carte pricing. This is true even when McDonald’s Cor ...

Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPZ) is one of the 13 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy. On December 9, RBC Capital reiterated its Sector Perform rating on Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPZ) with a price target of $450. Earlier, on December 2, Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo also reaffirmed a Market Perform rating on Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPZ) and kept the price target at $490. Bernstein believes that the pizza company can leverage its large size and take advantage of competitor weakness, which should hel ...

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the 13 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy. On December 19, Evercore ISI reiterated its Outperform rating on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) with a $45 price target. Evercore ISI noted a modest improvement in quarter-to-date sales trends in recent weeks and increased its Q4 2025 same-store sales forecast from -4% to -3%. The research firm also raised its Q4 2025 EPS forecast from $0.23 to $0.24. This improvement is attributed mainly to Chipotle Mexican G ...

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) is one of the 13 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy. On December 9, Stifel reiterated its Hold rating on Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) with a price target of $160. This update comes as the company is looking at strategic options for its Pizza Hut business. Stifel’s analysis suggested that divesting Pizza Hut could boost the company’s overall growth outlook. However, it might lead to lower absolute earnings, which could cancel out any possible valuation gains. The research firm pointe ...