Necessity may still drive some purchase decisions, but, increasingly, consumers are looking to fulfill emotional needs when they pull out their wallets.
...


Before the recession clouded the sunny days of easy credit, consumers sought first what they craved and considered price second. Now they examine every restaurant occasion through separate lenses of desire and affordability, while expecting those...


When it comes to food and drink, familiarity is the name of the menu game, say a group of culinary trend trackers asked about what items are luring today’s consumers to eat out.
...


Throughout the Great Recession, the conversation about “value” in the restaurant industry has been mainly about price.
...

While restaurant operators continue to express concerns about their growth opportunities in the coming months, consumer confidence appears to have brightened slightly, according to two key economic barometers published Tuesday...

Competition for breakfast sales is fierce in the restaurant industry, and the quick-service chains winning in the morning daypart are attracting guests with coupons and getting them to linger with Wi-Fi, according to a new report...