Unemployment Pushes Fast-Food Breakfast Sales Down

washingtonpost.com:

Breakfast sales had grown at a ravenous pace during the boom years as busy workers scarfed down sausage biscuits on the way to the office, fueling a $57 billion business and accounting for as much as a quarter of sales at some fast-food chains. Chains opened earlier and expanded their morning menus to accommodate the traffic as lunch and dinner sales flatlined.

Read the whole story: washingtonpost.com

Comments

[progressivegreg]

09:28 AM on 02/23/2010

Gee, ya think the fact that this "food" is so far removed from Real Food in flavor, texture and benefits has any bearing on this?

[simarti44]

06:13 PM on 02/22/2010

Maybe some people will lose some weight.

[BebeLush]

05:12 PM on 02/22/2010

I'd rather shove needles in my eyes than eat a McDonald's breakfast. And I'll pass on their coffee too.

[BBackSoon]

02:05 PM on 02/22/2010

I almost never stop for Breakfast on the way to work. Heck we even have it at the Cafeteria once I get here.

It is simply way too expensive. I will hit the oatmeal or a bagel and usually a piece of fruit. I can eat for the week on what it would cost for one or two days.

I know I have gotten cheap but that is the real reason, three or four bucks every morning starts to add up to my trash bill or my water bill every month.

[Yikes11]

01:56 PM on 02/22/2010

FYI-
Unless Congress passes another unemployment extension, the current extended unemployment benefits program will expire on February 28. Unemployed workers will start receiving notices from their state unemployment offices letting them know their benefits will end. This will happen, even though benefits may be extended when Congress returns from recess on February 22, because states are required by law to inform unemployed workers of the status of their benefits.

Even though some job creation items have been stripped from the legislation, reports indicate that the Senate will have an extension on the agenda for discussion. The legislation, if passed, would extend the federal Extended Benefits Program, the Federal Additional Compensation (extra $25 per week) benefits, and the 65% Cobra health insurance subsidy through May 31.

The National Employment Law Project is calling on Congress pass a stand-alone unemployment insurance and COBRA extension through the end of 2010. This is important, for several reasons. First of all, the current proposed extension would until run through May. Millions of workers will continue to run out of benefits throughout this year - and beyond. Secondly, when extensions aren't passed in a timely manner, it's difficult for the states to process claims, and there may be delays in benefit payments for unemployed workers who can't afford to be without a check.

Here's how to call your Senators and Representatives to ask them to pass the UI and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010.

[Yikes11]

01:48 PM on 02/22/2010

Unless Congress passes another unemployment extension, the current extended unemployment benefits program will expire on February 28. Unemployed workers will start receiving notices from their state unemployment offices letting them know their benefits will end. This will happen, even though benefits may be extended when Congress returns from recess on February 22, because states are required by law to inform unemployed workers of the status of their benefits.

Even though some job creation items have been stripped from the legislation, reports indicate that the Senate will have an extension on the agenda for discussion. The legislation, if passed, would extend the federal Extended Benefits Program, the Federal Additional Compensation (extra $25 per week) benefits, and the 65% Cobra health insurance subsidy through May 31.

The National Employment Law Project is calling on Congress pass a stand-alone unemployment insurance and COBRA extension through the end of 2010. This is important, for several reasons. First of all, the current proposed extension would until run through May. Millions of workers will continue to run out of benefits throughout this year - and beyond. Secondly, when extensions aren't passed in a timely manner, it's difficult for the states to process claims, and there may be delays in benefit payments for unemployed workers who can't afford to be without a check.

Here's how to call your Senators and Representatives to ask them to pass the UI and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010.

[Ricardo01]

12:26 PM on 02/22/2010

A nice bowl of boiled oatmeal every day works for me. And it is cheap.

[TFlint]

10:55 AM on 02/22/2010

"The Economy's Latest Victim: Breakfast"--- Another false headline.

[leftcoastindy]

10:54 AM on 02/22/2010

Breakfast is by far the worst meal to eat out - fast food or otherwise. Pancakes with bananas or other fruit, or an omelet with toast and a glass of OJ, cost 5 times as much as preparing it at home. Most restaurant menus are horrribly unhealthy. ANYTHING made with bleached flour and / or lots of sugar is worse than eating nothing.
Try what I eat: 8oz OJ, 4oz low sugar/fat yogurt, 1 raw egg, 1 banana. throw it in the blender...voila. taste great and takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and eat so you won't be late for work. Add whole grain toast if you need more calories.

[TooLooze]

08:07 AM on 02/22/2010

The restaurant industry (NRA) is very conservative and supported the policies that got us where we are today. The only reason to feel anything for them is because of all the people they under-employ. I know this does not apply to mom and pop restaurants or companies; it is shameful that small business of every kind is being lost to corporations.

[jaschrod]

07:10 AM on 02/22/2010

A good book to read about nutrition, and which foods to consume together is (Never Be Sick Again) by Raymond Francis. I have taken his advice, and dropped 20 pounds, and have never felt better in my life. In the beginning, the habits you have acquired over a life time, will be hard to break. You just have to decide whether you wish to be healthy or sick.

[RomeoMD25]

07:10 AM on 02/22/2010

When we hang the capitalists they will sell us the rope we use.
Joseph Stalin

We don't let them have ideas. Why would we let them have guns?
Joseph Stalin

[Matt from Italy]

06:14 AM on 02/22/2010

I have read the article and the menus are appa..lling to say the least.. This is NOT a "breakfast", no way, that´s a proper night.mare. Those "menus" should be b..anned, it looks like a scientific experiment for "ch.ubby" (human) guinea p.igs.

It is not "simply" unhealthy but ALSO dis.gusting.. ru.bbish!

[drumsgirl]

07:39 AM on 02/22/2010

-Those "menus" should be b..anned-

I hope that was just a figure of speech. Do you want someone telling you what you can and can not eat?

[Matt from Italy]

08:10 AM on 02/22/2010

To some extent I'm but.. do you know how many people DI.E in your country because of such rubbish? (costs and so and so forth..)

It's a proper "invisible" civil w.ar which adversely affects everyone more or less directly.

By the way, I'm sorry but if your standpoint includes -primarily- this kind of "freedom" (to eat rubbish) it must be some kind of narrow I'm afraid.

Lastly, don't get me wrong as I'm NOT a fit-fanatic at all, but junk food is a pretty serious matter.

Cheers

[Angelaaaa]

06:05 AM on 02/22/2010

If people are eating cereal (as long as it's not the sugar-drenched type) and a piece of fruit for breakfast instead of McDs - it can only be good for our national arteries.

[Imzadi]

06:19 AM on 02/22/2010

Excellent and spot on!

Since I revised my food intake from "fast food" to make my own, I've lost 30 pounds. Sauasge biscuits no longer appeal to me.

[Threedog]

04:31 AM on 02/22/2010

Even though I'm a broke SOB, I eat out all the time to support eateries that I enjoy. If everyone cooked at home, say good-bye to a few million more jobs.

And besides, I like spending my money these days... at least it has value. Who knows what the future entails. Hyper-inflation? Dollar collapse?

[jaschrod]

07:11 AM on 02/22/2010

Even though I do not support your diet choices, I do support your right to choose. Happy eating.

[leftcoastindy]

10:35 AM on 02/22/2010

Huh?!?

You're destroying the environment and your health, but at least you're saving a couple minimum wage jobs? And you are nieve enough to brag about these choices?

Wow!