<div id="readability-page-1">close Several U.S. restaurant chains are reporting weaker than expected sales growth in the latest quarter as high gasoline prices squeeze consumers' budgets.  Gas prices have surged amid the war in Iran, with average gas prices reaching $4.45 a gallon around the country, an increase of about 41% in the last year, according to AAA data.  Prices have risen even more dramatically in certain states, with gas prices in California topping $6 a gallon, which can weigh heavily on restaurants with a presence in the nation's most populous state.  An analysis by Revenue Management Solutions, a restaurant consulting firm, finds that $4 a gallon is a tipping point as consumers will gradually decrease their restaurant visits until gas prices at the pump hit that threshold, at which point the impact doubles.  DOJ CONFIRMS ANTITRUST PROBE OF MAJOR MEATPACKERS OVER BEEF PRICE INFLATION  The firm estimated that $4.20 average gas prices mean about 1.5% fewer restaurant visits, and if they rise to $5.10 or more, fast-food restaurants could see a 3% drop in traffic. Further, it estimated that for a drive-through restaurant with 300 daily transactions, a $1 spike loses about six customers per day and amounts to about $22,000 in lost annual sales.  Wingstop, a chicken-wing chain that touts its affordability, said that higher fuel prices contributed to an 8.7% decline in quarterly same-store sales.  The chain's CEO, Michael Skipworth, said Wednesday on a call with investors that it was &#34;extremely difficult for anyone to predict this macro environment,&#34; adding that he expects shrinking sales over this year in part because of expectations that gas prices will remain high.  MCDONALD'S IS QUIETLY DITCHING A POPULAR IN-STORE FEATURE NATIONWIDE  Domino's CEO Russell Weiner told investors on Tuesday that his chain's competitors ran promotions &#34;out of our playbook,&#34; which contributed to the weaker than expected same-store sales growth of 0.9% in the latest quarter. Weiner added that while his chain is still better positioned than its rivals to sustain those discounts, the company lowered its sales forecasts for the year.  Some restaurant chains that performed well in the latest quarter are remaining cautious as they look ahead in their outlook. Chipotle had better than expected same-store sales growth of 0.5%, but kept an outlook of flat growth this year, which CFO Adam Rymer attributed in part to gas price uncertainty.  Starbucks reported 7.1% quarterly same-store sales growth in North America on Tuesday and may have benefited from the gloomy consumer outlook, as CEO Brian Niccol told investors the company gained among lower-income consumers who saw the chain as offering &#34;a little bit of indulgence.&#34;  COSTCO CHANGES BELOVED $1.50 HOT DOG DEAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES: REPORTS  Restaurants are also looking to meet consumer demand for affordable meals through value menu offerings. Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum Brands, launched a value menu starting at $3 in January and reported 8% quarterly same-store sales growth at U.S. restaurants.  Mark Wasilefsky, head of restaurant finance at TD Bank, said that the industry is &#34;seeing a record level of value menus right now.&#34;  Investors' concerns about the restaurant sector's resiliency during the gas price spike has contributed to a 5% drop in the LSEG U.S. restaurant index since the start of the Iran war, which erased over $40 billion in market value, according to LSEG data.  GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE  The next key indicator of the impact of the Iran war and the gas price shock on the restaurant industry and its consumers will come on May 7 when McDonald's reports, after the chain had stronger sales growth than expected in the prior quarter amid a value menu push.  Reuters contributed to this report.</div>

墨式燒烤

星巴克

WING

達美樂比薩

EATZ

<p>美國餐飲連鎖店的銷售正在減弱，原因是汽油價格達到每加侖 4.45 美元，分析師指出 4 美元是消費者光顧的關鍵臨界點。由於伊朗戰爭導致的汽油價格上漲，餐廳客流量顯著下降，尤其是像 Wingstop 和 Domino's 這樣的連鎖店受到影響。儘管 Chipotle 和 Starbucks 等一些連鎖店報告了適度增長，但由於燃料價格的不確定性，整體前景依然謹慎。自衝突開始以來，餐飲行業在 LSEG 美國餐飲指數中已下降 5%，導致市場價值損失超過 400 億美元</p>

Rising gas prices are crushing restaurant sales as $4 a gallon becomes tipping point for consumers

福克斯新聞頻道

Wingstop

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited

AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF

麥當勞

開市客

百勝餐飲

Toronto Dominion Bank

London Stock Exchange Group plc

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE GROUP SPON ADS EACH REP 0.25 ORD

倫敦證券交易所(ADR)

隨着每加侖 4 美元成為消費者的臨界點，汽油價格的上漲正在嚴重影響餐廳的銷售