Spring Break
Thinning wallets leading to wider waists
JP Coleman, News Editor, jpcolema@smu.edu
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: News
Dallas resident Mary MacArthur is trying to stretch her family's money as far as she can when it comes to eating during these tough economic times. Unfortunately, she fears her waistband may be stretching along with it.
MacArthur's family was used to telling the waiter what they wanted off a menu, now they are going through the drive-thru ordering off the dollar menu.
"When you are unsure of your income in the future you really have to be careful spending," MacArthur said. "It might not be as healthy but you can get a lot of food for not a lot off the dollar menu."
MacArthur and her family are part of a growing trend of American families feeling the effects of the current recession on their pocketbooks and waistlines, by dining out more often at fast food restaurants, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey released in March.
"With less confidence during a recession, families are trying to tighten their belt during tough times but probably loosen it right back up after eating a few Big Macs," SMU economics professor Thomas Osang said.
The survey shows that families who live in low-income homes, families that have experienced a lay off or families that have experienced an income-cut are more likely to turn to drive-thrus to satisfy family hunger needs.
Fast food restaurants are reporting larger profits and higher same store sales in these tough economic times. McDonalds reported for the month of March that same store sales, or sales at stores that have been open for a year, increased 6.8 percent. The fast food giant also reported a four percent raise in profit for the first quarter year over year.
Joseph Hardy and his wife, a former loan analyst for Bank of America who was laid off at the end of last year, have turned to more drive-thru options, and are feeling the effects.
"I'm not embarrassed or anything but I definitely have about five pounds that came out of nowhere," Hardy said. "And it looks like it all went to one place."
MacArthur's family was used to telling the waiter what they wanted off a menu, now they are going through the drive-thru ordering off the dollar menu.
"When you are unsure of your income in the future you really have to be careful spending," MacArthur said. "It might not be as healthy but you can get a lot of food for not a lot off the dollar menu."
MacArthur and her family are part of a growing trend of American families feeling the effects of the current recession on their pocketbooks and waistlines, by dining out more often at fast food restaurants, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey released in March.
"With less confidence during a recession, families are trying to tighten their belt during tough times but probably loosen it right back up after eating a few Big Macs," SMU economics professor Thomas Osang said.
The survey shows that families who live in low-income homes, families that have experienced a lay off or families that have experienced an income-cut are more likely to turn to drive-thrus to satisfy family hunger needs.
Fast food restaurants are reporting larger profits and higher same store sales in these tough economic times. McDonalds reported for the month of March that same store sales, or sales at stores that have been open for a year, increased 6.8 percent. The fast food giant also reported a four percent raise in profit for the first quarter year over year.
Joseph Hardy and his wife, a former loan analyst for Bank of America who was laid off at the end of last year, have turned to more drive-thru options, and are feeling the effects.
"I'm not embarrassed or anything but I definitely have about five pounds that came out of nowhere," Hardy said. "And it looks like it all went to one place."
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