BUSINESS

The materials sector of the S&P 500 has been the strongest of the index’s 11 sectors since Feb. 27.

When do unpaid TSA agents stop showing up for work? “All boats are built differently, and some can hold up a little bit longer than others,” said an AFGE union leader.

NCAA Coaching Carousel: Providence Fires Kim English

One Piece season 2 may be fantastic, but general audiences are not tuning in enough to make it Netflix’s top show, even for a single day, and it’s falling fast.

Mark Zuckerberg has invested billions in AI, but Meta’s latest model isn’t keeping pace with OpenAI and Google.

The company is adding AI-powered ‘Ask Maps’ and ‘Immersive Navigation’ to your travel experience.

In September 2025, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski sounded the alarm about new customer behavior. Kempczinski highlighted a “two-tier economy” that’s fundamentally changing how people eat. The CEO observed a stark divide in the brand’s customer base, with traffic from low-income consumers dropping by double digits, and traffic from higher-income consumers (those earning more than $100,000) “doing quite well.” The CEO identified the key consumer behavioral shift as skipping breakfast. “And it’s because people are either choosing to skip a meal — so we’re seeing breakfast, people are actually skipping breakfast — or they’re choosing to just eat at home.”The economic headwinds have tightened the wallets of many consumers, and it doesn’t help that over the last few years, McDonald’s average price per item has grown approximately 40%, reported CNBC in 2024. Moreover, a March 2026 YouGov survey found that 66% of consumers who expect their finances to worsen plan to cut back specifically on eating out. In response, McDonald’s back in September launched Extra Value Meals, such as a $5 Sausage McMuffin with Egg Meal, which comes with hash browns and a small coffee. Now, the fast-food giant continues its effort to lure customers back with new, generous offers. McDonald’s rolls out $3 or less meal deals to win back its value status McDonald’s plans to launch new deals and discounts starting April, reported The Wall Street Journal. New value offerings will include a menu of items priced at $3 or less. The goal is to offer more flexibility and choice, according to the report. The fast-food chain also plans to launch new $4 breakfast meals. “We have achieved incredible progress together and remain committed to meeting ever-changing customer needs,” McDonald’s said in a message to chain’s franchisees, a copy of which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

McDonald’s rolls out $3 or less meal deals to win back its value status.Shutterstock

McDonald’s new “McValue 2.0” meals: The $4 meal deal: Consumers can order breakfast options with a McMuffin, hash browns and coffee. The $3 and less: Customers will also find cheaper menus with items like a sausage biscuit or a 4-piece chicken McNuggets. This replaces the buy-one-add-one-for-a-dollar menu launched in 2025. The fast-food chain has particularly focused on improving its breakfast offering, as that category has seen the biggest pullback from lower-income consumers, according to both the CEO’s September statements and an internal company message from earlier this year, which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Related: Unique fast-food burger chain closes its final locationMcDonald’s slumping value image is rebounding Over the last few years, McDonald’s has worked to strengthen its declining value image, which significantly dropped following the 2020 Covid pandemic lockdowns and franchisee price hikes aimed at battling inflation. McDonald’s Value score, a net measure of whether consumers think a brand gives good value for money, fell from 25.2 in 2019 to a low of 9.2 in August 2024, according to a 2025 YouGov report. “This drop was even more precipitous than in the sector as a whole, where Value scores fell from 9.3 to 5.0,” reads the report. In 2024, it introduced $5 meal deals, and in January 2025, it added various $1 options when buying a full-priced item. Last fall, the chain rolled out Extra Value Meals. These Extra Value Meals have performed well among low-income customers and helped the chain improve its value and affordability score, reported Restaurant Dive. “As awareness for these programs has grown, we’ve seen value and affordability scores steadily improve throughout the year, which also tell us they’re resonating with customers. McDonald’s is not going to get beat on value and affordability. It’s in our DNA, and we will remain agile to respond as appropriate to a dynamic competitive landscape,” Kempczinski said during the Q4 2025 earnings call. “We remain on track to achieve our targets for incremental traffic associated with the EVM relaunch,” said McDonald’s Executive VP & Global CFO Ian Borden.  Although the chain hasn’t fully regained its previous status, its value perceptions are improving. In fact, 21% of consumers called McDonald’s affordable last year. This is up from 18% in 2024, though still below 2019 levels, according to a survey by market-research firm Technomic and reported by The Wall Street Journal. Related: Bankrupt national Italian restaurant chain closes more locations

An economic downturn in the furniture retail sector has resulted in major home furnishing companies closing stores and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reorganize their businesses.The furniture industry has cited declining sales, as a result of a multi-year housing slump, and rising product and labor costs driven by inflation and higher tariffs, for a reduction in furniture company sales and profits.The furniture industry’s mattress subsector has not been immune to economic problems as retailers have needed to file for bankruptcy to restructure their severe debt obligations.

American Mattress’ unsecured creditors are seeking to convert the retailer’s case to Chapter 7. Shutterstock

American Mattress fights creditors Bankrupt mattress retail chain American Mattress is battling its unsecured creditors, who filed a motion in January to convert the retailer’s Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation.The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors alleged in their Jan. 28 conversion motion that the debtor had not made meaningful progress toward reorganization, had not filed a reorganization plan, and had operated without credible financial projections, a business plan or independent financial oversight.US Trustee seeks conversion or dismissalThe U.S. Trustee also filed a motion on Jan. 30 to either a convert the bankruptcy case to Chapter 7 or dismiss the case, since the debtor had not paid rent for leased stores, had not paid professional fees and had recorded $1.26 million in operating losses since November.The Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based furniture chain, which operates 45 locations in four states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida, however, countered those Chapter 7 conversion filings with an objection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on March 3, 2026, claiming that a buyer has offered to purchase its assets and pay all cure costs, Furniture Today reported.American Mattress said in its objection that if its case was converted or dismissed, only the secured lender would likely get paid while unsecured creditors would receive nothing.A hearing on the matters was scheduled for March 5, but no rulings on the motions had been posted at last check, Furniture Today said.American Mattress prepares sale motionIn its objection, American Mattress said it had cashflow problems since it filed for bankruptcy, which it said it was addressing, and it was developing an exit strategy from bankruptcy. It also plans to file an asset sale motion, the report said.The debtor’s parent, AFM Mattress Company LLC, filed its Chapter 11 petition on July 6, 2025, listing $1 million to $10 million in assets and liabilities and seeking to reorganize its business and restructure debt.AFM Mattress Company had not filed a restructuring plan or named new funding source at the time. The debtor has approximately 100-199 creditors, and the petition indicated that funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors.Debtor closes store locationsThe debtor has reportedly been closing locations with notices posted on front doors stating, “Store Temporarily Closed.” The notices provide a phone number to call for questions and to inquire about orders.American Mattress, which was established in 1988, features top mattress brands, including Serta, Beautyrest, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Purple, and Stearns & Foster.More bankruptcies: Troubled automobile maker files Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidationMajor gambling destination files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyMajor department store brand liquidates in Chapter 11 bankruptcyThe mattress retailer’s financial distress matches distress in the furniture business nationwide, as sales declined 0.82% for 2025, compared to 2024 unadjusted, according to the CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor.Sales decline continues in 2026For January 2026, furniture and home furnishings sales declined 0.31% month over month seasonally, the report said. February results have not been released yet.“Furniture, of course, is many times a discretionary and deferrable expense, so weakness in the overall economy or declines in consumer confidence, like we’ve seen the last few months, can impact consumers’ willingness to spend,” Mark Laferriere, an assurance partner at Smith Leonard, told Homes.com in November 2025.“Furniture purchases are also tied to the overall housing market, which has been sluggish, but could be primed for a resurgence with higher inventory and the ongoing reductions in interest rates,” Laferriere added, as TheStreet’s Daniel Kline reported.Related: Award-winning beer brand shuts down after Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing

Home cooking changed after the Covid pandemic. People started experimenting more. They wanted the flavors they were missing from restaurants. They started looking for ways to make meals feel less ordinary.The condiment aisle, for the most part, did not keep up. The same bottles have dominated grocery shelves for decades. Shoppers looking for something beyond ketchup, mayo, and basic hot sauce have had to hunt for it.Nestlé is betting it can fill that gap. The world’s largest food company is entering the at-home sauce market with Minor’s Kitchen, a chef-inspired condiment line built on a professional kitchen staple that has been around for 75 years but has never once been sold directly to consumers.Minor’s Kitchen condiments: a secret chefs have kept for 75 yearsMinor’s has spent more than seven decades supplying culinary bases, stocks, and sauces to professional kitchens across the country. Restaurants, hotels, catering operations — the brand has been everywhere behind the scenes. It just never made it to the front of the house.”Traditionally we would actually just keep it in the back of the house,” Nelson Peña, president of Nestlé’s Global Culinary Kitchen, said. “This is one that’s too good of a secret to keep” hidden from home cooks.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behaviorThat changes this spring. Minor’s Kitchen launches with four flavors designed to work across multiple uses, as a finishing sauce, a marinade, a dip, or a salad dressing. “One of the things that is really interesting about this particular product that’s different from the rest is the versatility of how you can use it,” Peña said. The sauces will be available on Amazon this spring, with a broader grocery rollout planned for summer.The four sauce flavors coming to shelves:Lemon Garlic Aioli: Bright and zesty, designed for seafood, poultry, and dippingCreamy Korean BBQ: Sweet, savory, and umami-forward for grilled meats and rice bowlsSpicy Chili Truffle: A premium heat combination for steak, pasta, and roasted vegetablesAmerican Smokehouse: Bold and smoky for barbecue, burgers, and anything off the grillWhy the timing of Minor’s Kitchen product release matters for shoppersThis launch is not happening in a vacuum. Two things are going on in American kitchens right now that make it significant.The first is the growing importance of flavor. A study Nestlé conducted with Morning Consult found that 64 percent of American adults say they are actively exploring new flavors during meals, according to Food Dive. Nearly 80 percent use condiments, dips, or sauces every week. Usage is highest among Gen Z consumers and people in the South. People want more from their condiment shelves; they are just not finding it.The second is an emphasis on quality ingredients. The Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again push has put processed food under a spotlight it has not faced in years. Shoppers are reading labels more carefully and pushing back on artificial ingredients. Minor’s Kitchen products contain no artificial colors, no high-fructose corn syrup, and no artificial flavors. Nestlé committed last summer to fully removing artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverage portfolio by mid-2026, CBS News reported. Minor’s Kitchen arrives right on that timeline.Minor’s Kitchen takes aim at huge untapped U.S. condiment, sauce marketThe condiment and sauce category is enormous and still growing. The U.S. market was valued at $36.11 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $41.18 billion by 2030, according to MarkNtel Advisors. The growth is being driven by exactly the kind of flavors Minor’s Kitchen is going after: premium, globally inspired, and chef-quality.

Nestlé enters the at-home sauce market with Minor’s Kitchen, a chef-inspired condiment line.Shutterstock

The incumbents have not moved fast enough into that space. Kraft Heinz dominates the basics. Unilever’s Hellmann’s owns premium mayo. McCormick commands hot sauce through Frank’s RedHot. None has staked out the chef-quality finishing sauce territory in a serious way. That is the opening Nestle is walking through.”We’re positioned to be able to win in this particular space,” Peña said. “We see the ambient culinary space as a very interesting opportunity for us to continue to grow.”Where Minor’s Kitchen fits in Nestle’s bigger pictureFor Nestle, this is more than a sauce launch. Minor’s Kitchen is the company’s first consumer culinary brand built specifically for American shoppers, and the U.S. entry point into a $5 billion portfolio anchored by Maggi, a brand that dominates kitchens across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Nestle USA president Marty Thompson put the opportunity bluntly at this week’s launch event: “Minor’s Kitchen is well positioned to win in the at-home condiment category, which is going to be a $30 billion category by 2030.”It is also the first new brand Nestle USA has launched in two years. The previous one was Vital Pursuit in 2024, a frozen meal line designed for consumers managing weight or using GLP-1 medications. That product targeted a very specific health-driven need. Minor’s Kitchen is aimed at something different and far broader: the everyday home cook who wants to eat better while still eating boldly.For years, the U.S. condiment aisle was an afterthought for a company of Nestle’s scale. That calculation is clearly changing.Related: Huge Costco grocery rival launches expansion plans

Job openings in the U.S. showed a surprising pop in January, but it’s far from clear if the increase is sustainable. Other evidence suggests the labor market is still very sluggish.