Consumer Spending

1 article

A robotic arm preparing food in a restaurant kitchen, with diners in the background looking uncertain about the automated service.

AI helps restaurants survive, but diners may not like changes.

Despite a 34% average increase in labor costs in 2023 and a 25% drop in consumer restaurant spending since May 2022, nearly 80% of U.

Ezra Kaplan·June 20, 2026