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Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For MD, Beyond Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For MD, Beyond
Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For MD, Beyond Craving burgers, fries, or fried chicken? A new study reveals the biggest fast-food chain in every state, and the rankings might surprise you. Tasting Table analyzed the most popular and widespread fast-food brands across the country, highlighting the go-to spots from coast to coast. The research ranks each state’s top chain based on store count and popularity. Here’s how the Northeast shakes out: New York: McDonald's  New Jersey: Dunkin’ Connecticut: Dunkin’ Pennsylvania: McDonald’s Massachusetts: Dunkin’ Maryland: McDonald’s Virginia: Chick-fil-A Accor…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Chipotle's Newest Menu Items Lean Into Protein-Focused Diets Chipotle's Newest Menu Items Lean Into Protein-Focused Diets
Chipotle's Newest Menu Items Lean Into Protein-Focused Diets A popular fast-casual restaurant chain is the latest to join the protein craze. Chipotle Mexican Grill unveiled its first-ever "High Protein Menu" on Thursday, Dec. 18. Debuting at North American locations on Tuesday, Dec. 23, the menu will offer a new snack-sized protein cup and several high-protein entrees. The new menu items range from 15 to 81 grams of protein per serving.  "For years, guests have used Chipotle's customizable offerings to build high-protein and fiber-filled meals on their own," said chief brand officer Chris Brandt. "This curated menu brings that fa…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Grocery Shoppers Charged More In Secret Price Tests On Instacart, Investigation Finds Grocery Shoppers Charged More In Secret Price Tests On Instacart, Investigation Finds
Grocery Shoppers Charged More In Secret Price Tests On Instacart, Investigation Finds Instacart users across the country may be paying more for the same groceries because of secret price tests powered by artificial intelligence, according to a new study. Consumer Reports released its findings from a monthslong investigation into dynamic pricing algorithms on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The probe was done in partnership with advocacy nonprofits More Perfect Union and Groundwork Collaborative. The study found that AI-enabled systems raised the prices on some identical products by up to 23% between two shoppers. CR discovered that AI pricing experiments were used by Instacart at seve…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
These Gift Cards Offer Best Value For Holiday Shoppers, New Study Finds These Gift Cards Offer Best Value For Holiday Shoppers, New Study Finds
These Gift Cards Offer Best Value For Holiday Shoppers, New Study Finds If you're looking to give someone a gift card for the holidays, some options are more valuable than others, according to a new study. WalletHub released its list of 2025's best gift cards on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The personal finance website compared 50 of the most popular gift cards to find the top choices for the holiday season. The cards were graded on popularity, discounts, resale value, retailer ratings, and shipping fees. "Gift cards are supposed to make gift-giving simpler, reducing the need to worry about the recipient's tastes or which specific items he or she might already hav…

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by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
Here's Why Shoppers Turn Into 'Product Detectives' Here's Why Shoppers Turn Into 'Product Detectives'
Here's Why Shoppers Turn Into 'Product Detectives' From the coffee maker to the checkout line, more Americans are hitting pause before they choose. In findings released Tuesday, Sept. 2, a national survey of 2,000 US adults by Talker Research for Traditional Medicinals explores how often people second-guess daily choices and why shopping aisles can feel like obstacle courses. The study reports the average person makes about 50 decisions a day and second-guesses a large share of them. One in eight describe themselves as heavy overthinkers who scrutinize nearly every choice.  Roughly one quarter say simple decisions often feel stressful…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Most Americans Won't Upgrade To New iPhone 17, Survey Finds: Here's Why Most Americans Won't Upgrade To New iPhone 17, Survey Finds: Here's Why
Most Americans Won't Upgrade To New iPhone 17, Survey Finds: Here's Why As Apple rolls out its new iPhone 17 lineup, nearly six in 10 Americans say they won't be upgrading because of President Donald Trump's tariffs and rising costs. WalletHub said that 59% of people in the US will skip buying a new phone in 2025 due to Trump's tariffs and inflation, according to a survey released on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The findings came on the same day Apple unveiled its new generation of devices, including the thinnest iPhone ever. Preordering for all iPhone 17 models began on Friday, Sept. 12, and the smartphones will be officially released on Friday, Sept. 19. "When day…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows
Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows The return of the McDonald's Snack Wrap has spiced things up for the chain after it suffered a sharp sales decline as Americans cut back on restaurant spending. The snack wrap returned to US menus on Thursday, July 10. On that day, McDonald's saw a 15% jump in foot traffic compared to an average day in 2025, and an 11.4% jump compared to a typical Thursday, according to Placer.ai. The surge continued into the weekend, with a 22.3% traffic rise on Friday, July 11, compared to an average 2025 day. "After nine years of pent-up demand, fans showed up in full force to celebrate the re…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why One of the nation's largest candy makers is pushing back on a years-long effort to remove artificial food dyes from its products, according to reports. Mars, the McLean, Virginia-based company behind popular candies like M&M's, is resisting the federal government's effort to remove synthetic food colorings, The New York Times reported on Monday, July 7. This comes as more than a dozen food giants like Kraft Heinz, General Mills, PepsiCo, ConAgra, and Nestlé have agreed to eliminate the artificial dyes from their US products by the end of 2027. Federal agencies have tried for y…

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by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits
Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits Rising costs and shifting priorities are reshaping how Americans approach dining out.  Reports reveal a notable decline in restaurant visits, particularly among middle-class families and younger generations. Here are key factor driving the decline: Rising Menu Prices: Inflation has notably driven up the cost of dining out significantly. According to Yahoo Finance’s “6 Reasons the Middle Class Can’t Afford To Dine Out Anymore,” soaring food prices have left many consumers rethinking their restaurant habits. Economic Pressures: Broader inflationary trends are squeezing househo…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada The Costco Wholesale Corporation has announced membership hikes in the US and Canada for the first time in seven years, according to a news release by the company issued on Wednesday, July 10.  Costco opened the release sharing a June sales growth in the US of 5.6%, which is higher than the past 44 weeks of just 4.4%, the company experienced a decrease in revenue internationally.  On the heels of sharing that news, the company made the announcement about raising the membership fees in both the US and Canada beginning Sept. 1.  Annual memberships are rising $5 making them $65…

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by Jillian Pikora