Wednesday? Time for a Steak!

It’s time for a trip to the steakhouse!  Yum!

Longer term readers will recall we’re attempting to develop a ‘predictive’ index that will help us (1) monitor high-end consumptive behavior and, (2) predict changes in the US economy as a result.   For a more complete description and a review of the methodology, please take a look at the original blog:

Move over ‘Big Mac Index’ – Here Comes the ‘Steak House Index!’

Interestingly enough, there are quite a few available slots at our ‘Big 4’ this Saturday.   Mastro’s continues to be the most popular.  But today, as you can see below, diners have selected earlier time slots for dinner.   Take a look:

At first, I wondered if the ‘daylight savings time’ change this past Sunday had a momentary impact on consumer behavior.   But no, I don’t think so.   Recall that a time slot of 7:00 pm last Saturday would be 8 pm this Saturday.  Suggesting later reservations would be more popular.  Yet, earlier slots seem to be in vogue this week.  The opposite has occurred.   Odd.

Regardless, our reading this week is a (-12)…very different than last weeks reading of 22, and definitely indicative of a changing consumer spending pattern.   But it’s too early to make judgements just yet.   Stay tuned!

• Terry Liebman