Krystal adds barbecue sliders to its menu
Krystal is adding Memphis barbecue sandwiches to its menu, starting Monday, for a limited period.
In collaboration with the National Pork Board, the South's original quick-service chain is launching pulled pork Memphis BBQ sliders on its menu for the next six weeks.
"Memphis BBQ sliders are a crave-worthy menu addition that Krystal fans are going to love," said James Murray, executive chef for the National Pork Board."
This new, limited-time-only menu item boasts slow-smoked pork with Memphis barbecue sauce with a hint of pickle on a freshly steamed bun for $1.69. Guests can complement the BBQ or make it a combo with other Southern-inspired menu items including crispy onion rings, a handspun banana pudding shake and a refreshing watermelon slushie.
Krystal's Memphis BBQ sliders, onion rings, banana pudding shake and watermelon slushie are available through Oct. 11.
Factory orders up 11.2% during July
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods jumped 11.2% in July, the third consecutive monthly gain.
And the jump last month was even larger than the 7.7% increase in June, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
The strong advance last month, however, was led by the volatile transportation sector, which spiked 35.6%. Excluding transportation, orders would have risen by a more modest 2.4%.
A closely watched category that serves as a proxy for business investment plans rose a solid 1.9% in July after a 4.3% rebound in June.
While the gains in orders for durable goods is welcome, economists caution that could falter if coronavirus infections surge in the fall, forcing more factory shutdowns and a return to the near economic stall the U.S. went through this past spring.
"The details of the report indicate that businesses remain wary as the initial post-lockdown burst in activity is winding down and the public health situation isn't under control," said Lydia Boussour, senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.
The big jump in transportation was led by a 21.9% surge in orders for motor vehicles and parts which offset another big decline in demand for commercial aircraft as airlines continue cancelling previous orders in the face of a plunge in air travel linked to the coronavirus.
Energy industry braces for storms
The energy industry braced Wednesday for catastrophic storm surges and winds as Hurricane Laura cuts a dangerous path toward the coastlines of Texas and Louisiana.
Oil and gas producers have evacuated platforms and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and companies are shutting down refineries in the storm's path. Many had already done so while they were preparing for Tropical Storm Marco. Utilities are bracing for downed power lines and blackouts.
"These hurricanes, they can attack the entire energy infrastructure," said Jim Burkhard, head of IHS Markit research for crude oil markets. "And it's not just a refinery being shut down, but if a pipeline gets shut down, or the electrical grid gets damaged, it shows how integrated all these systems are: pipelines, refineries, electricity. And it's that aggregate damage that can be so challenging to overcome."
The oil industry was already hammered since the start of the year, struggling with low prices after the coronavirus decimated demand. At the same time, OPEC was flooding the market with crude, aiming - with success - to put American oil producers out of business.