Starbucks scales back US growth slightly

Starbucks reported that the number of its American customers declined by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2006 and that it has reduced by a hundred the number of its planned new stores in the USA. This still means 2500 new stores in the USA in 2008 and 900 new ones elsewhere, including its first in Argentina and Portugal. For more, see here. Some analysts blamed price increases. Similar drinks could be found for a dollar less at McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, for instance. For more, see here.