California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.Los Angeles, CA, United States (NASDAQ (GS): CPKI)

Fewer Working Women Reduces Restaurants' Business - Fewer women are in the workforce in the US than in 1999, a phenomenon that's causing a noticeable problem for the restaurant industry: more cooking at home. Industry experts note that the number of meals cooked at home increased 5.4 percent from 2002 to 2007, while the number of meals eaten at restaurants (measured per capita) fell. In response, restaurants are adding new features to their websites, and trying other tactics to emphasize the convenience and unique offerings available only at restaurants.

Calorie Displays Gaining Popularity in US Cities - New York was the first city to require several major restaurants to tell consumers the amount of calories in their food, but the trend is spreading to other major US cities, including Philadelphia and San Francisco. Reactions to the laws, which affect mostly fast food restaurants because of consistent portion sizes, are mixed. The laws were enacted to help fight rising healthcare costs; costs often attributed to eating out. The New York State Restaurant Association continues to fight the legislation.

High Costs mean Creative Strategies - Restaurants are trying numerous strategies to offset higher food costs, which are rising due to increasing global demand and other factors. One strategy is to substitute or drop dishes to get rid of high-cost cuts of meat that can no longer be served profitably. According to the National Restaurant Association, wholesale food prices have risen nearly 8 percent over the past year. In June 2008, alone, wholesale food prices increased 10 percent versus year ago.