Both our "Pooring of America" stalwarts are giving out updates this week - Walmart (WMT) with an earnings report Thursday and McDonalds (MCD) reported October same store sales today. They were stellar, despite a stronger dollar hurting on the currency conversion side. U.S. Sales are accelerating... again much like how Target shoppers are becoming Walmart shoppers (not by choice) (Dec 26 2007: Target Shoppers Turning into Walmart Shoppers) so are many mid chain restaurant eaters being forced downstream. What is also interesting to me is the strength in Europe - in this global recession McDonald's is also an alternative to pricier fare overseas. I expect both chains to continue to excel through 2009.

• Consumers worldwide who are watching their spending bought more burgers and chicken breakfast biscuits at McDonald's in October, leading to a big rise in sales at established locations for the fast-food leader. Many sit-down chains have reported steep declines in same-store sales during October as consumers grew more anxious about the possibility of a prolonged recession.
• McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD - News) on Monday said global sales at its fast-food restaurants open at least 13 months rose 8.2 percent in October, topping analysts' targets and sending its shares up more than 2 percent.