Smart, economical type people, point to declining sales at Wendy’s and McDonald’s as early warning signs that the economy is slowing down and stuff. These same smarty pants’s identified some other indicator type things.*

Getting a venti pumpkin spice latte with a shot of espresso, an extra pump of pumpkin sauce, and one pump of maple pecan sauce, instead of a grande pumpkin spice latte with a shot of espresso, and an extra pump of pumpkin sauce, and one pump of maple pecan sauce.

Joining the oldies at Texas Roadhouse for the before 6pm early bird special.

Signing up with every restaurant you can think of that will give you free food on your birthday using different names, different birth dates, and different email, just like you do to keep getting cheaper Netflix.

Risking rejection on a date with a person you really, kinda, like by using a 2 for 1 coupon.

Only getting to eat Lucky Charms for breakfast when your mom can buy them on sale.

Buying the Tesla Model S with 670 horsepower for your fourth car instead of the 1020 horsepower Model S Plaid.**

Cutting the Lego monthly subscription that your kid loves for lame reasons like, “You haven’t put the last three kits together.”

Making your kids use their own money to buy a minigun in Roblox even though all their friends have one.

When our meridian-street.com reporter asked is the line at Starbucks in the morning getting shorter a leading indicator of a slowdown?

“No,” one of the science people said. “That would be a sign of the apocalypse.”

*This story was written by our 5th grade intern, who tears up if you edit his stories, so it may not be up to our usual standards.  

**Remind you of anyone, Dad?