The Daily Money: Deal time at McDonald's

Good morning! It’s Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money.

McDonald's reported a decline in sales for the first time in more than three years, Mike Snider reports. But the home of the Big Mac has a strategy for growth , including a brand new burger.

Deal-conscious consumers steered clear of the golden arches, driving a 1% decline in global sales for the fast food giant during the April-to-June 2024 period. Profit fell 12%.

To counter perceptions of rising prices, McDonald's began offering a limited-time $5 meal deal in June, part of an industry-wide trend. Now, the chain plans to keep the meal deal around longer than planned.

There is also talk of a new burger.

Kamala Harris and student loans

The potential of a Kamala Harris presidency should give Americans with student debt hope for a second chance at seeing it forgiven, Medora Lee reports.

As vice president, Harris supported President Joe Biden’s canceling of more than $160 billion in federal student loans. She also initially backed Biden's plan to forgive $10,000 to $20,000 for every borrower, until it was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Here's what analysts think will happen if Harris wins.

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California is one of the largest and most populous states in the U.S. It's also one of the most expensive places to live. According to data from the Census Bureau's American Communities Survey, the median monthly mortgage cost in California is $2,673. It's not just housing that adds up: health care, taxes, food and transportation all contribute to California's growing cost of living.

Last year, the California Community Poll found that 4 in 10 Californians were considering moving out of state, with the majority saying it’s too expensive to live there. Although the poll found a majority of Californians love living there, increasing costs of living is the main driver for people moving.

Here's a breakdown of some of the priciest California counties.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.

Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.