⁍ U.S. restaurant chains including Starbucks Corp could show a sales recovery as consumers resume normal activities.

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⁍ But higher wages, commodity and COVID-19-related costs will likely weigh on earnings.

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– The H1N1 virus wasn’t all bad news for US restaurant chains: Sales were up and earnings were up in the third quarter, reports the Wall Street Journal. The big question, however, is whether the recovery will hold for the rest of the year. Here’s a look at what else you need to know: Sales at restaurants in the US open at least 13 months, a key indicator of a company’s health, were up 2.1% in the third quarter, according to the Journal. That’s better than the 2.1% analysts expected, but it’s still a long way from the 3.8% the sector posted in the second quarter, reports Reuters. Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months are a key indicator of a company’s health, and the 2.1% increase in the third quarter was better than the 2.1% analysts expected, but it’s still a long way from the 5.2% the sector posted in the second quarter. Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months are a key indicator of a company’s health, and the 2.1% increase in the third quarter was better than the 4.2% analysts expected, but it’s still a long way from the 5.2% the sector posted in the second quarter.