They're selling up and leaving.Guzman y Gomez paid tribute to its US staff but said it had been "consistent and transparent" about the sales levels it needed to reach to make the US experiment work.If they can take anything from it, it's probably that they are opening 32 restaurants in Australia this financial year and that expanding out of your home market is HARD.Taco Bell has now tried to crack Australia three times Estee Lauder also appears more confident about going it alone after a stronger recent earnings update.The company is now focused on its turnaround plan, which includes investing more in stores, closing weaker outlets, and cutting jobs as it tries to reverse several years of falling sales.Investors seemed relieved the deal was off, with Estee Lauder shares rising about 10 per cent in extended trade.Builders say fuel levies and price rises linked to the Middle East conflict are squeezing already tight margins, and making some housing projects harder to stack up.Commonwealth Bank analysts estimate the cost pressures could mean 15,000 to 25,000 fewer homes are built by late 2029.ABC's Alison Branley spoke to Sydney builder Rocco Natoli, who says the impact is already being felt on his sites.In an ASX statement today, the Mexican fast-food chain said it will immediately stop trading at its restaurants in Chicago, after deciding the US business was not meeting its financial targets.Founder and co-CEO Steven Marks said the brand and food offering were strong, but sales momentum was not improving enough, and cracking the US would take more time and money than expected.I have always been confident in the differentiation of our food and guest experience, however this was not translating to an improvement in sales momentum