Burger prices fluctuate every minute in 'stockmarket' bar

Customers can move the price of beer and hot wings in a newly opened US bar, based on the market principals of supply and demand.

In Manhattan's Exchange Bar & Grill, the cost of food and drinks will fluctuate like stock prices in increments according to demand, as customers keep track using a Canary Wharf-style flashing ticker tape, Reuters reports.

Customers can move prices for all drinks and bar snacks, from $7 (£4.60) hot wings or fried calamari at $9 (£5.90). The prices will fluctuate in $.25 cent (16p) increments, with a plateau of a $2 (£1.30) change in either direction.

For example, a glass of Guinness starts at $6 (£3.95) but could be pushed to a high of $8 (£5.26) or a low of $4 (£2.63), depending on popularity.

So if one drink is in heavy demand, its price will rise, causing the cost of other equivalent drinks to drop. A rush on a particular beer would increase its price, and cause other beers to drop.

Owners Levent Cakar and Damon Bae admit the stock exchange theme is a gimmick but hope a good deal on drinks and their hamburgers' tastiness will win over customers.

Restaurants in New York and across America have had a tough year because consumers have slashed discretionary spending in a tough economic climate.

The number of sit-down restaurants in New York dropped 9% from the fall of 2008 to 2009, according to market research firm NPD Group.

The restaurant opened on 1 April.