Changes in Dining Habits.

Dining has also been impacted by economic upheavals, with one-third of consumers visiting 'upscale' dining establishments less often (35%), and a simlar number cutting back on their visits to 'mid-priced' casual restaurants (30%).

A multiplicity of reasons account for this:  consumers not only want to "save money," they also now view "prices at restaurants" and the "price of gas" as more important barriers to their frequency of dining out.  On the other hand, reports are that fast food restaurants have seen little or no decline.

Source: The Marketing Workshop