Eating Out Less vs. Eating Out Cheaper

Since the economy turned bad, it has been a familiar mantra among survey respondents that they’re spending less on dining out. But are they doing this by dining out less often or by eating at less-expensive restaurants? A Maritz Poll released this month (and conducted in December) indicates relatively few are trading down. Just 5 percent agreed “strongly” (plus 15 percent “somewhat”) with the statement, “You are planning to downgrade the class of restaurants at which you dine out.”