By FES Staff—Foodservice Equipment & Supplies

More than half (54 percent) of people who dine out regularly are cutting back on restaurant spending because of the economy, according to a recent report published by Mintel, a Chicago-based research firm. Rising gas and food costs, home foreclosures, and a fear of recession have caused many Americans to curb out-to-eat spending, the report said.

Seventy percent of those trying to cut back are saving money by going out to eat less, rather than by choosing cheaper entrées or dining at less expensive restaurants, Mintel said. However, the survey still showed consistent restaurant usage; three-quarters of survey respondents went out to dinner at least once in the past week. On average, people who dined out reported eating 2.3 evening meals from a restaurant in the past seven days.