A decline in the U.S. economy has affected consumer habits of restaurant beef purchases, according to a study by the National Beef Checkoff as reported by Drover’s CattleNetwork.
In January, the Beef Checkoff surveyed 1,013 adult beef eaters to determine if the U.S. economy has changed their dining and beef purchasing habits. The survey found that economic pressure has affected purchasing habits, as 39 percent of respondents said they decreased their visits to full-service restaurants in the previous six months.
When visiting a full-service restaurant, 34 percent of respondents said they would order a less expensive steak and 35 percent opted for a chicken dish to save money.
However, even amidst price concerns, 34 percent of consumers will order a steak because of its good value and 73 percent would trade down to a less expensive cut of beef instead of shifting to chicken.