Fast food value items losing profitability as costs advance and restaurant sales growth slows.(Statistical table)

Food Institute Report, The, November, 2007

After four months of monthly sales increases of over 6% from year-earlier levels, the nation's foodservice and drinking places saw sales rise only 4% in September, according revised government data, followed by a 5.4% rise in October.

Full-service restaurants were hit hardest during September as consumers saw higher grocery prices and climbing fuel prices. Indeed, full-service restaurant sales during September were revealed to show a measly 2.1% gain over the same month last year--well under the 4.0% rate of inflation in food-away-from home. Preliminary data from THE FOOD INSTITUTE for October indicates an uptick from that low however, but the initial Census data for October will not be unveiled for another month.

Even growth at quick service...