The battle for price-conscious diners is heating up as more fast-food chains and restaurants enter the competition with discounted meal deals. McDonald’s $5 meal deal and Wendy’s breakfast kits sparked the competition, which now includes offerings from Taco Bell, Jack in the Box and even service restaurants like Olive Garden.

As dining out becomes more expensive – prices rose 4.1 percent in July from a year ago – chains such as Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr. and Red Robin are offering discount menus to attract price-conscious customers. Despite these promotions, some analysts doubt that these deals are enough to boost sales, as data shows a decline in spending on fast food.

As inflation remains a concern, these low-cost offers could play a critical role in maintaining customer loyalty and winning back restaurant traffic.

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