Rising food prices are causing more people to choose eating at home instead of dining out, resulting in a decrease in restaurant sales. Inflation has been decreasing for over a year, leading to a faster drop in grocery prices since the middle of this year. This change is important, as grocery prices were once higher than restaurant meals. Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden, reported a 1.1% drop in overall sales, with Olive Garden experiencing a larger 2.9% decline. Similarly, McDonald’s saw a 1.1% decrease in sales during the second quarter, a sharp contrast to the 11.7% increase from the previous year. In response, McDonald’s introduced a $5 value meal, while Olive Garden brought back its famous “never-ending pasta bowl” deal to attract budget-conscious diners. As consumers increasingly shop for groceries, companies like General Mills, known for Cheerios, are seeing sales rise. Food producers, who had raised prices to manage inflation, are now reducing costs to help lessen the financial burden on shoppers. Grocery chain Kroger reported a 1.2% increase in sales and anticipates that this trend will continue as customers prioritize buying essential food items.