For the past few decades, fast food consumption has had a reliable recession indicator: when budgets tighten, Americans head for the drive-thru. However, in today's K-shaped economy , analysts say that the old playbook is breaking — and some of the biggest chains are finding that even price cuts aren't bringing customers back. "We have a consumer that's cutting back on dining, and that's been happening for really, probably two and a half to three years," Restaurant Business editor in chief