Meal deals aim to boost traffic, profits

Four meals under $4. Ten casual-dining dishes for $5.95 each. A 6-ounce sirloin and two sides for $9.99. Eleven meals at $5 each. It seems to be fire-sale time out there.

Concepts in all segments are introducing sharply lower price points on key menu items that executives hope will provide the value that today’s consumer demands amid cost inflation from creeping energy and grocery prices.

While operators say the off-price items are designed to boost sales and profit, pundits are