And when you need to cut your budget, eating out is one of the first things to go. Restaurants in Mid-Missouri say their businesses are seeing the worst traffic they've seen in years. Owners have to cut employees and prices all while trying to keep the customers they still have.

Three restaurants, three different towns, all with the same story.

"We're down 20 percent," says Bobber Cafe General Manager Keith Walters.

"Last year was one of the slowest years we've ever had," said Eldon Drive-In Owner Duane Basham.

"I would say from January on, it's been pretty bad, pretty slow," said Karon's Classic Diner Owner Karon Briggs.

Karon Briggs has owned Karon's Classic Diner in Fulton for almost seven years. She says she is losing $300 to $500 per day.

"People do not have to go out to eat. But they do have to go to work and afford gas. Going out to eat is pretty much a luxury for a lot of people," said Briggs.

All of the restaurants are changing. They're doing everything from cutting employees, to changing their menus, to running more specials.

"It's all the little things. It's about all you can do because the average person can't sit back and worry about you," said Walters.

Food sales tax receipts are a good indicator of how much people are spending in restaurants.

From 2007 to 2008, Callaway County saw an increase in sales tax receipts of $1.2 million. Cooper County also saw a slight increase of $163,000. The hardest hit area was Miller County where there was a decline of almost $1.1 million, and the 2009 numbers haven't been released yet.

The Eldon Drive-In opened 25 years ago, and is feeling the effects now.

"It use to grow 10, 15, 20 percent a year. For the next few years, I don't forsee it growing, I just hope it doesn't go any further back," said Basham.

Another thing all the restaurants hope for.

How do these local restaurants numbers compare to national chains? McDonalds just released its first-quarter earnings, and says its profit climbed nearly 4 percent to $979.5 million, up from $946.1 million last year.

Burger King is not releasing its earnings until April 29, but last week the company announced it saw significant traffic declines in March. This news made shares of Burger King stock fall almost 18 percent.