A girl waiting in line to pick up an order at a McDonald’s restaurant.Oleksii Chumachenko | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesFast-food chains are looking like the big winners in the fourth quarter — and beyond — as fast-casual and casual-dining restaurants struggle to attract customers.Many publicly traded restaurant companies haven’t reported their latest quarterly results yet, but for those that have, a pattern is emerging. Inflation-weary customers pulled back their restaurant spending during the holiday season, just as they spent less than expected at retailers. Savvy fast-food chains appealed to those consumers with value menus and enticing promotions, drawing in customers across the income spectrum.related investing news 22 hours agoGenerally, the fast-food sector fares better than the rest of the industry during times of economic uncertainty and downturns.Take McDonald’s, for example. The fast-food giant said U.S. same-store sales climbed 10.3%, helped in part by low-income consumers returning more frequen …
