Check out Chipotle blaming poor sales on the lackluster U.S. economy.

Like other restaurants, Chipotle is struggling to attract customers as high gas and food prices leave people with less disposable income to spend on going out to eat. Discounters like Wal-Mart are capitalizing on that trend by pushing products like its cook-at-home pizza and other ready-to-eat dinner products.

For Chipotle, high food costs are a double whammy, as they must pay more for the ingredients to make the food that people are buying less of.

Chipotle now sees its third-quarter earnings slightly below last year’s 62 cents per share in the third quarter, and well below analysts’ expectations of 72 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates. 

The Denver-based company also expects its full-year comparable restaurant sales up in the mid to low single digits, below July’s forecast of up in the mid-single digit range. The pessimism is also infecting other fast food and casual dining chains, with shares in companies across the spectrum, from Cheesecake Factory to Burger King, taking a hit today.

Also in the basket:

Retail sales fall, wholesale prices soften

Producer prices biggest dip in almost two years

French Connection posts bigger first half loss

(Photo/Reuters: Chipotle Chief Operating Officer Monty Moran)