I get weary of all the  gloom and doom economic reports that bombard us with the fact Americans are spending less on beef and even  less money to eat out. Hogwash! The Applebee’s parking lot in my town is  as packed as ever. It’s Friday and on today’s American Rancher what a better day to share some good news about the beef  industry for a change.  Despite the fact that we are constantly told that Americans are not eating out due to the recession, someone  must be, because demand for premium hamburgers just keeps rising. A new study  from a top food industry consulting group reveals that not only do Americans take their burgers seriously,  it is one area they are not willing to  cut back on. Restaurant customers  fully expect and will gladly pay more for a higher quality burger. In fact, seventy –five  percent ranked meat  quality as the most important reason they selected a premium hamburger .Despite the fact we keep being reminded thatthe  average consumer is generations  removed from the farm,  thanks to savvy marketing,  seventy –two percent of consumers  apparently know their beef, stating that it was the  wagu, angus and sirloin that made their  burger special. Twenty –seven   percent of restaurant customers will select  an angus burger when  given the choice  and the number of people that reported they would rather have a sirloin  than a basic burger rose thirteen  percent from 2007. Great news for the beef industry and economic indicators I love to report.  So go out and indulge in  a gourmet burger this weekend.  I’m Susan Allen