Return of the bag lunch

It's no surprise with the cost of gas that people are brown bagging it more than ever.

Instead of indulging in a roasted portobello sandwich and gourmet chips at a nearby bistro, many workers are now brown-bagging it.

As the comparison (see left) shows, the cost of brown bagging it is about 1/2 of a similar lunch from an upscale deli.

In fact, online bag retailer eBags.com saw sales of lunch bags and coolers increase 39% in June over the year before.

Other workers are turning to cheaper alternatives -- like subsidized or free corporate cafeterias and cheaper fast-food spots.

WSJ 5/15/08 Dana Mattioli reporting