NRA Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey

February 2010

Thank you for participating in the National Restaurant Association's monthly restaurant industry tracking survey. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please submit a completed survey by February 20. The survey results will be summarized and e-mailed to all respondents by February 28.

If you are a restaurant operator with multiple concepts in your organization, please consider completing a separate survey for each concept. This will help us generate specific information for each segment of the restaurant industry, which will mean more useful information for you. If you wish to only complete one survey, please choose your primary concept for this survey.

Thank you for your time, and don't hesitate to e-mail Bruce Grindy at bgrindy@restaurant.org if you have any questions.


Sales and Traffic

1. In January, was your total dollar sales volume (on a same-store basis) higher, lower or about the same as it was in January 2009?

Higher
Lower
About the Same

1a. If your sales were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

Percent Difference
2. In January, was your customer traffic level higher, lower or about the same as it was in January 2009?
Higher
Lower
About the Same

2a. If your traffic was higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

Percent Difference
3. Do you think your dollar sales volume (on a same-store basis) six months from now will be higher, lower, or about the same as it was during that same period in the previous year?
Higher
Lower
About the Same

Employees and Hours

4. In January, did the total number of employees in your operation increase, decrease or stay about the same, compared to January 2009?

Increase
Decrease
Stay About the Same

5. In January, did the average number of hours worked by employees in your operation increase, decrease or stay about the same, compared to January 2009?

Increase
Decrease
Stay About the Same

6. In the next six months, do you expect the total number of employees in your operation to be higher, lower, or about the same as it was during that same period in the previous year?

Higher
Lower
About the Same

Capital Spending

7. During the last three months, did you make any capital expenditures for equipment, expansion or remodeling?

Yes
No

8. In the next six months, do you plan to make any capital expenditures for equipment, expansion or remodeling?

Yes
No

General Business Conditions

9. Do you think general business conditions six months from now will be better, worse, or about the same as they are now?

Better
Worse
About the Same

10. What is the single most important challenge facing your business today?

Top Challenge
Food Costs and Menu Pricing

11. In January, were your average food costs higher, lower or about the same as they were in January 2009?
Higher
Lower
About the Same

11a. If your average food costs were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference (as a percent of total food costs).

Percent Difference
12. Did you increase menu prices in January?
Yes
No

13. In January, were your menu prices higher, lower or about the same as they were in January 2009?

Higher
Lower
About the Same

13a. If your menu prices were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

Percent Difference
Demographic Questions

14. In which of the following segments would you classify your restaurant operation for which you completed this survey?
Family Dining Fullservice Restaurant
Casual Dining Fullservice Restaurant
Fine Dining/White Tablecloth Restaurant
Quickservice (fast food) Restaurant
Quick-Casual Restaurant
On-Site/Managed Foodservice Provider
Other (please specify)

15. Which of the following categories best describes your restaurant business?

Single-Unit Independent
Multi-Unit Independent
Single-Unit Franchisee
Multi-Unit Franchisee
Corporate-Owned Chain Restaurant

16. Did you open any new foodservice/restaurant establishments in January (excludes existing seasonal operations)?

Yes
No

16a. If yes, how many?

New Establishments Opened in January
17. Did you close any foodservice/restaurant establishments in January (excludes existing seasonal operations)?
Yes
No

17a. If yes, how many?

Establishments Closed in January
18. Do you plan to open any new foodservice/restaurant establishments in the next six months (excludes existing seasonal operations)?
Yes
No

18a. If yes, how many?

New Establishments Planned During Next Six Months
19. In which state is your restaurant business primarily located? If your restaurant business is a multi-state or national operation, please skip this question.
State
20. What is your e-mail address? (So we can e-mail you the survey results)
Email Address