Restaurant sales continued to rise in June

Restaurant sales posted a healthy increase in June, as cash-flush consumers continued to burn off their pent-up demand for socialization and experiences.

Eating and drinking places* registered total sales of $70.6 billion on a seasonally-adjusted basis in June, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up 2.3% from May’s sales volume, and represented the fifth solid increase in the last six months.

Driven by the steady gains during the first half of 2021, eating and drinking place sales in June were nearly $4.4 billion – or 6.6% – above the February 2020 pre-pandemic sales volume of $66.2 billion. 

*Eating and drinking places are the primary component of the U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry, which prior to the coronavirus outbreak generated approximately 75 percent of total restaurant and foodservice sales.

Read more analysis and commentary from the Association's chief economist Bruce Grindy.