Understanding key restaurant industry indicators
Our team of economists navigates the often-conflicting signals found in U.S. and industry data, distilling this information to identify trends and provide meaningful insights for restaurant and foodservice operators, as well as the general public.
Blog
Explore the latest from the Association team.
-
Research
Restaurant and Lodging Business Applications Remain Highly Elevated
April 08, 2026 -
Research
Potential Workers on the Sidelines: Labor Force Participation Continues to Slide
April 07, 2026The labor force participation rate contnues to slide lower. -
Research
Slowing population growth has implications for restaurant sales
March 27, 2026States in the southeast and mountain west are leading the way in population gains. -
Research
New Association report provides a demographic profile of the restaurant workforce
March 25, 2026Restaurant employees tend to be younger and more diverse than the overall U.S. workforce. -
Research
Softer tourism spending is making business conditions more challenging for restaurants
November 14, 2025Travel and tourism typically accounts for 3 in 10 dollars spent at U.S. restaurants. -
Research
Average Family Health Insurance Costs Soared to Nearly $27,000 in 2025
October 22, 2025The average health insurance plan for a family of four cost $26,993 in 2025, up 6% from 2024, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest annual survey. -
Research
Higher volume restaurants reported lower food-cost ratios in 2024
October 16, 2025Lower costs flowed through to the bottom line in the form of higher profitability. -
Research
Restaurant Sales Estimated to Have Risen by 0.5% in September
October 16, 2025The National Restaurant Association has developed a macroeconomic model to estimate sales at eating and drinking places. In the absence of official figures due to the government shutdown, this post estimates September 2025 sales data. -
Research
Elevated labor costs had a significant impact on restaurant profitability in 2024
October 08, 2025Profitable restaurants were much more likely to keep labor costs in check. -
Research
Higher-income households are driving restaurant sales
September 18, 2025The number of households with income above $100k jumped by 5 million during the last 2 years.