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.
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Research
GLP-1 and Restaurants: Shifting Habits, Not Shrinking Demand
May 20, 2026Restaurants remain deeply embedded in the lifestyles of GLP-1 users -
Research
International tourism is projected to rebound this year after a 2025 decline
May 19, 2026Number of international visitors will remain well below the pre-pandemic peak -
Research
New Association report provides a demographic profile of restaurant owners
April 16, 2026The accessibility of restaurant ownership across demographic groups illustrates the entrepreneurial opportunities in the industry. -
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.