Restaurant Performance Index edged down 0.1% in April
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) ticked lower in April, reflecting an ongoing uncertain business environment. The RPI – a monthly index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 99.8 in April, down 0.1% from March and the first time in three months that the RPI slipped below 100 into contraction territory.
Restaurant operators continued to report challenging business conditions in April, with modest gains in same-store sales despite dampened customer traffic levels. Looking ahead, operators are cautiously optimistic about sales growth in the coming months, though they continue to express concerns about the direction of the overall economy.
The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators, stood at 99.5 in April – up 0.1% from a level of 99.4 in March. Despite the gain, April represented the 9th time in the last 10 months that the current situation component stood below 100 in contraction territory.
The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators, stood at 100.2, down 0.4% from the previous month. That represented the second consecutive decline in the RPI’s forward-looking component and the lowest reading in four months.
RPI Methodology
The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) is a monthly composite index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry. Launched in 2002, the RPI is released on the last business day of each month.
The RPI is measured in relation to a neutral level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period of expansion, while index values below 100 represent a period of contraction for key industry indicators. The Index consists of two components — the Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), and the Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions).
The RPI is based on the responses to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded monthly among restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators including sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. Restaurant operators interested in participating in the tracking survey: contact Bruce Grindy.
Updated 5/29/2026