Research
November 25, 2025
Total restaurant industry sales
Restaurant sales trended higher in recent months
Consumer spending in restaurants continued to trend higher in September, even as other retail sectors saw mixed results.
Eating and drinking places registered total sales of $100.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up 0.7% from August’s upward-revised sales volume of $100.0 billion.
September represented the sixth sales gain in the last seven months, with only a modest dip in May interrupting the upward trend. As a result, eating and drinking place sales stood 6.7% above their year-ago levels in September – the seventh consecutive month with 12-month gains above 6%.
Consumer activity was not as strong in other sectors in September, with spending at non-restaurant retailers rising just 0.1%. Total sales in non-restaurant retail sectors were up 3.9% from year-ago levels, or nearly three full percentage points below the increase in restaurant sales.
Although restaurant sales gains were supported by rising menu prices during the last several months, the industry also saw growth in inflation-adjusted terms.
After adjusting for menu price inflation, eating and drinking place sales were up 2.9% between September 2024 and September 2025. That marked the seventh consecutive month with real sales growth above 2%.
Note: Eating and drinking places are the primary component of the U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry and represent approximately 72% of total restaurant and foodservice sales.
Eating and drinking places registered total sales of $100.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up 0.7% from August’s upward-revised sales volume of $100.0 billion.
September represented the sixth sales gain in the last seven months, with only a modest dip in May interrupting the upward trend. As a result, eating and drinking place sales stood 6.7% above their year-ago levels in September – the seventh consecutive month with 12-month gains above 6%.
Consumer activity was not as strong in other sectors in September, with spending at non-restaurant retailers rising just 0.1%. Total sales in non-restaurant retail sectors were up 3.9% from year-ago levels, or nearly three full percentage points below the increase in restaurant sales.
Although restaurant sales gains were supported by rising menu prices during the last several months, the industry also saw growth in inflation-adjusted terms.
After adjusting for menu price inflation, eating and drinking place sales were up 2.9% between September 2024 and September 2025. That marked the seventh consecutive month with real sales growth above 2%.
Note: Eating and drinking places are the primary component of the U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry and represent approximately 72% of total restaurant and foodservice sales.