Restaurant Performance Index rose 0.6% in January
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) posted a moderate increase in January, but continued to reflect challenging business conditions for the industry. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 99.9 in January, up 0.6% from a level of 99.3 in December.
Although same-store sales and customer traffic levels improved somewhat from December, readings were still dampened in January. Looking forward, restaurant operators are cautiously optimistic about business conditions in the months ahead. Thirty-two percent of operators expect their sales will be higher in six months, while only 12% anticipate a decline.
The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators, stood at 99.1 in January – up 0.8% from a level of 98.3 in December. Despite the gain, January marked the seventh consecutive month in which the current situation index was below 100 in contraction territory.
The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators, stood at 100.6, up 0.4% from the previous month. Driving the increase was an improvement in restaurant operators’ outlook for sales growth in the months ahead.
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 2/27/2026