Restaurant Performance Index Fell Sharply in April

As a result of softer readings in both the current situation and forward-looking indicators, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) fell sharply in April. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.1 in April, down 1.8 percent from a level of 101.9 in March.

April’s RPI decline was the result of broad-based softening in both the current situation and expectations indicators. Although same-store sales readings were slightly positive in April, customer traffic turned negative. In addition, restaurant operators are less optimistic about both sales growth and the overall economy...

Restaurant Performance Index Posted a Solid Gain in March

Buoyed by stronger same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a healthy gain in March. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.9 in March, up 0.9 percent from February’s level of 101.0.

Growth in the RPI was driven by the same-store sales and customer traffic indicators, which both registered solid improvements in March. Looking forward, roughly one-half of restaurant operators expect to see stronger sales volumes in six months. However, their outlook for...

Technomic's Take: Five Ways Legal Marijuana Impacts Restaurants

Recreational marijuana is legal in 10 states, with as many as 12 more expected to approve in the next 18 months. Pressure from changing social norms, product marketers and the mind-boggling tax revenue potential is likely to prompt the federal government to change marijuana’s classification by 2023 at the latest, opening the door for a cannabis boom.

Current recreational use regulations largely prohibit marijuana and cannabis consumption in public spaces, including away-from-home establishments, particularly those where ...

Restaurant Performance Index Edged Lower in February

As a result of softer readings in the current situation indicators, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a modest decline in February. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.0 in February, down slightly from a level of
101.2 in January.

While restaurant operators continued to report positive same-store sales in February, customer traffic turned negative for the first time in five months. Although 50 percent of operators expect their sales to be higher in six months ...

Restaurant Performance Index Declined in January

Due in large part to softer same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) declined in January.
The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.2 in January, down 0.4 percent from a level of 101.6 in December.

Although a majority of restaurant operators reported higher same-store sales in January, the readings were somewhat softer than the stronger results in November and December. Looking forward, nearly one-half of operators expect ...

Restaurant Performance Index Remained Relatively Steady in December

With restaurant operators continuing to report positive sales and traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) was essentially unchanged in December. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.6 in December, down slightly from a level of 101.8 in November. The RPI continued to be supported by positive readings in the same-store sales and customer traffic indicators, which both came in similar to their November levels. Looking ahead, although restaurant operators are generally optimistic about sales growth in the months ahead, their outlook for the overall economy remains uncertain. The RPI is constructed so that the health of the restaurant industry is measured in relation to a neutral level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are ...