U.S. restaurant sales expected to reach $863 billion

The National Restaurant Association has released its 2019 State of the Restaurant Industry Report that examines significant forces impacting and shaping the U.S. restaurant industry including the economy, workforce, technology, food and menu trends, as well as developments pertaining to table-service and limited-service restaurants. Analyzed data collected from a variety of U.S. surveys among restaurant owners, operators, chefs, and consumers show that restaurant industry sales are expected to reach $863 billion in 2019. In addition, approximately half of restaurant operators rate their business as stronger than two years ago.

When asked about the economy, restaurant operators are generally optimistic about business conditions. Roughly three in four operators gave ratings of “excellent” or “good” when asked to assess business conditions in the overall U.S. restaurant industry. However, operators are also acutely aware of competitive pressures, rising labor costs, a tighter labor market, and a complex regulatory landscape that compounds pressure on business performance and revenue.

Growing demand among consumers will make off-premises options important drivers across the industry in 2019. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults—including 50% of millennials—indicate they are more likely to have restaurant food delivered than they were two years ago. Nearly four in 10 operators plan to invest more capital in expanding their off-premises business this year. A solid majority of casual-dining (72%), family-dining (63%), and fast-casual operators (64%) say their delivery sales are higher than they were two years ago. Fewer than one in 10 say their delivery sales have declined.

Press release