Trends

Keeping the foodservice equipment marketplace up to date with the latest menu and concept trends.

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Restaurant Industry Performance Inches Forward

National Restaurant Association's RPI hit 101.2 in November.

The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) hit 101.2 in November, a 5-month high for the monthly composite index. The NRA cited improving customer traffic levels and same-store sales as factors driving the 0.3 percent increase from October.

The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), stood at 101.2 in November. Key data points from the Current Situation Index include:

  • Fifty-seven percent of restaurant operators reported a same-store sales gain between November 2012 and November 2013, up from 54 percent in October.
  • Forty-seven percent of restaurant operators reported customer traffic growth between November 2012 and November 2013, up from 43 percent in October.
  • Fifty-four percent of operators said they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling during the last three months, the seventh consecutive month in which a majority of operators reported making expenditures.

The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators' 6-month outlook for 4 industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions), stood at 101.1 in November — up 0.2 percent from October. Key data points for the Expectations Index include:

  • Thirty-eight percent of restaurant operators expect to have higher sales in six months compared to the same period in the previous year, up from 36 percent in October.
  • Fifty-five percent of restaurant operators plan to make a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling in the next 6 months, up from 53 percent who reported similarly last month.