Operators’ Optimism on Display in Latest Restaurant Performance Index

The National Restaurant Association’s latest Restaurant Performance Index, released April 30, saw a 5% increase in March, to 105.1.

This data comes on the heels of U.S. Census Bureau data indicating a $7 billion rise in restaurant sales from February to March 2021 to $62.2 billion.

“The elevated RPI overstates the current health of the restaurant industry, as the current situation indicators were up against the dampened comparisons of March 2020,” the RPI states. “However, the trendline continues to move in a positive direction, with a solid majority of operators expecting business conditions to improve in the coming months.”

Here are some additional data points from the latest RPI report:

• 78% — The percentage of operators who expect their sales volume in six months to be higher than it was during the same period in the previous year.
• 77% — The percentage of operators who reported a same-store sales increase between March 2020 and March 2021.
• 76% — The percentage of operators who said customer traffic increased between March 2020 and March 2021.
• 69% — The percentage of operators who said they expect economic conditions to improve in the next six months.
• 64% — The percentage of operators planning to make a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling in the next six months (consistent with February 2021 reports and the highest level in more than two years).
• 58% — The percentage of operators who said they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling in the last three months (up from 49% in February and the highest reading since February 2020).