NRA Restaurant Performance Index

Data Services

Source: National Restaurant Association
Source Link: https://restaurant.org/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): August 29th, 2025 9:00 AM

Latest Updates

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) edged down -0.1% MoM to 100.0 in June 2025, holding just at the expansion threshold as mixed sales and traffic trends continued.
- The Current Situation Index declined -0.4% MoM to 100.0, as customer traffic (-0.9%) and labor (-0.7%) slipped, partially offset by a 0.7% increase in capital expenditures.
- The Expectations Index rose 0.2% MoM to 100.1, led by a modest 0.5% gain in future same-store sales expectations and a 0.3% rise in capex plans.
- 49% of operators reported higher same-store sales YoY in June (down from 52% in May), while 36% saw increased customer traffic (down from 40%).
- Just 23% of operators expect the economy to improve over the next six months, while 44% expect conditions to worsen.
- Despite macro pessimism, 54% of operators plan capital expenditures in the next six months, the highest reading in a year.
Source
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index rose 0.4% MoM to 100.1 in May 2025, returning to expansion territory for the first time since January as same-store sales and customer traffic improved.
- The Current Situation Index rose 0.9% MoM to 100.4, led by gains in sales (+1.0%), traffic (+1.6%), and labor (+1.3%), though capex slipped slightly (-0.2%).
- The Expectations Index edged down -0.2% to 99.9, with a drop in business conditions sentiment (-0.7%) outweighing modest gains in sales and capex outlooks.
- 52% of operators reported higher YoY same-store sales in May, the highest share since January; 40% saw an increase in customer traffic.
- Only 20% of operators expect economic conditions to improve over the next six months, down sharply from late 2024 optimism.
- Despite macro concerns, 53% of operators plan capital expenditures in the next six months, up from 52% in April.
Source
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index rose 0.9% MoM to 99.7 in April, but remained below the neutral level of 100, signaling continued contraction in overall industry conditions.
- The Current Situation Index increased 0.5% MoM to 99.4, its second straight monthly rise, supported by modest gains in same-store sales and labor indicators.
- The Expectations Index rose 1.2% MoM to 100.0, reaching the neutral expansion threshold, with slight improvement in sales and staffing outlooks.
- 45% of operators reported YoY same-store sales increases, while 48% continued to see lower customer traffic.
- Only 23% of operators expect higher sales in six months, and just 24% anticipate economic improvement, both notably weaker than late 2024 sentiment.
- Capital spending plans remained firm, with 52% of operators expecting to invest in equipment or remodeling in the next six months.
Source
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index was essentially unchanged in March, rising just 0.1% MoM to 98.9, remaining below the neutral level of 100.
- The Current Situation Index rose 2.0% MoM to 98.9, with modest improvements in same-store sales and customer traffic.
- The Expectations Index fell -1.8% MoM to 98.8, its second consecutive sharp decline.
- The indexes tracking expectations for same-store sales and business conditions were both down by more than -2% on a monthly basis.
- Despite gains in the present indicators, both components remained in contraction territory.
- The overall outlook among restaurant operators grew more pessimistic, particularly regarding future sales and broader economic conditions.
Source
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index fell -2.3% MoM in February after a slight 1.0% MoM increase in January.
- The Current Situation Index was down -3.5% MoM with large declines in same-store sales (-6.0% MoM) and customer traffic (-6.0% MoM).
- The Expectations Index fell -1.1% MoM with a decline in same-store sales expectations of -1.9% MoM
- 32% of restaurant operators expect their sales volume in six months to be higher than it was during the same period in the previous year. That was the lowest reading since the October 2024 survey period.
Source
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index increased 1.0% MoM in January, bouncing back from a -1.0% MoM decline in December.
- The Current Situation Index grew 1.4% MoM led by the Same-Store Sales Index up 2.1% MoM and the Customer Traffic Index up 2.7% MoM.
- The Expectations Index increased 0.6% MoM, led by the Staffing Index up 2.3% MoM while Same-Store Sales Index was flat.
Source
The Restaurant Performance Index fell -1.0% MoM in December with the Current Situation Index down -1.2% MoM and the Expectations Index down -0.9% MoM.
- The RPI’s December decline was largely the result of softer current same-store sales (-3.1% MoM) and customer traffic (-3.1% MoM) readings.
- Expectations for sales and traffic were also softer but to a lesser extent.
Source
Source
Source