The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) edged up +0.1% MoM to 99.8 in August 2025, but remained below the 100 expansion threshold, reflecting ongoing contraction despite modest sales gains.

• The Current Situation Index rose +0.1 pts to 99.8, with operators reporting higher same-store sales but continued weakness in customer traffic.

• The Expectations Index also increased slightly to 99.8, with optimism about sales at its highest since February 2025, though the index stayed in contraction territory.

• Same-store sales rose for the fifth consecutive month, with 46% of operators reporting gains YoY in August, though this was down from 48% in July.

• Customer traffic remained a drag, as 42% of operators reported declines in August, marking the seventh straight month of net negative traffic readings.

• Capital expenditures strengthened, with 54% of operators making investments in the past three months, the highest level in 20 months.

• Looking ahead, 40% of operators expect higher sales in six months (vs 29% in July), while only 17% anticipate an improving economy and 43% expect conditions to worsen.

• Despite economic pessimism, 54% of operators plan capital spending in the next six months, the fifth straight month of majority investment intentions.