Industry reference
Current, source-linked figures on restaurant sales, employment, consumer spending, and the scale of food-service businesses in the United States.
Last updated September 22, 2026
A practical snapshot
Restaurant decisions are local, but the national data clarifies the scale of the operating environment. These figures are useful for writers, advisors, owners, and project teams who need a clean starting point for a discussion about market conditions, labor, customer spending, or facility planning.
Every figure below names its source and date. National statistics cannot determine whether a particular address, concept, or lease will work, so local demand, operating costs, approvals, and building conditions still deserve their own review.
$1.55T
This is a national sales forecast, not a measure of profitability or a forecast for an individual concept.
National Restaurant Association, 2026 State of the Restaurant IndustryFebruary 2026
15.8M
The industry's scale makes labor, layout, service flow, and back-of-house capacity practical property considerations.
National Restaurant Association, 2026 State of the Restaurant IndustryFebruary 2026
$1.52T
Food away from home includes restaurants and other prepared-food purchases made outside the home.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Expenditure SeriesSeptember 2025 release, 2024 data
58.9%
This is the largest share in the USDA series and illustrates how central away-from-home occasions are to the food economy.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Expenditure SeriesSeptember 2025 release, 2024 data
714,532
The count covers employer establishments in NAICS 722, the federal category that includes food services and drinking places.
12.4M
This monthly employment figure is preliminary and will be revised. It is a useful scale marker, not a forecast.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment StatisticsSeptember 2026 release, August 2026 data
Sources and method
This page brings together public national data and industry forecasts. Forecasts are labeled as forecasts. Employment and spending figures are labeled with the release or data period used. Source links lead to the organization that published each number.
Cite this page
Craft Buildings. “U.S. Restaurant Industry Statistics 2026.” Updated September 22, 2026. https://craftbuildings.com/restaurant-industry-statistics.
Put the numbers to work
Craft Buildings helps hospitality owners translate the realities behind the business into better questions about a space, its constraints, and its potential.
Talk through your plans