National Restaurant Association - Restaurant Performance Index

Driven by higher same-store sales and an improving outlook among restaurant operators, the RPI hit a 10-month high in April.  The RPI stood at 101.0 in April, up 0.4 percent from a level of 100.6 in March. April represented the third time in the last four months that the RPI topped the 100 level, which signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators.

 

The Current Situation Index stood at 100.1 in April – up 0.3 percent from a level of 99.8 in March.  April represented the first time in eight months that the Current Situation Index rose above 100.

 

The Expectations Index stood at 101.9 in April – up 0.5 percent from March and the highest level in 11 months.  Each of the four expectations indicators stood above 100 for the fourth consecutive month, which indicates a firming of optimism for business conditions in the months ahead.

 

The RPI is measured in relation to a steady-state level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period of expansion, while index values below 100 represent a period of contraction for key industry indicators. The Index consists of two components – the Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), and the Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions).

The RPI is based on the responses to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded monthly among more than 400 restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators including sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. Restaurant operators interested in participating in the tracking survey, contact Bruce Grindy.

More detailed data and analysis can be found on Restaurant TrendMapper (subscription required).