Restaurant Performance Index declined 0.9% in March
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a moderate decline in March, after rising to a 13-month high in February. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.0 in March, down 0.9% from a level of 100.9 in February.
The RPI decline was primarily the result of softer same-store sales and customer traffic in March compared to February. February’s readings were bolstered by weak year-ago levels, and March represented a return to the previous trend of modest same-store sales growth and dampened customer traffic.
The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators, stood at 99.4 in March – down 1.4% from a level of 100.8 in February. March represented the 8th time in the last nine months that the current situation component stood below 100 in contraction territory.
The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators, stood at 100.6, down 0.3% from the previous month. Restaurant operators remain generally optimistic about sales growth in the months ahead, but are much less bullish about the direction of the overall economy.
RPI Methodology
The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) is a monthly composite index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry. Launched in 2002, the RPI is released on the last business day of each month.
The RPI is measured in relation to a neutral 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 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.
Updated 4/30/2026