Quarterly Consumer Insights Survey
Q3 2026
The National Restaurant Association’s latest Quarterly Consumer Insights Survey reveals a consumer landscape marked by both resilience and financial strain.
A majority of consumers feel positive about their financial well-being: including their job, ability to cover expenses/debt and save for the future. At the same time, inflation pressures have reemerged, which potentially impacts consumers’ ability to spend on discretionary items.
For restaurant operators, the findings offer both encouraging and cautionary signals. On the positive side, restaurants remain consumers' top discretionary spending priority, underscoring the industry's continued relevance even as households pull back in other spending categories.
At the same time, these findings point to a consumer environment that is increasingly bifurcated. While many households continue to feel financially secure, others are facing mounting pressures, reinforcing the growing "K-shaped" divide in consumer spending and restaurant demand.
Top Findings:
- Financial sentiment is generally positive: While consumers express concerns about the broader economy, nearly two-thirds feel positive about their personal financial situation.
- Budgets remain tight: 34% of consumers say they regularly spend more than they bring in on a monthly basis, while an additional 27% do so occasionally.
- Affordability is a growing challenge: Fully one-half of consumers say it is more difficult to cover their expenses now than it was a year ago. Only 20% say it is easier.
- Restaurants topped the list of discretionary purchases: 53% of consumers went out to eat at a restaurant during the survey’s reference week, while 50% ordered takeout or delivery.
- Consumers continue to seek out value: 40% of consumers said they used more discounts or value promotions than they usually do. That’s up from 35% in Q2.
Download the full findings of the Q3 2026 Quarterly Consumer Insights Survey
Related commentary: Affordability Pressures Mount, but Consumers Continue to Prioritize Restaurants