by Calculated Risk on 9/02/2012 09:06:00 AM

From the National Restaurant Association: Uncertainty Over Future Business Conditions Dampens Restaurant Performance Index

The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.2 in July, down 1.1 percent from June and the lowest mark since a reading of 100.0 in October. However, July still represented the ninth consecutive month that the RPI stood above 100, which signifies continued expansion in the index of key industry indicators.

“Although restaurant operators reported positive same-store sales for the 14th consecutive month in July, their economic outlook for the months ahead continued to soften,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the Association. “Only 22 percent of restaurant operators expect economic conditions to improve in the next six months, the lowest level in 10 months.”

Click on graph for larger image.

The index decreased to 100.2 in July, down from 101.4 in June (above 100 indicates expansion).

Restaurant spending is discretionary, so even though this is "D-list" data, I like to check it every month.

Yesterday:
• Summary for Week Ending Aug 31st
• Schedule for Week of Sept 2nd