by Calculated Risk on 6/30/2014 08:18:00 PM

From the National Restaurant Association: Restaurant Performance Index Rose to Its Highest Level in More Than Two Years

Driven by stronger sales and traffic levels and an increasingly optimistic outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) rose to its highest level in more than two years. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 102.1 in May, the third consecutive monthly gain and strongest reading since March 2012. In addition, the RPI stood above 100 for the 15th consecutive month, which signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators.
...
“Positive sales results fueled the May increase in the RPI, as nearly two-thirds of restaurant operators said their same-store sales rose above year-ago levels,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the Association. “In addition, restaurant operators are increasingly optimistic about continued sales gains in the months ahead, a sentiment that is also showing up in their capital expenditure plans.”
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

The index increased to 102.1 in May, up from 101.7 in April. (above 100 indicates expansion).

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

Tuesday:
• Early: Reis Q2 2014 Office Survey of rents and vacancy rates.

• All day: Light vehicle sales for June. The consensus is for light vehicle sales to decrease to 16.4 million SAAR in June from 16.7 million in May (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate).

• At 10:00 AM ET, the ISM Manufacturing Index for June. The consensus is for an increase to 55.6 from 55.4 in May. In May the employment index was at 52.8%, and the new orders index was at 56.9%.

• At 10:00 AM, Construction Spending for May. The consensus is for a 0.5% increase in construction spending.