economy

Operations

More than 4 in 10 independent restaurants couldn't pay their rent in September

Still, that's slightly better than small business rent delinquencies overall, according to a monthly survey. And, for restaurants, it's an improvement from August.

Financing

Restaurant sales accelerated last month

Sales at restaurants and bars increased 1% in September, according to new federal retail sales data. And they’ve been outpacing other industries all year despite consumer concern about menu prices.

Wages are rising faster than inflation, which could ultimately ease consumer pressure for lower prices. Meanwhile, grocery prices outpaced menu inflation last month.

The Bottom Line: Persistent job growth and other indicators show an economy that has been shockingly resilient despite a host of pressures over the past three years.

Thanks to strong performances by chains like Wingstop, Cava and Chipotle, the sector outperformed everyone else. And it wasn’t particularly close.

The Bottom Line: The price of gas has been falling much of the year and is below $3 per gallon in some states. Will that give operators a sales boost?

The agency cut its federal funds rate by a half-point on Wednesday, its first rate cut since 2020, as inflation cools and confidence grows that a recession can be avoided.

Prices for food away from home have increased at a rate faster than prices for food at home for more than a year. That trend continued last month.

Federal revisions to jobs data suggest that restaurants and bars employ fewer people than initially thought.

The Bottom Line: The year is filled with some odd results, with companies trading share, fast food considered a luxury and otherworldly results at wing chains.

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