More Operators Making Equipment Purchases

Conditions in the restaurant industry were flat in June, as operators reported somewhat softer sales but were cautiously optimistic about sales growth in the months ahead.

The National Restaurant Association’s monthly Restaurant Performance Index stood at 100 in June, a slight decrease from 100.1 in May. The index is a measurement of the overall health of the restaurant industry, with a value above 100 indicating a period of growth and a value below 100 signaling contraction.

Restaurant operators reported a net gain in same-store sales for the month, with 49 percent saying they saw a sales increase compared to 41 percent who experienced a decline. Although the trend was positive, it was still a minor decrease from May, when 52 percent of operators reported a sales increase.

Customer traffic saw a similar dip for the month. Only 36 percent of operators said customer traffic rose between June 2024 and June 2025, down from 40 percent in May. Meanwhile, 47 percent of operators reported a customer traffic decline, up from 42 percent the month before.

Despite these mixed results, more operators (36 percent) said they expect sales to improve over the next six months than those who believe sales will soften (19 percent). Even more encouraging, 52 percent of operators said they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling during the last three months — the highest reading since June 2024.

The full Restaurant Performance Index is available here.