Restaurateurs upbeat on improving sales trends

NRA’s Restaurant Performance Index rises in March

Buoyed by improving same-store sales and customer traffic, foodservice operators expressed optimism about sales growth over the next several months, fueling an increase in the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index for March.

The RPI, a monthly composite that tracks the health of and outlook for the foodservice industry, rose to 101.0 in March, an increase of 0.3 percent over its February level and the third gain in the past four months.

March also was notable in that it marked the first time in more than three and a half years that the Current Situation component of the index stood above the 100 mark, according to the NRA.

“The March increase in the Restaurant Performance Index was fueled by continued improvements in the same-store sales and customer traffic indicators,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA’s Research and Knowledge Group. “Most notably, the overall Current Situation component of the RPI stood above 100 for the first time in 43 months, which signifies expansion in the indicators of current industry performance.

However, while restaurant operators were optimistic about their own businesses, they were less upbeat about the general economy in the coming months, Riehle said.

“Just 32 percent of restaurant operators expect economic conditions to improve in the next six months, the lowest level since September 2010,” he said.