April 2024

Thank you for participating in the National Restaurant Association's monthly restaurant industry tracking survey. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please submit a completed survey by April 24. The survey results will be summarized and emailed to all respondents by April 30.

If you are a restaurant operator with multiple concepts in your organization, please consider completing a separate survey for each concept. This will help us generate specific information for each segment of the restaurant industry. If you wish to only complete one survey, please choose your primary concept for this survey.

Thank you for your time, and don't hesitate to email Bruce Grindy at bgrindy@restaurant.org if you have any questions.
Sales and Traffic

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1. In March, was your total dollar sales volume (on a same-store basis) higher, lower, or about the same as it was in March 2023?

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1a. If your sales were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

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2. In March, was your customer traffic level higher, lower, or about the same as it was in March 2023?

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2a. If your traffic was higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

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3. Do you think your dollar sales volume (on a same-store basis) six months from now will be higher, lower, or about the same as it was during that same period in the previous year?

Employees and Hours

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4. In March, did the total number of employees in your operation increase, decrease or stay about the same, compared to March 2023?

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5. In March, did the average number of hours worked by employees in your operation increase, decrease or stay about the same, compared to March 2023?

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6. In the next six months, do you expect the total number of employees in your operation to be higher, lower, or about the same as it was during that same period in the previous year?

Capital Spending

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7a. During the last three months, did you make any capital expenditures for equipment?

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7b. During the last three months, did you make any capital expenditures for expansion or remodeling?

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8a. In the next six months, do you plan to make any capital expenditures for equipment?

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8b. In the next six months, do you plan to make any capital expenditures for expansion or remodeling?

General Business Conditions

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9. Do you think general business conditions six months from now will be better, worse, or about the same as they are now?

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10. What is the single most important challenge facing your business today?

Food Costs and Menu Pricing

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11. In March, were your average food costs higher, lower or about the same as they were in March 2023?

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11a. If your average food costs were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

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12. In March, what were your total food and nonalcoholic beverage costs as a percentage of total food and nonalcoholic beverage sales?

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13. In March, were your menu prices higher, lower or about the same as they were in March 2023?

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13a. If your menu prices were higher or lower, please give your best estimate of the percent difference.

Demographic Questions

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14. In which of the following segments would you classify your restaurant operation for which you completed this survey?

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15. Which of the following categories best describes your restaurant business?

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16. Did you open any new foodservice/restaurant establishments in March (excludes existing seasonal operations)?

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17. Did you close any foodservice/restaurant establishments in March (excludes existing seasonal operations)?

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18. Do you plan to open any new foodservice/restaurant establishments in the next six months (excludes existing seasonal operations)?

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19. In which state is your restaurant business primarily located? If your restaurant business is a national or regional operation, please select that option in the drop-down box.

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20. What is your email address? (So we can email you the survey results.)

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