Per the National Restaurant Association:
Restaurant Industry Outlook Brightens in 2010 as Sales, Economy Are Expected to Improve
National Restaurant Association 2010 Restaurant Industry Forecast reveals economic, workforce, consumer and menu trends
January 20, 2010
Contact: Annika Stensson (202) 973-3677, Mike Donohue (202) 331-5902
(Washington, D.C.) With the economic downturn easing, the restaurant industry is expected to show gradual improvement in 2010, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2010 Restaurant Industry Forecast released today. Industry sales are projected to reach $580 billion this year, a 2.5 percent increase in current dollars over 2009 sales. When adjusted for inflation, 2010 sales will be essentially flat, which is an improvement over the 1.2 percent and 2.9 percent negative growth in real sales that the industry experienced in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Restaurants will continue to be strong contributors to the recovery of the nation’s economy, with industry sales representing 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and employees comprising 9 percent of the U.S. workforce.
Read the rest here: http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pre ... fm?ID=1879