Updated September 28, 2026
A practical snapshot of the U.S. restaurant market.
Restaurant owners need more than a headline sales figure to understand the market around them. These sourced statistics bring together the scale of the industry, current demand and staffing pressure that shape the value of a restaurant business.
Figures cover different parts of the restaurant and foodservice economy, so every statistic includes its date and original source.
$1.55 trillion
Projected U.S. restaurant and foodservice sales for 2026
The National Restaurant Association expects total restaurant and foodservice sales to reach this level in 2026.
Source: National Restaurant Association, February 12, 202615.8 million
Projected restaurant and foodservice jobs in 2026
The Association forecasts a workforce of 15.8 million jobs, with more than 100,000 jobs added during the year.
Source: National Restaurant Association, February 12, 202659,200
Restaurant jobs added in August 2026
Eating and drinking places added a net 59,200 jobs in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Source: National Restaurant Association analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, September 4, 2026Nearly 3 in 4
Operators who plan to hire in 2026
The same 2026 industry outlook says nearly three quarters of operators plan to hire, while expecting difficulty finding experienced managers and chefs.
Source: National Restaurant Association, February 12, 2026$105.1 billion
Eating and drinking place sales in August 2026
The preliminary, seasonally adjusted total reflects sales at eating and drinking places, the largest component of restaurant and foodservice sales.
Source: National Restaurant Association analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, September 16, 20261.2%
Month-over-month restaurant sales growth in August 2026
Eating and drinking place sales increased 1.2% from July’s upward-revised sales volume, marking the fifth consecutive monthly gain of at least 0.5%.
Source: National Restaurant Association analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, September 16, 20262.4%
Inflation-adjusted sales growth from August 2025 to August 2026
Real eating and drinking place sales increased 2.4% over the 12-month period, the strongest gain in more than a year, according to the Association’s analysis.
Source: National Restaurant Association analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, September 16, 2026What these numbers can and cannot tell an owner.
Industry data is useful for context, not a substitute for valuing an individual restaurant. A restaurant’s sale prospects depend on its documented owner benefit, sales trend, rent, lease term, equipment, staffing, licenses and how dependent the operation is on the current owner.
For a private review of the business behind your numbers, start with a confidential restaurant valuation. You can also read our guide to how restaurants are valued.
Methodology and sources
This page uses publicly available research from the National Restaurant Association, including its analysis of U.S. Census Bureau sales data. Forecasts are labeled as forecasts, and every statistic retains the reporting period supplied by its source.
Last reviewed: September 28, 2026. The page will be refreshed when major source data is updated.
Cite this page
SellMyRestaurant.ai, “U.S. Restaurant Industry Statistics: 2026 Sales, Jobs and Trends,” updated September 28, 2026. https://sellmyrestaurant.ai/restaurant-industry-statistics