The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) is a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and the outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry. Launched in 2002, the RPI is released on the last business day of each month.

Latest RPI (released March 29, 2019)

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a modest decline in February. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.0 in February, down slightly from a level of 101.2 in January.

The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators, stood at 100.3 in February – down 0.4 percent from a level of 100.7 in January. February’s dip was the third consecutive monthly decline in the Current Situation Index, and the reading of 100.3 represented its lowest level since January 2018.

The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators, stood at 101.8 in February – up slightly from a level of 101.7 in January. Although the Expectations Index trended sideways in a narrow range for the last several months, it still remains above 100 in expansion territory, which points toward continued industry growth in the months ahead.

Read the full RPI report.

RPI Methodology

The RPI is measured in relation to a neutral level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period of expansion, while index values below 100 represent a period of contraction for key industry indicators. The Index consists of two components — the Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), and the Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions).

The RPI is based on the responses to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded monthly among more than 400 restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators including sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. Restaurant operators interested in participating in the tracking survey, contact Bruce Grindy.

RPI Archive

For more detailed analysis and aggregated RPI and Industry Tracking Survey data, see Restaurant TrendMapper.

Source: National Restaurant Association