Restaurant Performance Index up in January despite sluggish current conditions
Driven by restaurant operators’ more optimistic outlook for future business conditions, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) posted a modest gain in January. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.7 in January, up 0.2 percent from December’s level of 100.5. In addition, the RPI remained above 100 for the 11th consecutive month, which signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators.
“Restaurant operators are more optimistic about business conditions in the months ahead, which is also reflected in ramped up plans for capital spending,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the Association. “However, current situation indicators such as customer traffic were dampened in January, due in large part to adverse weather conditions.”