The National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) comprehensive index of restaurant activity rose in November thanks to an increase in same-store sales. The group’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) stands at 100.6, up from 100.0 the previous month -- the highest in five months.
“The November increase in the Restaurant Performance Index was fueled by broad-based gains in both the current situation and forward-looking indicators,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the Association. “Restaurant operators reported their strongest net positive same-store sales results in more than four years, while customer traffic levels also grew in November.”
Restaurant operators’ outlook for capital spending also remains positive, says the group. Forty-seven percent of restaurant operators plan to make a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling in the next six months, essentially unchanged from the levels reported in the previous two months.
Juli says: Holding at or above the 100-point level for the RPI is good news for red meat demand. The export demand outlook also remains bright for 2012. If the economy continues to gradually improve throughout 2012, the RPI should continue to gradually uptick.
