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National Restaurant Association Restaurant Performance Index 2018
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 January 31, 2018)
Driven by stronger same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a solid gain in December. The RPI stood at 102.9 in December, up 1.8 percent from a level of 101.1 in November.
The Current Situation Index stood at 102.9 in December - up 3.4 percent from a level of 99.6 in November. December's reading represented the first time in four months that the Current Situation Index was in expansion territory about the 100 level.
The Expectations Index stood at 102.9 in December – up from a level of 102.6 in November. The Expectations Index is now at its highest level in nearly three years, after increasing in each of the last four months.
RPI Methodology
The RPI is measured in relation to a steady-state 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.
