Restaurant sales growth varies by region

While the National Restaurant Association projects in its 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast that the U.S. foodservice industry will generate an overall sales increase of 3.5 percent, or $631.8 billion, this year, the trade group noted that growth can vary widely from region to region.

For example, of the nine U.S. Census regions, the West South Central area — Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas — is projected to post nominal restaurant sales gains of 3.9 percent in 2012