Sponsored By

Cloudy futureCloudy future

Darkening economy dampens consumers’ spending plans

Fern Glazer

September 26, 2011

5 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

Fern Glazer

Just when consumers were feeling a little sunnier about their financial future, the economic skies began to cloud up once more. 


Impacted by high gas and food prices as well as lackluster job growth, the American consumer has lost its sense of optimism again, which is dragging down restaurant visits and spending, say officials at global market research firm The NPD Group
.

According to Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD, after eight quarters of decline, restaurant-industry traffic rose slightly at the end of 2010 and into early 2011, but declined again by nearly 0.5 percent in the quarter ended in May.


“The industry was starting to perk up, then spring hit,” said NPD analyst Bonnie Riggs. “Consumers aren’t thinking it’s going to g...

Create a free account or login

This content is available for registered users

Already Subscribed?

About the Author

Fern Glazer

Fern Glazer is a writer, editor and content expert, and a founder and partner of Little Warrior Agency. A long-time contributor to Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, Fern specializes in covering consumer dining behavior and food trends.

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.

You May Also Like