Tuesday September 19, 2023, 07:00:00
By Mark Kalinowski
With this report, we update our data-driven Kalinowski Fast-Casual Index for Q3 to +3.7%. This is the one-year figure, lapping the +5.1% figure from Q3 2020, +13.9% number from Q3 2021, and the +6.1% figure from Q3 2022. Comparing to Q3 2019 levels — a four-year (pre-pandemic) basis — the Kalinowski Fast-Casual Index for Q3 2023 is at +31.9%. This +31.8% figure is one of the best of any major restaurant sector. Our latest fast-casual numbers are based on our latest proprietary checks/data as regards same-store sales performance for this segment during July, August, and early September.
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Thursday September 14, 2023, 09:05:17
By Mark Kalinowski
Data out today from the U.S. Census shows that restaurants’ market share (with grocery stores/supermarkets making up the other component) was 55.1% in August 2023. This is tied for the best-ever monthly market-share showing for the U.S. restaurant industry, and marks the third month in a row at that percentage. The strong August percentage shows that, despite restaurant prices gaining steam at a more meaningful rate than grocery prices as of late, consumers have – at least through the end of August – not meaningfully shifted food dollars back to grocery stores and supermarkets.
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Wednesday September 13, 2023, 09:03:31
By Mark Kalinowski
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data shows that prices for food-at-home (grocery stores and supermarkets) rose by +3.0% in August (sequentially down by -60 basis points from July’s +3.6%). This +3.0% number compares with price for food-away-from-home (restaurants) that increased by +6.5% year-over-year in August (sequentially down by -60 basis points from July’s +7.1%). This marks the 6th month in a row for which restaurant pricing is outpacing grocery/supermarket pricing, following no such months during all of 2022.
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