August 26, 2021 — This summer has been relatively good to the U.S. restaurant industry, as most operators are at full capacity after facing service limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. But the industry’s growth could be hampered by mounting inflation, labor shortages, and other operating challenges.
Consumer spending at restaurants soared 32 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter of 2020, according to research firm NPD Group. Thanks to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in many areas, dining inside restaurants or off-premises increased by 22 percent in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year, but fell compared to the second quarter of 2019.