September 16, 2026
Key takeaways
- Fast Casual sales grew +2.98% year-over-year in August 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Full Service sales grew +1.97% year-over-year in August 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Food costs averaged 28% of sales, a slight decrease from July 2026
- Fresh crawfish was August's biggest price mover, up +41% month-over-month
- Green peppers dropped the most, down -26% month-over-month
- The Northeast was the top-performing region, up +11%
This report is based on aggregated, anonymized sales and invoice data from 12,000+ restaurants across the country using the MarginEdge platform, covering the period of August 1–31, 2026.
What was restaurant sales growth in August 2026?
The trailing 4-week (28-day) average of year-over-year (YoY) sales growth for August 2026 came in at:
| Segment | YoY Sales Growth (28-day avg.) |
|---|---|
| Fast Casual | +2.98% |
| Full Service | +1.97% |
Looking at the 7-day moving average, both segments posted positive growth for most of the month. Growth peaked around August 2nd, when Fast Casual hit +5% and Full Service reached +1%.
Food costs in August 2026
Food costs averaged 28% of sales in August 2026, a slight decrease from July. Wine cost also averaged 27% of sales, while beer cost averaged 21% of sales and liquor cost averaged 14% of sales in August 2026.
| Purchase category | Average cost as a percentage of sales |
|---|---|
| Food | 28% |
| Beer | 21% |
| Wine | 27% |
| Liquor | 14% |
Which food prices changed the most in August 2026?
Biggest price increases
| Item | Change vs. JULY 2026 |
|---|---|
| Live crawfish | +41% |
| Eggs | +21% |
| Fresh pineapple | +19% |
| Zucchini squash | +17% |
| Fresh strawberries | +13% |
Biggest price decreases
| Item | Change vs. JUly 2026 |
|---|---|
| Green peppers | -26% |
| Grape tomatoes | -21% |
| Romaine hearts | -21% |
| Hamburger buns | -17% |
| Iceberg lettuce | -15% |
Regional performance: August 2026
The Northeast led all regions for the fourth straight month, posting +13% growth. Regional performance continues to vary meaningfully by market, underscoring the value of comparing your own numbers against your specific region rather than the national average alone.
| REGION | YoY Sales Growth (28-day avg.) |
|---|---|
| Northeast | +13% |
| South | +3% |
| West | +2% |
| Midwest | +0% |
Quick answers
What was the average restaurant sales growth rate in August 2026? Fast Casual restaurants averaged +2.98% YoY sales growth and Full Service restaurants averaged +1.97% YoY, based on the trailing 28-day average through the end of August 2026.
What percentage of restaurant sales went to food costs in August 2026? Food costs averaged 28% of sales in August 2026, a slight decrease from July 2026.
Which food prices increased the most in August 2026? Fresh crawfish saw the largest increase, up 41% compared to July 2026, followed by eggs, up 37%.
Which food prices decreased the most in August 2026? Green peppers dropped -26%, the largest decrease of any item tracked, followed by grape tomatoes (-21%) and Romaine hearts (-21%).
Which region had the strongest restaurant sales performance in August 2026? The Northeast led all U.S. regions in August 2026, with sales up 11% — its fourth consecutive month at the top.
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Methodology: Data is aggregated and anonymized from 12,000+ restaurants using the MarginEdge platform across the United States and Canada. Sales figures reflect trailing 28-day and 7-day year-over-year averages by segment (Fast Casual, Full Service). Price movement figures reflect month-over-month change in average invoiced cost per unit for tracked ingredients. Regional figures reflect trailing 28-day year-over-year sales growth by U.S. Census region.
