August 10, 2026
Key takeaways
- Fast Casual sales grew +2.76% year-over-year in July 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Full Service sales grew +1.23% year-over-year in July 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Food costs averaged 29% of sales, a slight decrease from June 2026
- Ketchup was July's biggest price mover, up +23% month-over-month
- Romaine lettuce dropped the most, down -64% month-over-month
- The Northeast was the top-performing region, up +13%
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 July 1–31, 2026.
What was restaurant sales growth in July 2026?
The trailing 4-week (28-day) average of year-over-year (YoY) sales growth for July 2026 came in at:
| Segment | YoY Sales Growth (28-day avg.) |
|---|---|
| Fast Casual | +2.76% |
| Full Service | +1.23% |
Looking at the 7-day moving average, both segments posted positive growth for most of the month. Growth peaked around July 11th, when Fast Casual hit +4% and Full Service reached +3%.
Food costs in July 2026
Food costs averaged 29% of sales in July 2026, a slight decrease from June. Wine cost also averaged 29% of sales, while beer cost averaged 22% of sales and liquor cost averaged 15% of sales in July 2026.
| Purchase category | Average cost as a percentage of sales |
|---|---|
| Food | 29% |
| Beer | 22% |
| Wine | 29% |
| Liquor | 15% |
Which food prices changed the most in July 2026?
Biggest price increases
| Item | Change vs. JUNE 2026 |
|---|---|
| Ketchup bottle | +23% |
| Fresh asparagus | +22% |
| Live crawfish | +21% |
| Eggs | +15% |
| Chicken wings | +15% |
Biggest price decreases
| Item | Change vs. JUNE 2026 |
|---|---|
| Romaine lettuce | -64% |
| Romaine hearts | -46% |
| Whole canned tomatoes | -36% |
| Iceberg lettuce | -36% |
| Fresh limes | -34% |
Lettuces in general have taken a big dip compared to last month, most likely due to decreased demand surrounding the Cyclosporiasis outbreak currently impacting the United States.
Regional performance: July 2026
The Northeast led all regions for the third 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 July 2026? Fast Casual restaurants averaged +2.76% YoY sales growth and Full Service restaurants averaged +1.23% YoY, based on the trailing 28-day average through the end of July 2026.
What percentage of restaurant sales went to food costs in July 2026? Food costs averaged 29% of sales in July 2026, a slight decrease from June 2026.
Which food prices increased the most in July 2026? Ketchup bottles saw the largest increase, up 23% compared to June 2026, followed by fresh asparagus, up 22%.
Which food prices decreased the most in July 2026? Romaine lettuce dropped -64%, the largest decrease of any item tracked, followed by romaine hearts (-46%) and whole canned tomatoes (-36%).
Which region had the strongest restaurant sales performance in July 2026? The Northeast led all U.S. regions in July 2026, with sales up 13% — its third 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.
