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.
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 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% |
| Item | Change vs. JUNE 2026 |
|---|---|
| Ketchup bottle | +23% |
| Fresh asparagus | +22% |
| Live crawfish | +21% |
| Eggs | +15% |
| Chicken wings | +15% |
| 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.
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% |
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.
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.