September 2025 national restaurant sales metrics are in!
The trailing 4-week (28-day) average of year-over-year (YOY) sales for Fast Casual came in at +2.6% and Full Service at +1.1% at the end of September compared to 2024 sales.
Across the 7-day moving average chart, we saw the strongest performance for both segments during Labor Day weekend at the beginning of the month. Fast Casual stayed positive for most of the month, while Full Service maintained just below last year's performance for the month.
Food costs averaged 30% of sales last month, representing a 2% jump from the average in August.
Green bell peppers topped our Droppers list with prices -23% lower on average than in August, followed by eggs, down -17%. On our Movers chart, fresh blueberry prices had a +45% increase compared to August prices, followed by three kinds of beef: beef chuck roll (+26%), lip-on rib-eye beef (+15%) and beef tenderloin (+14%).
Regionally, every region saw positive sales all month long, with the Northeast coming in on top again (third month in a row), at +10% up from August.
See you in November!