October 12, 2026
Key takeaways
- Fast Casual sales grew +2.65% year-over-year in September 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Full Service sales fell -2.23% year-over-year in September 2026 (trailing 28-day average)
- Food costs averaged 29% of sales, a slight increase from August 2026
- Fresh blueberries were September's biggest price mover, up +42% month-over-month
- Eggs dropped the most, down -26% month-over-month
- The Northeast was the top-performing region, up +10%
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 September 1–30, 2026.
What was restaurant sales growth in September 2026?
The trailing 4-week (28-day) average of year-over-year (YoY) sales growth for September 2026 came in at:
| Segment | YoY Sales Growth (28-day avg.) |
|---|---|
| Fast Casual | +2.65% |
| Full Service | -2.23% |
Looking at the 7-day moving average, both segments started off in a bit of a dip but quickly recovered with impressive performance over Labor Day Weekend when Fast Casual hit +10% and Full Service reached +14% growth from last year's numbers!
Food costs in September 2026
Food costs averaged 29% of sales in September 2026, a slight increase from August. Wine cost averaged 31% of sales, while beer cost averaged 24% of sales and liquor cost averaged 16% of sales in September 2026.
| Purchase category | Average cost as a percentage of sales |
|---|---|
| Food | 29% |
| Beer | 24% |
| Wine | 31% |
| Liquor | 16% |
Which food prices changed the most in September 2026?
Biggest price increases
| Item | Change vs. AUGUST 2026 |
|---|---|
| Fresh blueberries | +42% |
| Green onions | +34% |
| Roma tomatoes | +28% |
| Iceberg lettuce | +22% |
| Fresh limes | +19% |
Biggest price decreases
| Item | Change vs. AUGUST 2026 |
|---|---|
| Eggs | -26% |
| Pizza dough | -15% |
| Beef flank steak | -11% |
| Swordfish loin | -10% |
| Fresh avocados | -10% |
Regional performance: September 2026
The Northeast led all regions for the fifth straight month, posting +10% 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 | +10% |
| South | +0% |
| West | -5% |
| Midwest | -3% |
Quick answers
What was the average restaurant sales growth rate in September 2026? Fast Casual restaurants averaged +2.65% YoY sales growth and Full Service restaurants averaged -2.23% YoY, based on the trailing 28-day average through the end of September 2026.
What percentage of restaurant sales went to food costs in September 2026? Food costs averaged 29% of sales in September 2026, a slight increase from August 2026.
Which food prices increased the most in September 2026? Fresh blueberries saw the largest increase, up 42% compared to August 2026, followed by green onions, up 34%.
Which food prices decreased the most in September 2026? Eggs dropped -26%, the largest decrease of any item tracked, followed by pizza dough (-15%) and beef flank steak (-11%).
Which region had the strongest restaurant sales performance in September 2026? The Northeast led all U.S. regions in September 2026, with sales up 10% — its fifth 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.
