The dining industry is holding steady through early 2025—but not all segments are created equal. According to Placer.ai’s latest industry report, subtle yet meaningful shifts in traffic, income demographics, visit timing, and location growth strategies are reshaping the way Americans dine. Whether you're in fast casual, QSR, or fine dining, these trends could impact your next strategic move.
Key Insights From Our Report
- Traffic Trends: The West Wins: While most of the U.S. saw slight year-over-year traffic dips, western states like Utah, Idaho, and Nevada saw visits increase by up to 2.4%. In contrast, dining visits dropped in Washington, D.C. and much of the Midwest.
- Coffee & Fine Dining Lead Growth: Coffee shops and fine dining establishments saw the strongest total visit growth (2.6% and 1.3% respectively). But the growth stems from expansion—visits per location actually declined, indicating a push to open new venues.
- Affluence Drives Resilience: Higher-income households are fueling the dining categories seeing growth. Fine dining now attracts markets with a $98K+ median HHI, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. QSR’s HHI remains flat, reflecting its consistent budget-conscious customer base.
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