Restaurant Spending Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average consumer expenditures increased in 2022, highlighted by a 12.7% climb in food purchases. From 2021, the average annual spending amount increased 9%. Unsurprisingly, expenditures increased faster than income. Average yearly income rose 7.5% in 2022. Food marked the second-highest increase, trailing only cash contributions.

Food spending increased was driven by food-away-from-home spending and an increase in grocery spending of 20.1% and 8.4%, respectively. The away-from-home spending increase exceeds 2019’s climb, making it the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Read more on 2022 consumer food spending here.