Key Takeaways
- Labor costs accounted for 32.5% of restaurant operating expenses in 2023, up from 30.1% in 2022
- U.S. retail rent expenses averaged $45 per square foot in prime locations in 2023
- Food costs for restaurants rose to 30.8% of sales in 2023 due to supply chain issues
- U.S. consumers dined out 5.6 times per week on average in 2023, up from 4.9 in 2022
- 68% of U.S. consumers prefer quick-service over full-service restaurants in 2023
- Online ordering accounted for 37% of restaurant sales in 2023, driven by millennials
- U.S. retail employment stood at 15.7 million jobs in 2023, accounting for 10% of private sector employment
- Restaurant industry employed 15.9 million people in 2023, representing one in 10 U.S. jobs
- Retail trade sector added 214,000 jobs in 2023, with average hourly wage at $21.50
- U.S. retail industry expected to grow 2.5-3.5% in sales to $7.3 trillion in 2024
- Restaurant sales projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, CAGR 4.2% from 2023
- Global retail e-commerce sales to hit $8.1 trillion by 2026, 22% of total retail
- In 2023, U.S. retail sales totaled $7.04 trillion, representing a 3.6% increase from 2022 and accounting for approximately 25% of the U.S. GDP
- The restaurant industry contributed $1.1 trillion to the U.S. GDP in 2023, with total sales reaching $1.03 trillion, up 8.5% from 2022
- E-commerce sales in the U.S. retail sector hit $1.1 trillion in 2023, comprising 15.6% of total retail sales
Restaurants faced rising costs in 2023, with labor and food pressures reshaping operating margins.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and Expenses Interpretation
Customer Demographics and Behavior
Customer Demographics and Behavior Interpretation
Employment Statistics
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Growth Projections
Growth Projections Interpretation
Revenue and Sales
Revenue and Sales Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Retail And Restaurant Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/retail-and-restaurant-industry-statistics
Alexander Schmidt. "Retail And Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/retail-and-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Retail And Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/retail-and-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Sources & References
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