Consumer Trends

Consumer trends, insights and preferences

Consumer Trends

Consumers tighten their restaurant budgets, but mainly on the margins

By Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 08, 2023

Lower-income people are clearly pulling back, while higher earners and families show resilience, according to new data.

Consumer Trends

These restaurant brands are the easiest to use, consumers say

By Joe Guszkowski on Oct. 17, 2023

A ranking of the world’s simplest brands showed that QSRs are excelling as technology plays a bigger role.

Consumer Trends

Why early evening has become the hottest time to dine out

By Joe Guszkowski on Oct. 11, 2023

Remote work, inflation and even Netflix could be driving consumers to eat dinner earlier, particularly at higher-end restaurants.

Consumer Trends

Want to see how the other half lives? Go to Olive Garden.

By Joe Guszkowski on Oct. 09, 2023

Full-service restaurant chains are the most socioeconomically diverse places in the U.S., according to new research. It could help them weather a tough economy.

Consumer Trends

10 most craveable chicken wings on chain menus

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 20, 2023

Wing orders tick up during football season, and these restaurants score high when it comes to satisfying consumers’ cravings.

Consumer Trends

Today's Beef Consumer: Summer 2023 Update

Sponsored content from our partner National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to The Beef Checkoff on Sep. 15, 2023

This report explores several factors that are commonly known to impact demand for beef products.

Consumer Trends

Americans remain torn on tipping etiquette

By Joe Guszkowski on Aug. 22, 2023

There are still different views on how much to give baristas, delivery people and even servers, according to a Bank of America survey.

Consumer Trends

Saturday brunch is now restaurants' busiest daypart

By Joe Guszkowski on Aug. 08, 2023

More than 10% of all dining dollars are spent from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, which has replaced Friday lunch as the industry’s peak period, according to new data from Square.

Consumer Trends